How to care.. for a plant!
First things first.. DO YOUR RESEARCH!!
We basically have most knowledge of things at our fingertips. Even if it's a beginner plant and they tell you that at the store or on the tag?? DO. YOUR. RESEARCH. No hobby ever started with just winging it. As much as we want it to work?? It usually never does.
Second and foremost? MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE.
There are plenty of plants out there that are both poisonous to cats, dogs, and humans. Don't want your child or animal to get ahold of say.. a pothos!! Because it would be mighty dangerous to consume and there are side effects of being incredibly unwell.
THIRD!! Check those water requirements!!
Each plant is gonna have its own type of water requirement. Not one plant is the same, and if you start to have more than one like I do?? You can't just water them all the same way. Examples include succulents of any variety and Alocasia. A succulent requires just a splash of water to get through the week, while Alocasias have to be drenched in water to survive.
Fourth?!?! Does it need sun or shade??
Another beautiful thing about plants is some need full on sun for 6+ hours to get the nutrients they need. Others, however?!?! Don't require sun at all, to the point of too much sun actually scorching the leaves. Check those sun requirements as soon as you get the plant!! It will save your day.
Fifth?!?! The potting.
There are some plants that simply thrive in the pot you get them in and don't need to be moved into a bigger pot until later. However, some need one right away. It's actually quite easy too!! You find a pot that's almost twice the size of the plant and get your soil. If you don't like touching the dirt, I suggest gardening gloves for this part as well!! All you have to do is fill the soil up just enough to set the plant in. Then comes taking the plant out of the plastic pot!! Which is super simple. All you have to do is give the soil and pot a good massage to release the plant and put it in its new home!! Be sure to get the soil a little moved around too, so the roots can spread and make room for new growth!!
From one gardener to another?? You will not be good at all the plants you touch.
Sometimes gardeners have plants that they kill instantly. It's not because you're a bad gardener/plant owner; some plants just don't mesh well with how you do things. For example!! Begonias, most carnivorous plants, and certain bonsai like juniper are ones I seem to kill instantly. Not because I'm a bad gardener either!! I just don't mesh well with those plants.
Two things I picked up in my years of gardening:
They like positive vibrations, so put on some music if you have some in the house or bedroom!! They also really like compliments. It may seem silly to compliment a plant, but plants are in their own way.. alive!! They also deserve to hear how pretty they are, so why wouldn't you throw a compliment or two their way??
_______________ If you managed to get to the end of the article, thank you for reading!! I hope this helps some beginner gardeners who want to start their own garden, but don't know where to even begin on doing so. Happy gardening friends!! If this article helped?? Do let me know. I love hearing plants getting good homes.
