You’ve brought home your new plant, perfect and shiny from the greenhouse.  You quickly google the name and find a myriad of information about your new plant.  But sifting through all the blogs, you really don’t know what to believe.  Here are some foolproof guidelines to your new potted friend!

  1. Don’t re-pot immediately.

Indoor plants straight from the nursery are grown in potting soil that has been specially formulated to optimize growth.  Growers know exactly the right ratios of peat, vermiculite, pearlite and other materials needed to create healthy roots and healthy leaves.  Then people remove the plant from this soil and re-pot it into “all purpose” potting mix.  If you’re plant wasn’t on the clearance rack because it’s been at the nursery for 3 years, it more than likely doesn’t need to be re-potted anytime soon.  When it does come time to re-pot (maybe every 2-5 years) make sure to not go up in size more than 2 inches.  Plant roots need time to grow into the new space and if there is too much space, plant roots can quickly rot.

  1. Even Low-Light plants need light.

You’ve picked out the perfect plant for your low light situation.  A “Snake Plant” or a “ZZ Plant”, or any of the other great options out there.  But remember low light still means there is light in the room.  Indoor plants rarely want direct sun on their leaves, they naturally grow in the understory of the rainforest where very little light penetrates and reaches their leaves.  For a good reference, if you can read a book in the room without turning on lights, you’ve got a bright light room.  If you can cast a shadow, you’ve got a medium light room.  And if you’ve got at least one window in the room that offers ambient lighting, you’ve got a low light room.  No windows, no plants.

  1. Watering on a schedule is your first problem.

Plants need water when they are thirsty.  Different scenarios may make plants dehydrate faster than others.  Just a few reasons why a plant may need more frequent watering: a low light plant in a bright window, a draft or vent nearby, moving a new plant to a new location, warm room temperatures, longer day lengths.  Always check to make sure your plant is actually dry before thoroughly watering, and make sure to never let your plant sit in standing water.

If you still need some expert advice don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@modernfoliage.com with your specific plant questions!  We love getting photos of your plants and helping you succeed!

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