My Top 10 Tips for Thriving Plants

It was only a few short years ago that I didn’t have any houseplants in my home. I was intimidated and unsure about my skills to keep anything extra alive. I remember heading to google and typing in “easy to keep alive houseplants” and reading about the level of expertise I would need for different ones. After a few days of this, I finally started with a pothos from Walmart during a grocery shopping trip.

I was nervous but set a reminder on my phone to water it once a week and sit it near a bright window. Years later, my confidence has grown tremendously as has my houseplant assortment throughout my home. That one pothos helped me get over the fear of unknown and if I could keep plants alive.

I have no clue how many plants I have now but I try to give them all the TLC they ask for though my fig tree and I are still trying to figure each other out – ha!

There are many benefits of having real plants in our homes. They help clean the air as natural air purifiers, boost moods, increase creativity, reduce stress and also provide health benefits when your fingers are working in the dirt.

HERE ARE MY TOP 10 TIPS FOR THRIVING PLANTS:

1. Give them a shower – I do this about once a month. I stick them in the shower to get a good watering and then I wipe the leaves down with a Norwex cloth. Why? Dusting the leaves of your plants will help them continue to photosynthesize to look fresh and clean.
2. Mist them with water – I love using a little hand mister to do this. I ordered mine from DoTerra to mist my plants with water but you can get one anywhere. It is a quick way to give them a daily boost with nutrients. I especially love taking the epsom salt water from a bath (less waste of water) to water my plants and even add to the mister. Epsom salt not only helps our bodies but plants too – they need magnesium and sulfur which epsom salt has both!
3. Know when to water them – I have killed plants before by over watering or under watering them! It is so important to know what your plant needs. I keep the little tip cards that they come with and memorize it. It’s also important to check the soil before you water. Most plants like to have their soil dry before you water them again.
4. Set alarms to remember to water them! Another thing that I have done that has been super helpful is to add alarms on my phone. I have them set for Sunday mostly but this has helped me remember to water. I set them up as alerts in my phone and have named each of my houseplants to show it a little extra love while watering them.
5. Know what type of light they need – I have also killed plants by not putting them in the space they deserve. A lot of plants cannot survive in low or no light areas and I have unfortunately caused my plants harm by not putting them in the right area. A little research on your plant will go a long way when you are looking into the care involved. This can be the difference in your plant surviving and thriving. Most plants belong near a sunny window and will grow larger than you could have ever imagined! I am currently seeing this with my fig leaf tree in our bedroom and also my rubber plant.
6. Know what size pot they need – This was NEVER a thought that crossed my brain until recently. I was the person who thought that if the plant fit in the pot, that was the size it needed. OH WOW, was I wrong. You need to look at the pot your plant needs when it grows, not the way it is now. If you don’t pick a bigger pot then your plant will not grow larger. I personally get a pot that is two inches bigger than the pot that the plant is currently in.
7. Don’t be afraid to move them up a pot size – When the roots start showing on top of the soil or start coming out of the drain holes on the bottom, it’s probably time to start thinking about moving your plant up a pot size. Within a few hours, you’ll be able to visibly see a happier and more spread out plant.
8. Use coconut oil on their leaves and stems – Coconut oil? Yes! Coconut oil! Coconut oil helps keep the plants roots extra moist and absorbent and at the same time it will help their steams and leaves shine! Find out more about why I use coconut oil on my plants here.
9. Don’t use tap water on them if you can avoid it – There are chemicals that make up tap water and some of those cause common sensitivity issues with plants. Use a water filter on your sink and/shower if you give your plant a good shower when watering. Take it to the next level by adding in a rain tank to your back yard for easy watering.
10. Water them with banana water – Banana water is something I started using a little over a year ago to naturally fertilize my plants. This natural fertilizer is perfect for inside and outdoor plants, super easy to make, and bonus: you can compost the banana after! Read all about why banana water is so beneficial for your plants here.

I hope these tips were helpful! Do you do anything else to keep your plants thriving? Share with me in the comment below.

Are you as obsessed with plants and gardening as I am? You can read all about my gardening tips for fall gardening success, the best flowers to plant in the fall, how to love on your plants in the winter, and Help! Plant 911 – How Do I Fix It?