I want to own plants in my house or even have a backyard full of tropical, and exotic plants BUT I kill every plant that I touch! I definitely do not have a “green thumb”.
Anyone have any tips of recommendations for plants that do not die easily?
I have asked around for some tips of how to not kill anything I touch and these are the tips I have recieved:
- Be aware of your own habits and pick accordingly – To give your plant a fighting chance, select one that matches your habits. Be honest with yourself — are you really going to remember to water it? If not, stick a cactus or aloe, which can go weeks without attention.
- Place the plant near a place you visit several times a day that way you won’t forget about it’s needs too!
- Don’t over water (I think this may be my issue!) I found out that surprisingly, the No. 1 killer of plants is too much water. I learned that a good trick is to dip a finger into the soil up to the first knuckle joint, and if the tip of your finger is wet when you pull it out, then there’s no need to water.
- Check the light – the type of light a plant needs is listed on the tag.
- Proper nutrients are essential, so use potting soil mix, which has the structure to hold in water.
And last but not least and this is where I need to listen….Go with the indestructible.
Here are some “indestructible house plants” that if you are like me, you might want to try!
- Corn plant
- Bamboo
- Norfolk Island Pine
- Jade
- Pothos
ok so I have killed a couple Bamboo plants in my day… HELP!
Oh and lets have a moment of silence for all the plants that I have murdered… My thoughts and prayers go out to them lol
First thing – ONLY use rain water. Tap water will kill fish, plants etc. so set out buckets and keep the rain water for plants.
IF YOUR TAP WATER IS KILLING YOUR PLANTS, WHAT IS IT DOING TO YOUR BODY??????????
Tap water doesn’t kill plants…people do. Remember not to over water and your plants should be fine! I have a green thumb and my “jungle” does very well with tap water, tend
er care and music!
I agree with Bronzelady, tap water does NOT kill your plants, but I have had a water softener for about 8 years and my 40 house plants look fine to an outsider, but I recently started watering them with water from a filtration system (I found you can’t water 40 plants with that small tank) so I started using water from the outside hose (it is bypassed by the softener) and my plants are growing faster, sprouting babies, and generally look better. I live in New Mexico so the rain water idea (and a good idea) doesn’t work as well for me. As far as the needed light, the smaller/thinner the leaves, the more light the plant needs. I have a hard time with outdoor flowering plants…
First of all, regarding hardy house plants – the only one that will last for years, grows in water the best, no soil needed, but use a solid color planter, no clear glass is the PHILODENDRON! Keep water level about 1″ below rim; don’t use tap water especially if you have a water softener but well water, hard water or cheap bottled water works the best….I have 18 huge PHILODENDRONs that are over 15 yrs old. PHILODENDRONs grow best when they are allowed to climb upwards on string and when they become ‘leggy’ simply cut ‘tails’ of plant and put cut end back in water pot and it will sprout in about two days. Cutting and putting ‘tails’ back in pot will keep it bushy and not just leggy. Never needs fertilizer and you can’t over-water! Also, these plants grown like weeds so you can go on vacation and even if pot runs out of water, they’ll be alive when you return!
The best flowering outdoor plants are COSMOS and MARIGOLDS; they both re-seed every year and COSMOS are drought resistant so not a lot of watering is needed. COSMOS are beautiful, bloom all spring and summer and can reach a height of seven feet – it only takes one seed to produce a plant so after first planting, save seeds and plant at least 1-2′ apart the following season; COSMOS grow in all areas of the country and are beautiful in color, white, purple, pink, and once they establish themselves, you don’t have to re-seed every year, they do it themselves. Okay, now you know how to grow and maintain the best house plant and the best flowering garden plant. One more thing, you want a nice climbing vine on fences or trees, simply start a SWEET POTATO in house, like avacado seeds and as soon as roots appear plant one, two, three or four in ground or pots and they produce a beautiful green with purple edge leaves that vine on anything! All these plants, and seeds are cheap and easy to grow!
Get a self-watering pot. You just fill the reservoir when it starts to get low. Or, you can get a water meter–just stick the probe in the dirt and it will tell you if the plant is dry or not–just water to keep the plant at the right level (the meter will most likely come with a pamphlet that tells you how wet certain plants like to be). Be sure to follow directions in terms of light–a low-light plant is often best for a person who isn’t good with plants. But, yes, tap water might kill the plant if it is too high or low in ph for the given plant. They have ph meters, too, and those usually also come with a pamphlet that will tell you what ph certain plants like.
The best option, however, is to just have someone make you a terrarium. They typically only have to be watered/fertilized about once a month, if that–a really well-made terrarium will last years for you and will grow pretty much by itself.
I have learned a few tricks for keeping the moisture level of plants just right.. add sand! In potted houseplants, first I throw a layer of rocks or shells in the bottom of the pot. This allows water to settle in the bottom of the pot, without soaking the soil and roots, preventing ‘root rot’. The roots still reach the bottom, and the water, but the soil isn’t soaking.. This keeps your plant watered, but not water-logged. I also mix in cheap play sand, and /or ‘perlite’ (tiny Styrofoam bits) into the soil. This lightens up the soil, aerating it, and allows for the roots to ‘breathe’, also preventing ‘root rot’. Last, but not least, I allow plenty of time for the soil to become BONE DRY between watering. That’s when I can tell it’s time to water.. and water very thoroughly!! Plants are happier when they are allowed one huge drink of water, then left alone for a while to drink up, and air out. I think overwatering is probably the biggest culprit, when it comes to houseplant problems. Try these tips out.. and I bet your thumbs get greener! Happy planting, everyone!