turning your black thumb green (gardening tips for a beginner)
written by Alisha Hunter
I love plants. Anybody that knows me knows I love them. I love the way they look, the way they smell, and the way they make my space feel. I love watching them grow and the feeling of their soil. I love taking the time to care for them and learn what they need to thrive and feeling like a proud mom every time they sprout a new leaf.
Houseplants and gardening have brought me a lot of joy in the last few years. There’s just something so satisfying about growth. About putting in the work and seeing results in a tangible way. As someone who comes from a family of farmers, I feel like it’s part of who I am. My connection to nature has always been strong and an important grounding tool for me (I’m a total earth sign).
But, while my love for plants has always been strong, my abilities to care for them haven’t been. Only in the last few years have I become the one-with-nature plant mamma I am today. So, I feel the need to preface this with the fact that I am in no way an expert and have killed more than my fair share of plants. I’ve overwatered them, under watered them, dropped them, and fried them to a crisp. A lot of what owning plants means is failure, research, experimentation, and trial and error. You need time to find what works for your schedule and your space, as well as patience to know you might not get everything right the first time around.
So, with that, I want to share what I’ve learned on my own journey to turn my black thumb green.
1. overwatering is worse than under watering!
As is true in our own lives, too much of a good thing is not good for us. Too much water for your plants means root rot and it’s nearly impossible to bounce back from that. There’s a few different things you can do for houseplants to avoid this.
First, use pots with drainage holes whenever possible. When drainage holes are not available, use pebbles in the bottom of the pot where extra water can sit under the soil and away from your plant’s roots. Next, don’t be afraid to let your plants dry out a bit.
As a general rule, only water houseplants when their soil is completely dry. You can stick your finger (or a toothpick) in their soil an inch or two to test the dryness. If it comes up clean, your soil is dry and it might be time to water. As a bonus, this test will also help aerate your plant’s soil.
Note that the amount of water your plant needs will depend on the plant, the season, and the amount of light it gets. A succulent needs much less water than a rubber plant will, and a plant in more direct light will need more water than one in a more shaded area. Plants also use less water in the colder seasons as their main growing occurs in the warmer months.
Do some research so you know the needs of your plant then do some experimenting to know what works for your plant in your space.
2. find the right kind of light
Not all plants work in every space. It’s unfortunate, but it’s important to know — it could literally be the difference between life and death for your plant. This might be why your snake plant is thriving but your fiddle-leaf fig tree is suffering.
I’ve bought at least three different string of pearls and had them living in two or three different spaces and each time they eventually shrivelled up and withered away. To be fair, they are a tricky plant to save if things start to go south, but I think a lot of it had to do with poor lighting.
The key is to do your research and know what your plant needs. If there’s a specific plant you want, know what kind of lighting it needs to survive and find a place in your home that works. Alternatively, know what kind of lighting your space offers so you are aware of what to look for when you’re out shopping for a new plant.
As a general rule, bright indirect light works well for most houseplants. This means they’re happy by a window that the sun doesn’t shine into too harshly.
Believe it or not, too much light can kill your plants just as easily as too little can! Too much harsh direct sunlight can burn many houseplants’ leaves which can prevent their ability to photosynthesize and could eventually kill them. Some houseplants are able to bounce back from burnt leaves better than others, but it’s still something you want to avoid.
3. extra tips and tricks
There are many tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way (and I’m sure there are still many more I have yet to learn as well). One of the best and easiest tricks I’ve learned is to keep your plant leaves clean.
You might notice that, overtime, your houseplants’ leaves begin to collect dust and/or water spots. This is totally normal! But, a simple wipe with a damp cloth will keep your plants’ leaves clear of anything that might shade them or limit their access to that sweet sunshine. You might notice that doing this on a daily, weekly, or even monthly, basis could help them grow faster!
Misting is another trick a lot of plant owners swear by. I used to mist my golden pathos daily to limit how often I would water it, and it worked well but I found that, for my schedule, it was easier for me to water it every week or two rather than water it a few times a month and mist it every day. If you do choose to mist your plants, try to do it first thing in the morning to avoid the sunlight burning their leaves — when the leaves are wet, they’re more vulnerable and more likely to burn in direct light.
If you’re an experienced plant owner, most of that might have been old news to you — been there, done that, am I right? In which case, I will remind you that I’m not an expert.
I’m just a girl who loves plants and wants to share that love the best way I know how. But, if this is all new to you and you’re still trying to break out of your black thumb phase, that might have been information overload.
So, to make things a little easier for you, here’s a summary of my best suggestions based off what I’ve learned along the way:
Do your research. Look online (Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube have all kinds of plant bloggers), read, ask questions, talk to staff at plant stores and greenhouses, ask your friends who are more experienced with plants, find new plants you like, and have some fun learning new things!
When shopping for houseplants, know what a certain plant needs or know what your space offers. Either way, make sure your space can provide the proper lighting, temperature and overall environment for the plant you want to get.
Don’t overwater!! Do the finger test and wait for the soil to dry out between waterings.
As a general rule, most houseplants like bright indirect lighting. Avoid too much direct sunlight unless your research of a specific plant has told you otherwise.
Remember to wipe their leaves occasionally to keep them clean and happy!
If you choose to mist your plants, do it first thing in the morning to mimic the morning due and prevent burning.
And that’s pretty much it! That’s the most basic of the basics you should know in order to start your own journey to becoming the best plant parent you can be. I hope this has brought you some clarity, relief and excitement to get growing.
xx
Alisha (@alishahunterr)
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about the author
Hi there, I’m Alisha (@alishahunterr)! I’m a student, a writer, a traveler, and an avid supporter of self-care. I am the founder and author of Just Peachy Positivity, a Wellness & Lifestyle Blog (@justpeachypositivity) where I spread messages of self-compassion to readers. My goal is to use Just Peachy Positivity to spread love and positivity and encourage others to do the same.
