Akin to the feeling we get when a friend is about to watch a movie we suggested or a restaurant we recommended, we’re equally excited for the journey you’re about to begin with your plants. Let’s help you get started on the right track!
Choosing your Plant
Before you adopt a new pet, you research their care. Perhaps you look into different breeds: do you want a lap dog or an energetic pooch?
Your journey with a new plant should start in the same way. Here are a few things to consider before choosing your plant:
- How much light do you have in your space?
Some plants, such as a Bird of Paradise and most cacti, do well in brightly-lit environments such as on a sunny southern windowsill.
Others, such as snake plants, will tolerate very low light such as feet from a dreary northern windowsill—but will grow better when given higher lighting conditions.
Before choosing a plant, first choose where you’d like to put it. In the northern hemisphere, southern lighting is the brightest while northern lighting is dimmest. Trees and buildings nearby will also affect the lighting your room receives.
- How much time do you have to give your plant attention?
Some plants are super needy, while others do better with some neglect. People who love to fuss over their plants may love a fern or a Fittonia, both of which need their soil to be consistently moist—but never soggy.
On the other hand, succulent plants require watering much less frequently. If you forget these plants for a few weeks, they’ll recover due to their tolerance for drought.
- Do you have any pets to consider?
If you have pets (or even children) who may eat your plants, you’ll have to think twice about what you buy and where you place it. Many common houseplants are toxic, and can cause stomach irritation if ingested.
Some plants can be placed up high to avoid this, but think about the lighting in those locations as well as your child or pet’s ability to climb. For instance, it’s very difficult to keep cats away from plants.
When browsing for plants on plntd.ae, the filter tool will help you to choose the right plant for you.
Caring for your Plants
Once you have your plant, you will need to care for it. Most plant owners think immediately about watering and pruning, but other things to consider are cleaning your plant, repotting, and fertilizing.
Here’s how:
- Watering: Develop a routine to check your plants moisture levels and water it as-needed. This may be a daily routine for ferns or a weekly routine for succulents or snake plants. For more information, check out our guide to watering your houseplants.
- Cleaning/pruning: Dust accumulating on your plant’s leaves can hinder its ability to photosynthesize by blocking the sun’s rays. Wipe your plant’s leaves or shower it monthly to clean off any debris. In addition, use this time to prune away any dead foliage. This will help to reduce pests, which are often attracted to dead leaves.
- Repotting: Check your houseplant once a year to see if it needs to be repotted. You’ll know it’s ready when you remove the plant from its pot and see many roots surrounding the soil. Some plants don’t mind being root bound like this, while others will suffer.
- Fertilizing: Most plants need to be fertilized once a month during the growing season, which is typically spring and summer—but can vary. Fertilize less as your plant’s growth slows.
To help you further, we’ve developed specific plant care guides for the plants we offer on plntd.ae. You can find them here.
Sharing the Joy of your Plants
Living with plants is one of the great joys of our lives here at plntd, and we love sharing that experience through our store and our social media.
You don’t have to keep the joy to yourself either—come join our community of plant lovers today!
Tag us @plntd.ae on to share photos of your new plants—we’d love to see!
