If there is one thing the Corona Virus (aka The Rona,) has brought out in me, it’s my green thumb. I have never enjoyed outdoor gardening, even though I grew up watching my entire family find joy in planting gardens, orchards, and beautiful landscaping in front of their homes. While I enjoyed eating the fresh harvest and gazing at their lovely flowers - it just wasn’t my thing.

Ok - so let’s fast forward to 2020. I’m bored in the house and I’m in the house bored. It’s my 35th birthday and I decide it’s time to get my first REAL houseplant. So what did I do… I sought out the most difficult, finickiest, stubborn plant I can find (what is wrong with me?!).

And (Spoiler Alert), I fell in love with, Giovanni, my Fiddle Leaf Fig!

In a tiny way… this plant changed my life. I felt excited to wake up in the morning and have my coffee, talk to him, check his leaves and watch our little cat rub up against his pot as a way to say good morning, too!

Now… I’m no expert - just a beginner. But as I started adding more and more plants to our home I have learned a lot of things and thought I would pass along some tips if you are starting your own indoor wonderland.

Getting Started

So I’ve found that the biggest secret to keeping a houseplant alive is to replicate its natural environment as close as you can. Take into consideration the amount of humidity, light, and water it has (and prefers) in its original habitat.

Most of the houseplants that I have added to our home fall under the tropical category. So a lot of the advice I have will lean to that variety.

And while I think I’ve mastered the the bare minimum that my houseplants need to survive indoors, I know that there might be some curveballs come my way.

Warning: Don’t be surprised if one day your indoor plants are fine and the next they're dropping leaves and littered with brown spots. It’s a challenge, y’all.

Here Are 5 Basic Tips for Keeping Houseplants Healthy

1. Check your plants before bringing them indoors -- no matter if you’ve just picked up from the local nursery or they've spent the summer outdoors. If they show any signs of pests or disease, keep them quarantined (yeah - that’s a word I never want to hear again either) and cure the problem before you infect your other plants inside.

2. As I mentioned above… Don’t be shocked if your new plants drop some leaves or show symptoms of shock as you move them from the greenhouse/nursery to your abode — especially if light levels in your home are significantly different.

3. Avoid placing plants in “trouble spots”, these include places in your home where the temperature fluctuates or stays too warm or too cold. Tip: do not put them near heating and A/C ducts!

4. Get your Light Right! Here’s a light tip-

   Bright Light = south-facing window

   Moderate Light = east & west-facing windows

   Litte Light = north facing windows

   Tons of light = grab a grow light

5. During the winter months remember that your heating system is probably drying out the air so add a pebble tray under your plant and do some misting to add some humidity back into the atmosphere.

If you are looking for more detailed information about caring for your new indoor plants… keep reading! If you want to shop my shirt outfit in the pic above click here!

CARING FOR YOUR PLANTS

If you remember one this from this article… this is it: LESS IS MORE!

And as with most things in life… this is true (except for diamonds and chocolate chip cookies) and it most certainly applies to plant care. All plants require water, light, and food, but the trick to success is to practice moderation and restraint.

As I mentioned before, it’s so important to refer back to the native climate for your new buddies.

SOIL

When it comes to indoor potting soil - there are some major differences. The best thing to put your indoor plants in is a combination of equal parts peat moss, vermiculite/perlite, and compost. This will give them the best chance to survive!

Espoma is my go-to choice! Here is an excellent all-purpose potting mix that works great for houseplants, available on Amazon.

Espoma AP8 8-Quart Organic Potting Mix

WATER

Listen…. this is the BIGGEST mistake new plant parents make.

Put the damn watering can down.

Just remember… most houseplants would prefer being slightly dry than soaking wet.

So a watering schedule of once a week is suitable for most plants. If you are OCD like me you can add a calendar reminder in your phone to check the moisture (grab a moisture meter here) and keep a watering log in your phone so you can track the health and moisture of your plants!

And if it's winter… a plant typically only needs watering a couple times a month.

LIGHTEN UP!

Light is just as important as water. All plants need light to carry out their necessary duties - Give it up for DJ Photosynthesis!

And while all plants need some sort of light to grow… they all are different so make sure you provide them with what they want or they could end up sunburnt (yes… that is a real thing) or ya know, not alive.

Refer to my tips above to see which window you should put your plant near to get the correct light! And one way you can tell you are getting it right with the light… you’ll see new growth!

THE TRINITY TO THRIVE

So just remember, keep your plant in a warm area with good airflow and don’t forget to rotate your plant so all of its sides get proper light!

Your little buddies are going to need the temperature of at least 55 degrees to survive. So you’re gonna want to steer clear of cold drafts in the winter. The warmer you can keep your houseplants, the happier they are (especially the tropical ones)!

One thing I think that makes your plants extra happy is giving them a weekly wipe down. I use a moist paper towel to wipe down their leaves to prevent of buildup and dust. This way their leaves can absorb as much sun as possible and they will stay healthy!

As far as rotating your plants … I like to turn mine 25% every time I water them - that way I’m keeping some kind of consistency with my routine.

SUMMING IT UP

I hope you found some of these tips helpful! Over the next few weeks, I’ll profile all the different plants that I have added to our plant family so you can better understand the specific needs. Please leave me any of your favorite tips below!

Be sure to check out my Instagram for more lifestyle, travel, beauty and fashion tips!

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