Simple Guide to Buying a House Plant

Size Matter

Take it from me, someone who had over 100 house plants DON’T BUY THE SMALL CUTE PLANT! When buying any houseplant a larger size will always be more forgiving. The amount of plants I’ve bought in a 2 inch pot and was able to maintain and grow is very small (maybe one). It may seem like a great deal compared to the same plant in a bigger size but the small pots are often barely rooted plants. Barely rooted or minimally established plants will be more needy in terms of watering and sunlight. Getting at least a 4 inch or larger plant will allow you to go days or weeks without watering depending on the type of plant.

Type of Plant

Don’t pick the plant you want, pick the type of care you want to give your plant. If you want a plant that needs a lot of care go for a calathea but we warned they will turn on you if neglected. They will turn brown, that is, without consistent humidity and distilled water the leaves will turn brown and wilt quickly. If you want a plant that looks great without daily maintenance you still have tons of options. Any type of pothos or snake plant will be the most forgiving in terms of watering and sunlight.

Type of Pot

Depending on where you buy a plant it might come in a cute pot already or a basic nursery pot. If you get a plant in a planter you like, be sure it has drainage holes! Without drainage holes at the bottom of the pot it is likely to retain extra water which can lead to root rot and kill your plant. If the pot is perfect for you but without drainage holes you can always add them depending on the material of the pot. It’s easy to add holes to plastic pots but with ceramic and glass it’s likely you’ll need a new drill bit. Assuming your pot has drainage holes the material will still make a difference on how often you water it. A terracotta pot is very forgiving for those that tend to overwater plants because the whole pot will pull moisture off the plant. The opposite is true for plastic or metal as they will help the plant retain moisture and mean the plant can be watered less often. No one type of pot is better than the other for all plant types.

Again, Size Matters

If you have picked out the plant and know what kind of pot you want it’s also important to get the right size pot. Too small of a planter and your plant’s roots will be too compact and not able to absorb the water it needs. Too big of a pot even with drainage holes will cause the pot to have more moisture than the plant can absorb and again lead to root rot.

Getting Down and Dirty

Most plants would do fine with a basic house plant soil but some plants require soil that helps meet the needs of that plant such as drainage and moisture retention. Getting the right soil can make caring for the plant easier, for example if the plant does not do well if the soil is dry, getting a soil that retains more moisture can help minimize the amount of watering needed.