What to Consider Before Buying Plants for Your Home
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What to Consider Before Buying Plants for Your Home

Getting new plants for your home can be an exciting experience; all the lush aromatic foliage and flowers at the nursery don’t make it any easier either! Most plant buyers usually have their minds made up before visiting the store, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, making your house plants purchase on a whim could be setting you up for disappointment. Not to say that you will make a terrible plant parent, but plants require more than love and commitment to thrive- researching and considering your ecosystem will go a long way.

Here are some of the ecological elements to keep in mind when buying plants for your home.

1. Sunlight

Sun exposure has been the longest-standing constituent of plant flourishment. Light is essential for the synthesis of carbohydrates; following this, the plant’s placement and sunlight exposure is critical. Before making the trip to a nursery, most of us have a rough idea of where we’d like to have our potted friend. Evaluate how much sunlight seeps through the selected spot, and if your apartment is a little shady, you can always switch to low-light plants like the Algerian Ivies.

2. Humidity

Humidity varies from place to place; this, coupled with personal preference, dictates a lot. While some households have their heating systems running all through, others prefer having the air conditioner 24/7; regardless, this greatly affects your houseplants. Tropical plants like the Fishtail Palm fare well in a humid location. Conversely, Jade inclines towards dry air. Nevertheless, investing in either a humidifier or dehumidifier can serve you well.

3. Soil

The potting soil you pick out for your plants is crucial. Consider investing in good quality soil; this is essential for potted plants since they don’t absorb nutrients from the ground as outdoor plants do. With soil type comes compaction and drainage- vermiculite, perlite, and peat moss soil mixes are suited for indoor gardening.

4. Water

Typically, water is enriched with minerals; however, some of these minerals deter plants’ healthy growth. Magnesium and calcium build-up, for instance, can change your soil composition; it is, therefore, important to test or at least filter the water used on your houseplants. Apart from the quality of water, factors like quantity and accessibility make a viable point. Gardening should be a fun experience, especially with houseplants; you shouldn’t strain to access water for your plant’s growth.

Four Recommendations to Look into Before Buying New Houseplants

You may have all the ecological conditions checked in your requirements list, but have you stopped to think how well the plants you are about can blend with your space and lifestyle? We all want to get it right when it comes to indoor plants, mainly focusing on things plants need to grow, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, you might want to heed the following recommendations.

1. Space

Plants, just like any living organism, grow with time. How big your plant will get is tied to genetic makeup and the availability of resources. If you are working with limited space, it is best to settle for trailing plants like ivy or just any small indoor plants

2. Children and Pets

Bringing home a new plant is a great way to spruce up your space, but how well will it fit in with the household? You may have your eye set on an exotic houseplant; however, it’s important to stay wary of their toxicity levels. The Oleander, for one, would make a luscious flowering shrub, although a tiny nibble from your kids, the cat or dog could be highly poisonous. Before you head down to the nursery, ensure you have carried out ample research.

3. Commitment Level

We all have busy schedules that demand too much of us; this doesn’t mean you need to hold out on getting that potted plant you want so bad. Some indoor plants are low maintenance, which means they would still thrive even with minimal care. Besides, who wouldn’t want to come home to a healthy plant after a little weekend getaway.

Plants make a good addition to our homes; a little splash of greenery goes a long way. So, if you are a plant lover, don’t hold back; explore all your options from succulents to foliage and flowers; the possibilities are endless! It is, however, quite important to carry out research and weigh in all your choice. Just because that potted Philodendron looks aesthetically pleasing to the eye does not mean it will blossom in your household. Plants are living organisms; therefore, it is important to pay a keen mind to nurture them outside their natural habitat.

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