The Best Advice to Give a New Plant Parent

Plant ownership can be an exciting and rewarding adventure. Once you get a hang of it, that is. For the beginners, it can seem daunting and at times, even discouraging. There’s nothing quite like bringing your first plant home only to watch the flowers fade…and your enthusiasm with it. I’ve had a lot of experience caring for plants and through the trials, I’ve come to realize a few key things. Here is the best advice I can give to a new plant parent (and advice you can pass to others, too):

1. Know your home. Where you live has a big impact on your new plants. If your house or apartment has small windows, with mostly shadowed light, you’ll want to stick to plants like the ZZ Plant, Pothos, or Philodendron that don’t require high levels of sunlight. If your home is characterized by large windows and bright light, palms, succulents, and Snake Plants are good choices. Humidity also plays a factor: cacti like dry climates while ferns love muggy atmospheres.
2. Sense your style. Just like every plant is subtly different, so is every new plant parent. Will you be a helicopter parent constantly obsessing over every yellow leaf or dark spot? Or are you the laissez-faire type who’ll only get around to watering and fertilizing every few months? The better you know yourself, the easier it will be to pick plants—and keep them alive for longer. If you prefer being hands-on, a Fiddle Leaf Fig or Cyclamen might be your preferred plant. Look no further than a Golden Pothos if you’re planning on letting your new plant do its own thing.
3. Take your time. Being a new plant parent is tough. Things will get messy, and you’ll experience a few growing pains. If your first plant doesn’t survive, don’t immediately give up! Understanding the intricacies of individual plants and their care takes time…and a healthy amount of trial and error. If you keep trying, you’ll soon have a home filled with happy, thriving plants and plenty of advice to give to others!

Pro Tip: If you have pets around the house, you’ll want to make sure your new plants aren’t toxic. Here’s the complete list of toxic and non-toxic houseplants!

Ready to become a new plant parent?
It’s never too late to make the leap into plant parenthood! When the going gets tough, reach out to some fellow plant lovers for recommendations and encouragement. It won’t be long before you have a jungle of your own! What advice would you give to a new plant parent? I’d love to know in the comments!

XO,
Micah