A Plant Care Guide That
Starts at the Roots

Watering runs on the plant, not on a day of the week, and that’s the whole point of caring by origin. A succulent from arid Africa wants its soil bone dry between drinks, while a fern from a rain forest floor wants steady moisture. Check the soil with your finger before you water, and let the plant’s home region set the rhythm. To water your plants well, soak the soil until the extra drains out of the drainage holes, then empty the saucer. Most indoor plants grow slowly in the winter months and need less.

Bright indirect light is a spot near a window where the plant sees plenty of daylight but the sun’s rays never land directly on the leaves for long stretches. A few feet back from a south or west facing window, or right in an east facing one, usually gets you there. Most tropical plants like bright light of that kind, while direct sunlight through glass can scorch their leaves.

Please do. Plants, accessories, and knowledge are what we trade in, and the questions are often the best part of the visit. Bring a photo of the plant you’re wondering about and we’ll talk it through.

Snake plants and ZZ plants are the classic low light plants, and they forgive a dim corner better than most. A spider plant sits in the middle: happiest in bright indirect light, but forgiving of a shadier shelf. Even low light means daylight you could read by, since no plant lives in the dark.

Root rot happens when plant roots sit in soggy soil and run short of air. Check the soil before you water, use a pot with drainage holes, and let the top inch or two dry out for most houseplants. Dark, mushy roots and a sour smell mean the soil has stayed wet too long.

Pests on a houseplant are easiest to handle early. Move the plant away from the others, wipe the leaves, and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil, following the label. Check the undersides of the leaves, where spider mites and other pests like to hide.

Houseplants need fertilizer only while they’re actively growing. Plants grow most when the days are long and the light is bright, so feed lightly then; a slow release fertilizer is an easy way to do it. Skip feeding when growth stops.

The best care tips for a new plant parent are small ones. Start with a forgiving plant, learn its home region, and water only when the soil says it’s time. Keep the routine steady, since plants like the same window week to week, and put light first, because plants need it before water or food.