Beginner Mistakes
In order to become a better planter, you need to go through trial and error. Planting is a forever learning process and even the best planters out there have their moments. I think of planting kind of like golfing, even the pros have their off days. You cannot be hard on yourself because we all have been there and make mistakes along the way.
Back before I really got into plants, I would go to Trader Joes and my local floral shop and spend around $25 on flowers that would last me a week or two at the most. I wouldn’t think anything of it when they died, because I knew it was temporary. Which makes no sense to me now, that when I spend $15 on a plant and kill it, I get so upset and mad at myself. The best advice I can give you is that you have to remember when you spend money on a plant and get to enjoy it, even if that plant lives 10 weeks or 10 years, it brought you joy. And, if you can get more than a couple weeks out of a plant, that still lasted you longer than some Trader Joes flowers!
I made a bunch of mistakes in the beginning and it is my mission now to help other beginners learn how to keep their plants thriving. The number one problem that I came across in the beginning was root rot. It turns out that you are less likely to kill a plant if you let the soil dry out, than to overwater it. Typically, a plant will tell you when it needs water and will start showing signs of wilting or browning leaves. My soil in the beginning wasn’t drying out quick enough as well, which is what led to root rot. Soil plays a huge roll in a plants health. All my plants that are in soil are mixed with perlite and coco chips. Most planters will tell you that if you buy a plant from a big box store, they will wait a week or two and then repot with their own soil. Big box stores could also overwater the plant, not knowing, which could lead to root rot as well. Drainage is extremely important, so make sure your pots have drainage holes as well. I tend to leave my plants in their nursery pots and then drop them into my decorative pots with no holes.
Another huge mistake I came across was what I was watering my plants with. Certain types of plants need filtered or distilled water and some can even handle your basic tap water. Do your research on the specific plant before you start watering. Fun fact, I also had no idea that you could give your plant fertilizer every watering. When I discovered TPS plant food it was a game changer because they have specific plant food for certain types on plants. It makes it easier to figure out which plants need which food. When I repotted my plants I started using SUPERthrive and noticed how much it helped with the shock of repotting. I found this product just by asking my local nursery worker what I should use on a plant that was dying. People working at the nursery’s are typically very knowledgeable and love to help and answer any questions. I also went to a few popular bloggers on Instagram for advice and they were kind enough to help me out as well. Turns out, people who love plants, love helping other plant people with questions they have answers to. Most of my instagram reels that do the best, are just of me asking for help. Yes, I could probably just go to google, but there is something so great connecting with other planty friends who have been through the same struggle.
Don’t ever give up because even if you don’t think you have a green thumb, there could be easy fixes to the plants you are having trouble with. If you tend to overwater your plants, there are specific plants that thrive on a lot of water, like Fittonias. If you tend to underwater plants there ARE indeed plants that do great with watering only once a month, like ZZ plants. You have to find that plant that suits you and your lifestyle the best. If you have a house with lowlight, you will need to make sure that you buy plants that can do better in low light homes, like snake plants. If you live in the desert, maybe do not buy plants that need high humidity.
I know all this information can be a bit stressful at first but the more you learn the closer you will come to achieving that green thumb. Patiences and determination my planty friends.