Underwatering is always better than overwatering. You can revive a thirsty plant most of the time. An overwatered plant is quite almost dead. It is death by drowning. Just imagine staying soaked in a bathtub for 24 hours. Your skin cannot breathe. You’ll feel claustrophobic. It’s not hard to see why plants hate it and give up on life.
Great plants come to those who wait. Like all living things, plants need time to grow properly. Remember that a nursery exists to sell. Like any other product for sale, plants are boosted to look in peak condition to increase the chances of you bringing them home. It’s almost the equivalent of botox for skin. Once you bring them home, the botox wears off. You’ll need to figure out how to make your plant happy in its new home. This takes time. And sometimes, a few sacrifices and resilience in trying again. And again.
The darker the plant, the less sun it needs. The brighter the plant, the more sun it needs. Probably not the best metaphor, but I imagine it’s like tanning. You can only get so dark when you’re dark. When you’re fairer, the sun can take you ten shades darker.
When the leaves are plump and juicy, water less. It’s more likely a succulent or a cactus. Which are plants that hold moisture in its leaves. So like a camel that can hold water in its mouth to survive droughts in the dessert, these are plants that have been designed to survive thirst. Hold from watering till soil feels dry to touch. And remember point No.1.
Same for how waxy it looks. The waxier it looks, water less. Think about how wax repels water. It probably means something doesn’t like water very much. Hence nature made it such.
Colourful leaves need bright indirect light to flourish. Direct light tends to burn colourful foliage. The light at corridors and balconies are actually great for colourful variegated leaves to flourish.
A corridor is generally dry and hot because the concrete takes in sun during the day. Clustering plants close together helps to create a greenroom effect. Misting indirectly helps keep the moisture in the air up.
Houseplants need air circulation. If you keep your windows closed, work long hours and travel often, there are very few plants that will survive your lifestyle. So don’t believe the hype that houseplants are low maintenance. It took me 3 years to accept this. Because I really enjoy plants in my house. I’ve had to move a few of them out to save lives. There is hope however! These plants have survived up to 2.5 weeks of abandonment and may well suit your lifestyle too: 1. Bird Nest Fern Manila 2. Fittonias 3. Common Palm 4. Fan Palm 5. Mother-in-law’s Tongue / Snake Plant 6. Money Plant While you’re away, be sure to keep them away from hot sunny windows, especially South facing windows.
Feed fussy plants with overnight water. Plants that require less hydration like Begonias, calatheas, succulents, air plants and indoor plants have all responded better to water left standing overnight. It’s all about letting chlorine and other chemicals evaporate so it won’t affect your plants PH levels. If you can collect rainwater or lay them out to get rained on, I’m sure your plants will thank you.
Plants need space. On a literal level, yes of course. But like humans, plants do their best when given the space to grow on their own. So avoid mother-coddling. Don’t pay too much attention or you’ll end up smothering it to death. You’ll know when a plant needs love just by looking at it - the leaves tend to droop. Then all you need to do is feed it.
