A Beginners Guide to Indoor Plant Parenthood!

So you've decided to become a plant parent. Congratulations!

We can guarantee that once you start you won't be able to stop growing your indoor jungle. However there is a lot to learn and understand before you start filling your home with luscious green fronds. This blog post we'll give you all the tricks and tips you need to know to help avoid murdering any of your new plant fronds along the way!

One of the first things you need to understand about having a houseplant is that, believe it or not, it is a real living thing! What were trying to say with this is that houseplants come in all different shapes and styles, and although you could have 2 of the same style of plant, they can both look very different! Those beautiful big green plants you see on Instagram have usually been meticulously looked after by their owners, and take a bit of dedication to get them to that state. That being said it is absolutely possible for you to achieve your plant to Instagram worthy status by learning the simple rules we have below!

Shine Baby, Shine!

Lighting is one of the most important parts of a plants life! This determines where you end up placing your plant and how well they grow. Some plants such as the ZZ Plant and Bamboo Parlor Palm love shade and thrive in a medium light setting, whilst other plants like the Fiddle Leaf Fig and Monstera Deliciosa love bright, indirect light. Understanding how the light in your home works is important as you don't want to scorch your Peace Lily with brutal direct sunlight. Below we have an illustration that helps show the different types of light in your home and what to look for when placing your houseplant in your home. Checking the direct in which your windows face and seeing if anything might block sunlight into those windows will help you choose which plants will work best for that room!

Light Diagram

Drink Up, Buttercup!

Watering your plants is the next most important thing you need to know when it comes to houseplants. Every plant is different and all require different amounts of water, you don't want to end up watering your succulent every single day when it only needs water once a week, otherwise it will end up drowning. The most important tip for watering plants is that "9 times out of 10 it is better to underwater than overwater your houseplant". Always check the soil before watering, if it's still moist then wait a few more days before the soil has completely dried out before watering again. If you need something a little more fool proof, check out our Moisture Meters which can easily tell you when your plants need a drink, without risking human error being involved!

Watering Plants

Eat Baby, Eat!

Did you know that plants are actually massive foodies, and love to eat every once in awhile! Getting a fertiliser that has a solid mix of nutrients will benefit your plant in so many ways. Always refer to the instructions on the back of the bottle to see how much fertiliser and how often you should be feeding your plant as they are all different. It’s handy to remember, when the plant is actively growing during the warmer months, it needs a bit more food and water. During the slow growing season (cooler winter months) your plant doesn’t eat as much (no extra winter layer of fat for these babies). Check out our The Good Plant Co Indoor Plant Food.

Don't be Afraid to Repot!

Your plant babies will grow up so fast if treated correctly, which is always a great thing to witness! But there will be a time were they will outgrow their current home and need to be moved into something a bit more accommodating. Our advice is to not be afraid to repot your plant frond! Repotting can help encourage more growth as a new pot can give them more space to be free and spread its wings high and far. Adding a stake as well to any fronds who are looking a bit lop-sided will also help encourage it to grow upwards instead of outwards!

Repotting a plant

Remove Dead Leaves

So you've had a few casualties whilst your plant baby grows? Maybe a couple of brown or yellow leaves have popped up in amongst the green? Don't freak out! Simply just remove the damaged area of the leaf or the entire leaf itself, this will allow space for the plant to grow new, more green leaves. It's also good to remember NOT to rip the dead leaf off, and instead cut the leaf off with bonsai scissors, as this will allow the plant to grow the leaf back in a more healthy way.

Also, wiping down the leaves of your indoor plants with our Leaf Shine on a regular basis removes all sorts of particles which will keep your leaves healthy with a nice green glow.

Stuck on What Beginner Plant to Get?

So you've gotten to the end and thought "hell yeah I can definitely be a plant parent!" but feeling a bit overwhelmed with how many different plants are out there? Below we've created a little list of some of the best beginner plants that are perfect for any space in your home!

Devil's Ivy

The Devil's Ivy is one of the easiest plants to take care of! These little guys are known to be indestructible and can adapt to any climate you put them in! If you're looking for a no-fuss small first plant then the Devil's Ivy is perfect for you!

Syngonium Pixie

The Syngonium Pixie is also a great little starter plant for any first time plant parent! The name of these ones might sound scary but they are actually super tough and only need some nice indirect sunlight and occasional watering to survive.

Philodendron Birikin

The Philodendron Birkin is another great little plant for any first timer. This plant actually has some great air purifying qualities as well which is a great little bonus. Just make sure this baby has some nice indirect light and the occasion watering and it'll thrive in your home! Perfect for the kitchen or bedroom.

Ficus Yellow Gem

If you're feeling bold and looking for a slightly larger plant than the Ficus Yellow Gem is a great option for you. Being a Ficus it's typically quite easy to take care of, just give it some good light and watering even week and it'll continue to grow big and tall for you! Don't let the size of this one scare you!

Bamboo Parlor Palm

And here we have Mr popular of the plant world, the Bamboo Parlor Palm. These palms can grow big and tall with minimal maintenance required, and they bring those lovely tropical vibes to your home which is why everyone absolutely loves these! The Parlor Palm is a perfect easy first plant for any plant parent who is looking to give their home those tropical vibes!

CHECK OUT OUR PLANT MATCH QUIZ

Still not sure if you have the right plant? Check out our Plant Match Quiz to find your perfect plant frond!

HOW TO ORDER ONLINE

As you can tell, your plant babies are going to have a big role to play this Easter. We hope these ideas have given you some inspiration for decorating and gifting. For more ideas, View all our plant babies here to find the perfect plant companion!

JOIN THE GOOD PLANT FAMILY

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BECOME A PLANT PROFESSIONAL

Watch our easy guide on how to become the best plant parent you can. Your plants will thank you, we promise.

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