HATS OFF TO THE PLANT LADY
Who you callin’ a plant lady?
It’s all the rage right now… greenery! AND I AM ALL ABOUT IT! I’ve been riding it for a while now but come on and hop on that greenery train. It makes me so happy to see plants everywhere in homes and outside. They add so much to a space.
I can see the wheels spinning now… ‘Get a low maintenance plant. Something I can’t kill. Something that adds green to my house but I don’t need to pay a lot of attention too. Let’s put one in every room of the house’! Whoa whoa whoa green thumb, yes they can be low maintenance but that doesn’t mean that they require no love and they just kick it in the bedroom forever. I don’t want to come on here and pretend like I’m some expert on how to keep plants alive, because I most certainly don’t. But this new trend with greenery in every ones home and outsides has me thinking that maybe I have along the way picked up a couple tips that could be helpful. Could help cut back on the amount of casualties… yes there will be casualties. it hurts my heart too.
They’re tough though, so don’t be discouraged.
DO NOT over water. They’re not like other plants in the sense that they don’t need constant watering. The easiest way to tell is to literally stick your finger in the soil, if the top inch to inch and a half are dry then they need to be watered. Over watering and saturating the soil will leave you with a succulent casualty faster then Rachel left Ross when they were “on a break”. And water the soil directly.
DRAINAGE. I learned this the hard way. Even though they require less water then the average plant, they still require adequate drainage. Make sure whatever pot, planter, mason jar, whatever has good drainage. If it does not then you should create natural drainage for them by placing rocks at the bottom of the soil. This is not what I would recommend doing if you don’t have to but it’s helped when I just can’t give up that perfect “planter”. I’ve also had Kyle drill holes in pots that did not come with drainage.
LIGHT. Succulents and other greenery make for really great indoor buddies but if they are in an area that does not get a lot of light it’s important to rotate them and give them. A little sunshine is good for the human and the plant soul. I’ll stick mine outside during the day sometimes to let them get some light before returning them inside.
SOIL. Pick the right soil. Also a mistake I have made. Succulents and cacti need soil that can drain. The thick stuff like regular potting soil isn’t going to cut the mustard. You’ll need soil that looks like it has little beads in it. I just went to the local nursery and asked. It was easy lol
And last, I love all the plant friends and where they end up isn’t their fault however, try to shop at your local nurseries. Know where you plants are coming from and how to care for them. The last thing you wanna do is bring home a new plant friend and little critters with it. Hope this helps and welcome, you’re one of us now you plant lady you ; )
