What to consider when buying your first plant?

Getting your 1^st houseplant? Or are you thinking of getting one?

Before adding the beautiful plants to your shopping cart, here are a couple of considerations you will need to take note.

If you expect plants to stay beautiful forever, without dropping a leaf & free from blemishes, sorry to burst your bubble but that perfect plant does not exist. Plants are living things, and they require care and effort to thrive!

Setting

I’m certain you have an empty spot in your house, or perhaps a little nook that you think will be perfect for a future plant, & perhaps you’re unsure exactly which plant will fit. Cultivating the right environment for the plant plays a crucial part in its growth.

Light

This is possibly the most important factor for the plant to thrive. It needs light to photosynthesize. Without adequate light, the plant will not have enough energy for optimal growth. Each area of your space receives different amount of light each day. Knowing where your future plant will be at will help steer you towards the right plant type.

The more light the plant receives, the more water it needs to photosynthesize.

Water that remains unused and is retained in the soil for a prolonged period will cause the roots to rot. This may lead to future problems and eventual death.

A good way to gauge how much light a spot receives is to think about ‘how much light will a plant receive from this space? Thereafter finding a suitable plant for that area.

Type of Sunlight	Description	Hours of Sunlight	Types of Plants
Direct Light	Full sun with no shade. The highest light intensity, where the plant has a direct light path to the sun.	Full day	Cacti, Succulents
Partial Light	Partially obstructed from the sun. The plant will receive a few hours of direct sunlight in the day. This condition will yield satisfactory growth for many tropical plants.	A few hours	Flowering plants Tropical plants
Low Light	Fully shaded with minimal indirect sunlight. Any light that reaches the plant may be filtered through a curtain or reflected off a window. Not ideal for optimal growth for most plants.	Indirect sun only	ZZ Plant Some Philodendrons

Air Flow

Plants thrive in natural settings; hence natural air flow is usually preferred over an air-conditioned area. When you bring your plant home, it might take a while to adapt as the environment in the nursery may be vastly different from your home. Some plants will thrive in more humid environments – and they will require frequent misting especially in drier conditions. Remember to research and read the care notes of each plant before purchasing. Replicating as closely to the environment where the plant is found is the best!

Care

How much time are you willing to put aside to care for your plants?

Water

For your plants to thrive, you will need to build good watering habits and make sure each plant is getting the right amount of water. Water should run freely through the bottom of the pot to eliminate salt build up.

Soil	Description	Frequency
Moist Soil	Soil should be kept evenly damped and moist always. Plant should be watered once the surface looks dry.	2-3 times a week
Partially Dry	A good estimate is when you tap your finger in the soil 2-3 inches, it should feel dry.	Once a week
Completely Dry	Soil should dry out completely before watering again. Plants in this category usually store water in their leaves.	Depends

Practice good watering routine for your plants to avoid wilted leaves!

Types of Watering Methods

Method	Directions	Benefits
Quick Pour	Using a watering can or a cup, pour just enough water to moisten the top layer.	Develops moisture and will sustain the plant till the next thorough watering.
Continuous Pour Through	Pouring water continuously till it seeps out from the drainage hole.	Water reaches the roots and washes harmful salts out. Remember to drain the water thoroughly to avoid root-rot
Shower	Usually done over the sink or in the bathroom, use a shower head or tap to give the plant baby a good rinse off the leaves and water the plant thoroughly.	Wash off any harmful bugs or dust on the leaves, facilitates moisture, and a good soak for the plant. Best done a few times a month.

Pretty pots are a plenty, but it is crucial to get a right fit and one with a drainage hole. When watering thoroughly, allow the water to seep out fully into a dish, and clear the water out to prevent the roots from rotting.

Check out our Wild Magic Mix. It is packed with all the good stuff for your plant to thrive! Our media is formulated to be fast draining & can be watered daily as long as the plant is not sitting in water. 

Fertilizers

They are like vitamins and nutrient supplements that helps with the plant’s growth and development. It is true that the potting mix provides some of these nutrients, but during watering, some of the nutrients get washed away. Hence, fertilisers come in handy to restore the plant to a healthy and ever-growing state.

As a good gauge is to always follow the directions on the packaging. Houseplants should be fertilised at least monthly with liquid food or use of slow-release fertiliser such as osmocote which will gradually feed the plant over a longer period.

SHOP NOW Now that you've read about the how to care for your 1st plant, check out our range of plants for sale. If you've any questions on which plant may suit your space, feel free to drop us a message via the chat box, and we'll be more than happy to advise you!