8 Things You Need to Know about Your New Plant Baby
Introduction: Bringing home a new plant is an exciting moment. It's the start of a rewarding journey filled with growth, beauty, and the joy of nurturing. To help you ensure the well-being of your new plant baby, we've compiled a list of eight essential things you need to know. From isolation and acclimation to watering, light requirements, fertilization, repotting, humidity levels, and pet-friendliness, these insights will guide you in providing the best care for your new leafy companion.
If you have questions that are not covered in this guide, remember that you have lifetime support with your plant via support@mygreenscape.ca or Instagram @mygreenscapeto
Isolating Your Plant:
Upon arrival, it's crucial to isolate your new plant baby. This step helps prevent the spread of pests and diseases to your existing plant collection. Keep your new arrival in a separate location for a few weeks, monitoring for any signs of infestation or illness before integrating it with other plants.
Bringing a new plant into your home and integrating it with your existing plant collection is an exciting experience. However, it is essential to prioritize the isolation of your new plant, regardless of its source. Taking this precautionary step allows the plant to settle and adapt to its new environment, while also enabling you to detect and address any potential unwanted pests or diseases. By keeping your new plant a distance of one to two meters away from other plants, you ensure a smooth acclimation process and prevent any unwelcome guests from spreading to your cherished plant family.
Acclimating Your Plant:
Plants need time to adjust to their new environment. Gradually expose your plant to its new surroundings by placing it in a partially shaded area and gradually increasing its exposure to light over a week or two. This acclimation process helps prevent shock and allows the plant to adapt smoothly.
Watering Your Plant:
Understanding your plant's watering needs is vital. Different species have varying requirements. Avoid overwatering, as it can lead to root rot, and under watering, which can cause stress or wilting. Learn the specific watering needs of your plant and establish a consistent watering routine based on its moisture requirements.
A useful trick is to prepare your watering can in advance by filling it with water the day before you plan to water your plants. Allow the water to sit at room temperature overnight before using it. This practice facilitates the evaporation of many additives (harmless to humans) present in tap water. By doing so, you provide your plants with a purer form of water, as additives like fluoride, ammonia, phosphoric acid, and chlorine, which are commonly found in tap water, can be challenging for plants to process. These additives often accumulate at the leaf tips, causing them to turn brown or yellow.
When it comes to plants that thrive when the soil dries out between watering sessions, such as snake plants or ZZ plants, bottom watering can be an effective technique. This method allows the soil to gradually absorb water as the hardened soil softens. Simply fill a bowl or saucer with water and place the nursery pot into it, allowing the water to soak up through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. Once the top layer of the soil becomes moist from the water absorption, you can remove the plant from the bowl, let the excess water drain out, and then return it to its outer pot.
Light and What it Means:
Light plays a crucial role in a plant's growth. Assess the lighting conditions in your home and select plants that match those conditions. Some plants thrive in bright, indirect light, while others prefer lower light levels. Observe how your new plant responds to its current location and adjust accordingly to ensure it receives the ideal amount of light.
Remember that plants requiring higher light levels generally need to be watered more frequently. This is because increased light intensity leads to enhanced energy processing and greater water consumption. You can think of it as similar to your own experience when you're outside in the sun on a hot day, where you require more water compared to being under a tree in the shade.
When to Fertilize:
Fertilization provides essential nutrients for plant growth. However, timing is key. Wait until your plant is established and actively growing before introducing fertilizers. Follow the recommended guidelines for the specific plant species and use a balanced fertilizer to ensure healthy development.
For optimal results, it is recommended to use natural fertilizers, such as Bios Natural Plant Fertilizer, as they play a vital role in supporting the growth of plants. These fertilizers reintroduce essential soil microbes to your growing medium through fermentation. The presence of these microbes offers several benefits, including:
- Enhanced water retention, ensuring that plants have access to consistent moisture.
- Improved availability of nutrients and breakdown of organic matter, facilitating nutrient uptake by the plants.
- Strengthened resistance to diseases by outcompeting harmful pathogens and maintaining a balanced microbial environment.
In addition to the beneficial soil microbes, Bios Natural Plant Fertilizer contains a generous amount of high-quality nutrients derived from natural sources. These nutrients are pre-digested during the fermentation process, ensuring immediate availability to your plants. Furthermore, the risk of burning your plants is eliminated, as the nutrients are released gradually over the long term.
Repotting Your Plant:
As your plant grows, it may outgrow its current container. Keep an eye on root-bound plants with crowded roots or those showing signs of slowed growth. When repotting, choose a pot that provides ample space for root expansion and use a well-draining potting mix. Repotting is an opportunity to refresh the soil and give your plant the room it needs to flourish.
Determining if your plant needs repotting is easiest when you observe that the root ball has completely filled the current pot. To check the root ball, gently squeeze the sides of the nursery pot to loosen the soil and roots. Carefully separate the plant from the pot by sliding them apart. Upon inspection, if you notice that the roots have densely occupied the outermost layer of soil all around, it may be an indication that repotting is necessary.
Some plants, such as snake plants, peace lilies, jade plants, ficus, and umbrella trees, prefer to be root-bound, so it is advisable to wait until the roots start deforming the nursery pot or even bursting out before repotting.
When repotting, it's recommended to increase the pot size by two inches in diameter. Going larger than that poses the risk of excessive soil and moisture around the roots, which can lead to root rot as the roots may not be able to absorb all the water within the soil. For example, if your plant is currently in a 4" nursery pot, the next step would be a 6" nursery pot.
Before repotting, assess the current soil type as it can provide guidance on the type of soil needed in the new pot. Start by placing a layer of new soil at the bottom of the pot as a base. Gently loosen the root ball by massaging it, ensuring that the roots are not tightly compacted. Some roots should be free from the main mass, allowing them to explore the new soil quickly. Position the root ball in the pot and gently fill in the gaps around the diameter and slightly above the root ball, bringing the soil level to about the height of the new pot. Use your fingers to gently tuck in the new soil around the plant, but avoid packing it tightly. It's beneficial for the roots to have breathing space and for excess water to evaporate.
If you are new to the plant community or have a plant that requires fast-draining soil, it is best to repot it into another nursery pot and then place it inside a decorative outer pot. The drainage holes in the nursery pot allow any excess water to escape, reducing the chances of root rot and other issues caused by waterlogged soil. If you prefer repotting directly into an outer pot, such as ceramic, concrete, or terracotta, be mindful of the plant's drainage and soil moisture retention needs.
Humidity Level:
Maintaining an appropriate humidity level is vital for certain plant species, especially those native to tropical environments. Consider misting the leaves, using a humidifier, or placing a tray of water and pebbles beneath the plant to increase humidity.
Understanding your plant's humidity preferences can help create a thriving environment.
To maintain a consistent humidity level around your plants and minimize leaf browning caused by dry air, utilizing a pebble tray is highly recommended. By placing a pebble-filled tray beneath your plants, you can provide bottom-up humidity. Another effective method to increase humidity, especially in larger spaces, is by using a room humidifier.
For plants that require moderate to high humidity, misting them with a misting bottle can be beneficial, provided you are consistent with it. However, exercise caution with misting certain plants excessively on the tops of their leaves, as it may lead to fungal problems.
Pet Friendly:
If you have furry friends at home, it's crucial to consider pet-friendly plant options. Some plants can be toxic to animals when ingested. Research the toxicity levels of plants before bringing them into a pet-inhabited space. Opt for non-toxic varieties that are safe for your beloved companions.
Summary — You've Got This:
Welcoming a new plant into your home brings joy and a sense of responsibility. By understanding these eight essential aspects, you'll be well-equipped to provide the best care for your new plant baby. From isolating and acclimating to watering, light, fertilization, repotting, humidity levels, and pet-friendliness, your plant will thrive under your nurturing hands. Enjoy the journey of plant parenthood and witness the beauty and growth that unfolds as you cultivate your leafy companions.
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