Hello there!
If you need some basics to get you prepared for your adventures with plants then this section is for you! We have covered 5 basics that we think will help you in long run. So go ahead & make the most of it and yes always be judicious with your plants.
1. How Do I Select The Right Plant ?
Well, no plant is wrong so how do we decide which one is right?
Consider following points & you may get your answers!
Sunlight!
Choose a plant based on its Sunlight requirements & compare it with location where you intend to keep it. It’s pretty easy, most indoor plants need Sunlight at least few hours a day; some less some more. Direct or Indirect exposure depends on its preferences.
Check out our plant notes on product pages for more clarity.
Flowering Plants or Plants with Fruit generally prefer more Sunlight whereas many foliage or ornamental plants can thrive even in moderate to low lights.
Space Availability
Each plant's growth pattern is different & the way it grows varies a lot as well. So keep in mind the spread, max height that can be reached & pot size in mind in relation to the space where you intend to keep it.
Wind & Temperature
In general most plants prefer balanced conditions. (Speaking in the context of Indian conditions) If the place chosen by you gets extreme heat or cold air vent of AC then its better if you choose an alternate location. Conditions shouldn’t be too harsh on plants.
Decor & Styling
Well this is where it gets interesting. Plants can add colours and patterns into your mundane looking spaces. Check out different options before choosing. Oh yes, you may choose a plant that goes well with your wall colour, finish of your centre table, or even the painting on your wall. You are spoilt for choices; trust us when we say it.
Attention
Some plants need to be looked after more than others. So if you don't intend to spend too much time on plants then choose plants which can survive even when neglected. You would be surprised how many plants can do just fine even if neglected at times. They aren’t all fussy you know.
Emotions!
Yes you read that right.
We believe that in a plant you bring home a dear friend. So go ahead and let loose, choose a plant that you connect with emotionally. Sounds a bit odd? Not so much if you ask any avid plant enthusiast. Plants reciprocate our feelings they just have different ways to do it.
So if you really like one just choose it. Talk to them, share your joys and sorrows with them they have their own ways to comfort you. Believe in the power of Mother Nature to make you happy.
For all other care you can always turn to us for relevant information. We are sure you would be an excellent plant parent after all.
If you still need assistance you may simply click here to find yourself a plant
2. Soil Mix & Growth Media?
Yes, choosing right growth media goes a long way in maintaining a plant well. If you have bought a plant from a nursery then basic growth media requirements are usually taken care of and all you need is proper watering and some fertiliser.
Potting Mix?
Yes, this is a common term that you may come across while growing plants at home.
Usually it’s a mixture of light weight media & some nutrient providing ingredient. It generally includes Coco Peat for giving volume and an easy to penetrate substrate for plant roots. Added to that is some soil and organic fertilizer like compost or vermi compost or cow dung extract. All of which provide nutrients to plants. You may also come across terms like Perlite or Vermiculite which are elements that help media retain moisture post watering.
For regular use just go ahead with standard organic fertilizer available to you and feed it to your plant once in a month or two. Yes it’s that easy! And as all things organic, they aren’t harmful for plants even if you add a bit extra by chance.
3. How Do I Manage Watering?
Plants need water for sure but it doesn’t mean we need to water them all daily.
Each plant follows its unique water requirements so frequency of watering is more important than how much you water at a given time. As a thumb rule soil dryness is the best indicator of need of watering. Touch the surface of potting mix and if it feels dry then water it.
The next question is how much to water?
Answer is simple, water it thoroughly! Plant pots generally have holes at the bottom. When you water thoroughly you must let entire layer of potting mix to get water and then let it run out of the bottom holes. This ensures all root tips which are spread within the pot get water.
Remember ‘moisturising’ the soil does not mean making it ‘water logged’. You know the difference of two terms above so just ensure you are not creating puddle inside the pot.
Water the plant at the base not from top.
While watering from top isn’t necessarily harmful practice it’s advisable to water plant at its base. Remember it’s the roots that need water for absorption.
For watering the leaves or aerial roots in certain plants you may use misting which in essence involves spraying water using a spray can or jet spray. Don’t let the force of the jet be so high that it damages the leaves or branches.
As you may have heard already overwatering has killed many more plants than under watering. So let’s not make that mistake shall we? Always remember ‘When In Doubt – Do Not Water’
4. Stability
You would be surprised how similar plants are to us humans! Like most of us stability goes a long way in ensuring proper growth & development. Plants tend to adapt to the location where they are kept. Even if the place isn’t ideal plants adapt to their surroundings.
So give them that stability. Don’t move them around too much. They are so amazing that they would adjust to their surroundings without much fuss.
Another aspect of stability involves re-potting. Don’t be in a haste to re-pot the plant.
It’s an activity that needs to be done once a year maybe. So be wise about it, do it only when necessary, look for indicators like really slow growth or roots peeping out of holes at the bottom or root binding (Circular wrapping of roots around soil bulb)
In general just be careful around plants, they are self sufficient beings just let them be and enjoy their company without getting too touchy with them.
5. General Precautions
In general plants are pure bundle of joy. Watching them grow is a satisfaction best experienced in person. Some plants tend to be poisonous when eaten or chewed. Even if they are not poisonous just ensure your kids or pets don’t chew on them. Among other things they may not taste so well either, so why do it?
Growing vegetables at home is a different ball game all together and need to be dealt with separately. So don’t apply generic knowledge for those. After all it’s good to be wise with your food choices.
In an age of social media, online ‘Plant Hacks’ can be seen a plenty! Do not fall for such ‘Hacks’ while some of them may work most of them can do more damage to plant than benefit it. Stick to simple gardening methods.
Finally, use of proper tools while gardening does you a lot of favour by saving your time and making your life easy while gardening. So select right tools as per your need.
We hope that with these basics now covered you would find yourself more adept at home gardening. So just go ahead and get yourself a plant baby today!