Plants aren’t terribly hard to take care of. In fact, some thrive when almost completely forgotten about. With that being said, there are a few bases you have to cover if you want to start growing plants.
Sunlight, water and nutrients. Those are the key ingredients for any plantopia, because, like humans, plants have some basic requirements for survival. Light is the energy source they need to stimulate photosynthesis, while water and nutrients feed your plants and help them grow big, strong and beautiful.
Finding the right light is key. Lighting requirements differ greatly between plants, so make sure to observe each individually and see how it adapts to its new spot in your home. As a general rule, if the plant starts to wilts, develops brown edges or drops leaves, then the lighting isn’t quite right and you should move it to a different spot and observe it there.
Now whenever I’ve tried to google the right amount of lighting, I’m left with endless pages of suggestions that will say things like, “prefers low to high indirect light,” which really isn’t helpful. That’s the whole spectrum for peat's sake! So, I got to the bottom of it. I bought a book instead.
The book, Plant Society, is a great beginner guide to all things plants. It covers topics like the basics of tending for plants, pests and fungus troubles, propagation and all that lies in between. The book is where I ended up finding exactly what types of light there are and ways to make homemade fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides!
The four types of lighting are harsh light, well-lit light, dappled light and low light.
- Harsh or light is a place where the plant will get direct sun for most of the day. These are south or south-facing windows. Most succulents and desert palms grow well in these spots.
- Well-lit places are spots that receive several hours of direct sunlight throughout the day, such as east-or-west-facing windows. Some recommended plant varieties are begonias, fiddle-leaf figs (Ficus lyrate), peace lilies (Spathiphhyllum) , radiator plants (peperomia), or wax plants (Hoya).
- Dappled light is indirect sunlight shielded by larger foliage, or in a spot 2 to 3 metres (6.5 to 10) away from the window. Many plants thrive in this natural lighting, including Chinese money plants (Pilea peperomiodes), Monstera, peace lilies (Spathiphyllum), Philodendron, prayer plants (Matanta leuconeura), rubber plants (Ficus elastica), and zebra plants (Aphelandra).
- Low light are dark spaces like a bathroom, rooms with minimal natural light, or windows shaded by trees. Most ferns enjoy these places, while others that like dappled light can adjust. Some species include the bird’s nest fern (Asplenium), cast-iron plants (Aspidistra elatior), Monstera, paper plants (Fatsia), peace lilies (Spathiphyllum), Philodendron, Zanibar gems (Zamioculcas), and zebra plants (Aphelandra).
As a general rule, tropical plants enjoy dappled, or indirect light. Tropical varieties are most commonly found in grocery stores, Home Depots and places where you’ll probably pick up your first plant, so that tip should help you best place your plant!
The second downfall for many people is over watering. I’ve killed my fair share of plants sporadically dousing my plants without any regard for whether they actually need it or not. People have asked me how much water plants need, and the answer depends on the plant. Some like to stay moister (like ferns), while others enjoy dry durations broken apart with a light watering. Your plants have ways of telling you if they’re thirsty. Common signs are dry soil, leaf wilt and leaf drop.
Another general rule for tropical plants is that they like to stay moist in the warmer months. This means the soil is wet, but not overly saturated or damp. Make sure to let the soil dry out for a day or so between watering. Water again once the top 2 inches of soil are dry. You can stick your finger in and gauge the depth by where your first knuckle is. Once you’ve become more experienced, there are other ways to tell when it needs a drink. For now, this is the easiest way to do it!
WARNING:
· Don’t let your plant sit in water for more than a day or so or it could develop root rot—a nasty fungus that will cause serious damage.
· Keep your plants away from heaters or air conditioning vents.
Next week I’ll discuss the different recipes for fertilizers and why they’re helpful. Till then, find the right window for your little guy!
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