Search Login

Search

4 Surprising Plant Myths You Need to Know

4 Surprising Plant Myths You Need to Know

Happy Monday everyone! As we kick off this new week, I wanted to focus on some myths that people often assume when growing their indoor plants. Plant parenthood can be tricky, especially since all plants need different care. It's time to get the facts straight on this lovely Myth Monday.

1. Plants can be placed anywhere throughout your home

As the winter months provide us with less sunlight & brisk temperatures, it is important to consider where you place your plants indoors. Many factors will attribute to the quality of your plant, especially come fall & winter. The key to growing lush, beautiful houseplants is mimicking their native environment as best as possible. Let’s check out how to keep plants healthy and thriving in your home.

Sunlight

Most importantly, sunlight is the food for your plants to survive. Without appropriate sunlight or the proper grow light, your plants will likely suffer. Make sure you understand the sunlight in your home & how well your space provides natural lighting. A quick fix to this of course is the Aspect. Similarly, as there is a 20 watt / 40 watt light, understanding the proper lighting for each individual plant is important.

Humidity

The next thing to consider is the humidity in your home. On average, most plants have a tropical origin such as rainforests, therefore a slightly higher humidity tends to work best. Not all plants thrive in the same humidity, so the best way to ensure growth is finding the native environment of your specific plant. Recreating that as best as you can in your home should do the trick. For example, higher humidity plants can be placed near a kitchen or bathroom where there’s a water source.

Temperature

Remember, your plant is a living organism! Create a stable, comfortable environment for your houseplant and it will return the love. Think of it this way: if you’re overheated or freezing cold, your plant most likely is too. Extreme fluctuations in temperature can cause your plants to panic. Keep it stable & consistent for the best growth.

2. The bigger the pot, the bigger the plant will grow

Let’s get the facts straight and debunk this myth. Your houseplants will grow to their full potential when their roots fill most of the pot. The roots need room to grow & expand in a comfortable, not confined space. This means keeping your plants in a pot that is moderate to its size. Especially if you are repotting plants, the roots need room to regrow. If your pot is too large for the plant, the likelihood of root rot also increases. No bueno.

3. Yellow leaves are due to overwatering

Don’t stress! Yellow leaves are not always your fault. Although overwatering or a lack of watering can cause yellow pigmentation, it is not the end all. There are a few reasons a plant’s leaves could turn yellow. Below you’ll find some possibilities of how/why yellowing occurs, as well as opportunities to bring your plants back to their full potential. Fertilizer - Your plant’s nutrients are sourced within the roots. If the plant is lacking nutrients, it may need more fertilizer in order to restore the deficiency. Make sure not to over fertilize your plant, as this will actually cause the same yellowing we are trying to prevent. You don't want to burn the plant’s roots with too much. It is best to dilute the fertilizer to half of the recommended amount. What to remember: a happy plant has the perfect amount of nutrients. Aging - As we said before, plants are living organisms. They age just like us, in a gradual elongated period. If the leaves are yellowing and falling off, chances are they are at the end of their life cycle. The key is to have only a few leaves at a time doing this, not the entire plant. Otherwise, there may another issue going on. Baby leaves will be soft, fragile and lighter in color. Mature leaves will be greener, dense and fuller. Some other factors include lack of appropriate light, poor soil quality & hard water.

4. Indoor plants die in the winter

This is one the biggest myths out there! Plant life is meant to be enjoyed all year round, not only limited to the warm months. With the Aspect, there is no excuses. Your houseplants will thrive in the winter with the natural light the Aspect provides. Although most indoor plants come from tropical regions, tropical plants grow all year round. Hence, your houseplants will still survive during the winter, but may have slower growth. That is, unless you upgrade to the Aspect.