Level Up!

Even the most novice plant owner who has only ONE plant they have managed to keep alive for years, knows that plants need water and light to survive. How much water and how much light may not be as easy to discern, but they keep that one plant alive and its growing bigger, so they must be doing something right. 

Next level plant owners may buy a few more plants thriving in their nursery pots from a greenhouse, grab a nice bag of soil, and a few cool pots and try their hand at repotting. Or maybe their one plant seems to have grown so much they decide it is time to repot for the first time. Some plants respond great to this and a new skill is learned, but some seem to stall or even decline. Of course, this could be a myriad of other issues with lighting, air flow, humidity, soil etc. But let’s just talk repotting.

Repotting from a nursery pot is generally a good idea. Not because of the nursery pots themselves but because they may be over watered, overcrowded, or “root bound” (not always bad and I’ll get to that). Repotting after a year or so is also generally a good idea, but it is really all about the roots and what root sitch that specific plant needs to thrive.

Since my first philodendron in my 20’s until recently, I relied on my instincts to tell me what my plants needed. Some plants were sacrificed using this method, but I’ve always had a pretty green thumb, so I stuck with my method. As a rule, I’ve knows leveling up a pot any more than an inch and ½ or 2 inches larger could stall the growth of a plant as much as a pot that is too small would. I also learned after repotting many plants along the way, that some plants actually prefer to be rootbound and it wasn’t a bad thing. That’s just how they liked it. It’s certainly a lot to keep up if you are not totally invested in every plant and its individual needs. 

So, what’s a way to level up your plant knowledge as well and keep up? Have a go-to plant book at your ready! It’s a must for all serious plant enthusiasts. Of course, you can always GTS (Google That S…tuff). But if you are truly obsessed with plants like I am, you’ll want to see it in writing, look at the pics or even diagrams, and have a consistent resource for all your babies. I personally recommend Houseplants for All by Danae Horst, which my sister gave me for Christmas last year. Game changer! I am not getting paid to mention this book or anything although, I did reach out to the author to get her blessing for using this pic and she graciously replied and pretty promptly in fact! She sees plants as I do and as they should be: as a living and beautiful part of a space’s design style. Super talented and kind of my idol really, not gonna lie. Can we be besties Danae? 

Anyway, a good plant guide will tell you everything you need to know about your babies including their roots. When to repot, how much water and light, what kind of soil, etc. Giving them consistent care for their ever-evolving needs is absolutely essential to seeing your plants thrive. Find the book that speaks to you. Read it, share it, refer to it over and over, and let it take you to that next level of horticulture heaven. It’s a beautiful place to be!