How to Choose a Plant: 7 Important Factors
Plants cheer up, purify the air and make the interior more alive. Besides, according to Garden Pals, just 15 minutes of interaction with indoor plants reduces stress levels. So, it’s no wonder many people choose to have a flower or a tree in their homes. However, not all plants successfully take root in gardens. Why?
When choosing plants, most people make one big mistake: choosing a plant they like, not one they can service. Surely, you think this is not a problem because you believe caring for a plant is easy. If you delve into plant care, you will discover that a plant’s life depends on the type of soil, the regime of light, heat, and the amount of space.
What’s more, let’s be honest: people who put in 10 hours of work may not have the energy to water their plants on time. So before buying plants, consider seven things that will increase plants’ chances for a healthy life.
Do Research
Your local plant center can host a dizzying array of plants. To make a choice more accessible, you should do your research beforehand. You can do this without visiting a plant store: Google search engine and plant identifier app are the tools you need.
You can open an online plant center and explore the range. If you like some plant but don’t know if it suits you, the plant identifier app will help you find out. The system can identify plant by leaf picture and provide information about its place of birth, history of occurrence, genus, and conditions of care. Thus, you can understand whether the plant will grow in your city or whether it is worth looking for other alternatives.
Test Your Garden’s Soil
Plant growth depends on the quality of the soil. Get out in the garden and find out if your soil is drying out after heavy rain or if it stays wet for a long time. For example, lavender will feel uncomfortable if the ground is too wet. However, high humidity is excellent for Cypress and Tsuga Canadensis, as the plants will be able to drink enough water without your intervention.
Knowing how your land behaves will allow you to understand how many times a week to water the plants. In addition, analyze whether your soil is rich in nutrients and whether it has a uniform consistency. If not, then we recommend Miracle-Gro Performance Organics In-Ground Soil. These organic supplements will allow plants to grow twice as fast and keep you happy with their blooms for longer.
Think About Sunshine
Any plants you buy will be easier to keep healthy if they can adapt to the existing conditions in your home. After you analyze the soil, think about the sunlight in your yard. Is the place sunny throughout the day or only at certain times? Will the plant get morning sunlight and shade during rush hour? Based on these data, you can understand what kind of plant you need: something that grows in the sun, in partial or full shade.
If you place a plant in the wrong solar regime, every day it lives will be a battle for life for it. Relocation of plants that love the shade in the hot sun leads to the drying of the roots and the appearance of yellow leaves. The placement of light-loving plants in the shade leads to poor flowering. It is tough for plants to adapt to new conditions, and you must make every effort to make them less vulnerable to diseases and pests.
Think About Area
Once you’ve researched and figured out which plant you can care for, read up on its size in adulthood. The picture you see now may seem magical to you. However, if the plant turns out to be too large for your territory, it will discomfort both parties. You will have to prune the plant every month to be able to follow the trail or get a view from the window.
Decide When to Buy a Plant
Some plants are sold in a certain season – for example, the poinsettia before Christmas. Hyacinthia, tulips, and daffodils only in spring. Most of the indoor plants are sold all year round. Hence the best time to buy plants is when the plants bloom. So you can see the beauty of flowers and understand if it is suitable for your home. However, remember that sudden temperature changes can harm plants – winter is not the best period. In sharp drops, only cacti can survive.
Consider Pets
The presence of animals in the house significantly reduces the list of plants for purchase, as some of them are poisonous. It would help if you were careful with Monstera, Rowley’s Ragwort, and Golden Epipremnum. If you like these plants, we recommend making a fence over which animals cannot jump.
Take Сare of Transporting the Plant
To avoid damaging the stem and leaves of the plant, you must transport it very carefully. You can pack small plants in a box. If it is cold outside, it is best to protect the plant with plastic wrap – it will be able to maintain the desired temperature for a long time. For transporting large plants, it is better to turn to specialists, as they will be able to create a thick wooden frame for its safe delivery.