Houseplants

5 Tips for Starting with Indoor Plants

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My 5 tips for you, who are starting out in the world of indoor plants!

Don't buy too many plants at once
To start, it's important to take your time. We all make this mistake of going to the nursery and buying 10 plants at once without really knowing the variety. We buy it because we find it really, really beautiful.
My advice: buy only 2 or 3 at a time. Plants, when they are in a greenhouse, are in the best environment for growth. Bringing them home, they may experience a little stress from the change in environment, and therefore, after a few weeks, may not look as nice. I advise you to wait about a month, the time to learn the needs of your new plants, and get used to them before thinking about buying new ones.
Research the plant before deciding to buy it
It's super important to inform yourself about the plants before deciding to buy a new one. Because each plant has specific and different needs. It's also important to plan where you want to place your new plant. Don't hesitate to ask the nursery staff if the plant's name is not indicated on the label. They can help you and advise you on the care the plant requires.
What is important to check:
– Its water, light, and humidity needs
– The variety of the plant
– The difficulty level of maintaining the plant
Less water is better!
It's much easier to revive a plant that has been under-watered than one that has been over-watered. So I advise you that when you find the soil is still sufficiently moist, do not water it. It's important to always check the soil with a moisture detector or with your finger before watering. Some plants need to keep the soil moist while others prefer drier soil (like cacti and succulents, for example).
How much water should I give my plant? It can vary greatly depending on the condition of the soil. If you haven't watered your plant for 3 weeks, you may need to water it several times. My trick to know if my plant is sufficiently watered is to go by the weight of the pot. When the pot feels heavier in my hands, I know I've given enough water.
Consistency
Being consistent and routine-oriented is essential in the world of plants. It's important to have a routine for your plants. If you love decorating with plants but hate watering or don't really have the time to take care of them, I advise you not to venture into a plant collection. Having several plants requires time and discipline. I have a nice routine for my plants, and it works very well. I set aside a morning each week (often on Sundays) that I pair with my cleaning. I take care of all my plants at that time. Otherwise, every morning, I do my little tour during breakfast to check on the rarer and more difficult ones.
Start with plant varieties that are easy to maintain
Choosing easier-to-maintain plants will really be ideal to start with. Some plants require slightly more specific care and are more difficult to understand (for example: calathea, maranta, alocasia). Here is a small list of plants I love to recommend to beginners: