Why you should get to know your plants.
Written by Rachel Heward
Illustration by Kate Costigan
The best thing you can do for your plants is learn about them. Because basic plant care (water + light) only goes so far - some need humidity, some barely a drop of water. Others require a light, spacious spot, or there are the odd few that actually do alright in shady corners.
And that’s just to keep them alive. For your collection to properly thrive, you’ll need to swot up on when and how you should repot, top up with soil, mist or even just leave alone.
If you’re serious about creating a home jungle, there’s no need to spend your money on buying a new plant every week - you can literally multiply what you’ve got by propagation. Spider plants, Monsteras and Pothos are pretty easy to clone, but there are things you can do to speed the process up.
There are loads of places you can pick up these tips and tricks from, whether it’s plant sellers, books (recommendations below) or your trusty friend Google. The point is to find joy in the learning; it’ll end up being as good for you as it is for your plants. Take a moment out of your day, some time away from screens, and enjoy cultivating your indoor garden, as well as some new skills.
There’s so much information out there, but we think there’s no better place to start than a good book. Here are some of our favourites:
House of Plants by Caro Langton & Rose Ray
The House Plant Expert by Dr D.G. Hessayon
If you’re still not sure what your plants need, we can help you. In our new consultation service, we’ll chat to you about what plants you have, what environment they're in and make recommendations for how best to look after them. For more info about all of our services head here. And to book a consultation, visit here.