Its PLANT WEEK!!!!!!!! Do you even know how exciting this is?!? Its like Shark Week but WAYYYYY better and with a lot less fear (mostly). Every day this week I have got an amazing project for you that will make the love in your plant-lovin heart swell to massive proportions.
Before we dive into DIY thought I thought it would be a really fantastic idea to talk about how not to kill your plants.
Trust me when I tell you that this post has been a long time coming and has been built upon the backs of hundreds of plants that I have unintentionally murdered. Do you guys remember Elmyra from Tiny Toons? Yes. That was me but with succulents.
Now I am no expert in this field but here is what I have learned.
Tip #1: Buy your plants at The Home Depot! They have a 1 year guarantee on them, so while it is a little bit embarrassing, you can take in your dead cacti (just make sure that they have a container and receipt) and they will give you a refund or a new plant. I don’t return small guys, but I have returned a Fiddle Leaf Fig that was $80 and it was no problem at all. I opted to exchange it for a few smaller houseplants and as I was leaving the cute door greeter wished them luck. It was hilarious.
Tip #2: Plants need sunlight. So I get that this one might not be that revolutionary but hear me out. I for the life of me couldn’t figure out why every succulent that I bought was dying. I didn’t over or under water them, they were repotted correctly but they still died. Until I realized that they need direct sunlight at least part of the day and they weren’t getting it sitting on my coffee table or bookcase. Once I started moving them to the windows (at least a few times a week) EVERYTHING changed. When I had one that was dying, it took an extended hospital stay on the kitchen table (where there is direct sunlight for 1/2 the day) and guess what?? Instead of dying they started getting better!!
That super long guy growing out of the blue planter used to look like this (after unintentionally being frozen solid…)
Tip #3: Find the watering groove. Every type of plant is different and I only have a few that require up close and personal care (you’ll meet them this week, its so worth it!!) I feel like people never know how much to water a cactus. A good rule of thumb is to water cactus next to never. The thinner the cactus, the more frequently it needs water. This little guy is seriously thin and gets watered about once every 10 days, when I don’t water it you can tell its drying out too much because it looks like this:
See how it just looks not right?
For cacti with a thicker trunk or leaves they need less water. Ones like this only get watered about once every 2-3 months.
If anything I tend to underwater…my sister on the other hand has an overwatering problem. When my plants start to die they get crispy, hers get really droopy and even the dead leaves are still soft and pliable. There is a very different look between plants that are under watered and over watered. Does it look thirsty or like its drowning?
Tip #4: The right way to divide a plant. One of the real life struggles of plant hoarding is not being patient enough to wait for a teeny plant to grow. I have killed many a plant trying to shove it into a smaller container so that it looks fuller or because the container is what the focus is on, not the plant. I’ve learned however that they don’t make Spanx for plants and they actually hate being squished with all of your might into a spot of your choosing. Without getting too technical about plant species, I’ve learned that plants that have more than one growth point from the roots (rhizomes) can be easily divided and therefore fit into smaller containers. Common examples are Snake Grass (MIL’s Tongue), some ferns, some succulents and cacti.
Basically if it looks like this (with multiple growths separately coming out of the soil) you are in luck!
Start by watering your plant a day beforehand if you can. This will soften the soil and make the roots prepped for movement.
Remove the planter.
Find a clear path for splitting (like parting your hair)
Some plants will come apart at the roots just by doing that, if it doesn’t, use a sharp knife to cut through the soil.
Keep dividing as much as you need to until your root ball is a little smaller than your container!
This aloe plant that I divided has really thick roots that I could untangle instead of cutting through.
Tip #5: Replanting. Almost all plants hate “wet feet” which is when their roots sit in water for an extended period of time. Drainage is a super necessary part to a happy plant. If you can find a container with a drainage hole you are in luck, if you want to plant in something that doesn’t have one, you’re still in luck, you just need some small rocks. (Target has some great little planters on clearance right now that have holes with plugs in them)
When the bottom is taken care of (with rocks or a hole) put some fresh soil into the planter and then your plant.
Fill in the sides with soil, water it and put it in the sun.
I’m sure that there are a million other techniques and steps for replanting (depending on the type of plant) but just adding rocks to the bottom of a planter for better drainage was a huge game changer for me.
Tip #6: Start with something easy to keep alive. Everyone loves Fiddle Leaf Fig plants but those suckers are fin-ic-ky. I’ve killed at least a dozen in the last 3 years. If you are a novice or a murderer, don’t start there. Get a Snake Grass or a palm, they are SO much easier to keep alive!
Tip #7: Plants act differently in different environments (face palm. Duh Mandi) Sorry if I am captain obvious, but this is really stuff I didn’t know! In February I bought 2 Peruvian Apple Cacti. One lives in my living room and the other one lives on my front porch.
Though they are sisters, they could not act more different.
The one in my house has this arm that is growing like CRAZY. It’s grown 18” in the last 4 months (you can see the new growth because its a little skinnier and lighter green)
You can see what it looked like a few months ago in the picture below, its the little guy sticking up behind the pillow on the couch.
The one outside has only grown this little arm.
But the one outside had 17 blossoms on it (they are beautiful and so fragrant but only lasted one night, by the time I got out in the morning to take pictures of them they were already closed and dying. Its like on Dennis the Menace!)
The cactus inside hasn’t bloomed at all.
Crazy right!?
Tip #8 Succulent Propagation takes a long time. In February I tried my hand a succulent propagation (you can find a gorgeous how to here). 5 months later this is what I have to show for it.
Teeeeeny baby succulents.
They aren’t dead but man they take a while. So I guess this tip is to not give up if your propagation is feeling a little bit um…stunted? Maybe by plant week next year I’ll have an actual full sized succulent to show you!
Ok now this is where you guys get to chime in with all of your plant tips, tricks, favorites, horror stories, must have products, really anything plant related is welcome.
See you tomorrow!!!
I think a really important tip is to be aware that there are other problems plants may have besides over or underwatering. If you see the leaves turning brown or yellow it may actually be a nutrient deficiency, in which case watering will not fix the plant!
This happens to me! I thought it was light-related but adding a grow light hasn’t helped much. I’ve lost so many beautiful plants (different expensive topiaries). What can I do? Help!
PS: Im in a teeny downtown apartment
Hi, my name is Kirsten, and I am a plant murderer. In the past 3 months, I have successfully murdered 12 potted plants. Admitting my problem is the first step to recovery.
Thanks for these tips! There’s hope for me yet! I desperately want cute green things in my home but I’ve thus far sucked at keeping anything alive (except my kid, thankfully – 13 years and counting!).
(By the way, looking forward to meeting you at Haven!!)
Ugh I have the same problem with killing succulents! I think I drown them with too much love. They get enough sun, I stopped over watering them and they still keep dying. I don’t understand.
this is awesome, and also very inspiring. i am a convicted plant murderer, but am trying to reform my ways, so any help is greatly appreciated! i love those snake grass plants, they have an almost architectural look, and i think i would like to add a couple to my family.
This is awesome! I just moved out of a dark basement suite and into a bright house so I’ve been going crazy buying plants! After reading this I realize I’ve definitely been over-watering my cactus.
Oh man, can you start a support group for us or something? Nice to know I’m not alone!
Since we bought our first house 8 months ago I’ve been collecting all the plants I couldn’t have when we were in an apartment….and at first I seriously over watered them all. After bringing a couple back from the brink of drowning (by putting newspaper underneath to draw the extra water out) my mother in law now checks them all whenever she comes over and administers first aid where necessary, which is embarrassing, but better than losing all the plants! I’ve found that mine only need to be watered once a week, and sparingly (I have mostly ferns, and the weather here is very cool) so I set an alarm to make sure I don’t forget!
Thanks for all the great advice! Also where is that rug from in the 6th pic from the bottom?
Your two cacti are acting differently because of the different environments. The one inside is growing quickly toward the light, because it’s seeking sun.. The one outside is blooming because it’s happy, the one inside likely will not bloom unless you move it outside.
Someone told me to catch rain water for my indoor plants and it’s been a total game changer! Set out a watering can or bucket and catch a little unfiltered rain water for your indoor babes–they will thank you for it!
“they don’t make Spanx for plants” <— ROFL! I too am a plant murderer and I have yet to be reformed but hopefully with some of these tips I will!
this is so helpful! thanks for sharing!
I love plants! You might even say I have a slight plant hoarding problem. I can’t resist picking up a couple baby plants at my local nursery every time I go. Ferns are my favorite, but yet they are my nemesis, I kill them dead. I have a Rabbit Foots fern that I have finally kept alive for a year. I was keeping them in dim rooms with lots of water, but realized that some of them love sunlight and need to dry out slightly between watering. I am now working on a little button fern, help it’s precious little leafy soul. I just bought a ton of baby Hens and Chicks! I have been wanting some for awhile and my local nursery was running a sale. Looking forward to the rest of Plant Week! 🙂
Finally, a group I can get behind! I’ve always said that my picture is on the wall at Home Depot as the Most Wanted Plant Serial Killer, but it looks like I have some competition here. Since we are having a drought here in California, I don’t feel so bad about all the dead things right now; I’m just doing my part for the water shortage. Good luck to the rest of you and your plants.
Ditto on the rain water. Total game-changer. I fill up gallon jugs and keep a reserve outside, especially during the dry spells.
former plant murderer here, too – even though it seems what mine were not liking was the atmosphere in my previous flats… but agree on the watering!
I don’t think your succulent in the blue planter is getting enough sun, even in its new location. It’s getting leggy because it is stretching toward the sun. All of my succulents end up doing the same, so I stopped buying them. It’s really hard to get enough sun indoors for succulents.
Hi!
I had been killing my plants for awhile (mostly outdoors) until I learned the most basic rule for planting: plants don’t like air pockets very much because their roots have nothing to grab on to! When you plant (this goes for pots as well), make sure to compress the soil just enough so that your plant doesn’t feel like you can pull it out easily. Then add more soil as needed. It is a gaaaaaame changer! Good luck!
Been terrified to repot plants. Have put it off for months. Glad I saw this tip! Thank you!!
“Every day this week I have got an amazing project for you that will make the love in your plant-lovin heart swell to massive proportions.” Just reading that sentence made my heart swell!! I love your projects Mandi, and I LOVE houseplants, so I can’t wait to see what you come up with. One other totally obvious thing that I have noticed in my plant hoarding career is paying attention, and knowing what the plant needs. That’s the reason I used to be a plant-killer. I geek out on houseplant books now and always look for them at thrift stores. One great thing about this indoor plant revival is seeing more places to buy interesting plants, outside of the big box stores. There are some VERY cool places to buy plants in Washington & Oregon, and I like to hit up nurseries when I travel. Mandi, if you’re ever in Portland, OR, you gotta check out Portland Nursery on 82nd & Division. They’re indoor section and indoor display gardens(!)are absolute paradise for a plant lover.
Any of you other (serious) plant hoarders have any tips on keeping plants happy while travelling in the summer time? I’ve tried different things (including a housesitter) and inevitably everybody’s hurting if I’m away for more than a few days. Anybody used those terracotta self-watering things for houseplants?
Thanks!! This is great information! I’m a plant serial killer and am looking to change my ways. Do you have any tips for getting rid of gnats? I swear 70% of the plants I buy end up having a gnat infestation!! I end up killing the plants with pesticides or end up just chucking them before the gnats infest my other plants!!
Hi! Sorry for my poor english… I’ll try my best to make myself understood. I’ve been suffering the very same problem with my plants, specially with the”whitefly”.
The solution: potassium soap. A dilution with slightly warm watter. Spray your plants once a week or five days. It’s an ecological mixture, it won’t hurt your plants at all! And will put and end to infestation progresively.
You can combine the spray sessions of potassium soap with another fantastic product: a watter dilution if Neem oil. This combination is infallible!
All great tips. I had been killing mine for a while too. Luckily i did buy mine from The home depot, so i didnt have trouble returning them. I was definitely over watering. I now just water mine once every two weeks if needed.
Thanks for the tips! I never thought that there was a warranty on house plants. I am slowly killing 5 orchids plants and it could be also from lack of light or scheduling the watering. You did not write anything about feeding them. Is it necessary for succulents?
I have a friend who is really good with orchids. She says to just put a couple of ice cubes in the pot once a week and you should be good. Our ice cubes go through a water softener so that didn’t work for us and regular watering resulted in it’s slow death. 🙁
Hilarious, yet informative! I laughed so hard at “Spanx for plants”. Thanks for the tips!
Oh Mandi this gives me so much hope. My mom made plants look so easy and now my plant history has been such a toss up :/
This is totally my topic! I have killed a lot of houseplants in my day, but the ones I keep coming back to are ones that can take my brand of abuse. Here are my own rules:
– Start with cheap small plants like from IKEA and hardware stores. Learn what you kill and what you keep alive, and only spend money on fancy bigger plants from nice nurseries once you’ve experimented on cheap small ones.
– Don’t be afraid of repeating the same plant everywhere. If you find a species that you seem incapable of killing, put one of those in every room. It’s better than having no plans at all.
– Personally, I like plants that communicate their needs by looking droopy when they need watering. If I can catch them during the acceptable window and water them in time for them to spring back, everybody wins. For this I like pothos, schefflera, peperomia, and ruffled philodendrons.
soil is also very important, different plants like more sand or perlite, or something less water retaining than others. it holds onto water less and allows for drainage. remember in the wild, when the water hits the ground it keeps going. many plants like to be watered often with soil that does NOT hold onto the water. think of a these people who grow plants in nothing but water. its because the water is always fresh and constantly moving. and filled with food and oxygen for them. if you took the same plant with the same water and just water logged the soil. it would rot the plant. and yet when planting you want to make sure there are no pockets of air in the soil. this is one reason to water right after planting. to let the holes fill in.
pick a good fertilizer and feed them in the spring and fall. at least. also find out what kind of acidity your plant likes. type it into the web in the form of a question. some like more acid others not so much.
Light and underwater img are my issue with all my plants. I must get better at this! My plant budget is dwindling 😉
One thing that might be why the cactus inside is growing tall fast is its searching for more light. I had no idea plants grew taller super fast to get close to light. But my mom informed me when I had plants doing it. But not sure if cactus does that…
I just discovered your blog and I LOVE IT! From another former plant murder (who has sort of (at least tried to) changed my ways recently) I found this super helpful! Thank you thank you!