7 tips on being a plant parent (even if your green thumb is nonexistent)

Let’s face it, not all of us were born with the ability to keep things alive. I somehow managed to achieve some tiny fraction of this ability and like to think of myself as an amateur plant connoisseur. Continue reading to learn my favorite tips on keeping your plants alive (or at least only half-dead).

1. Easy to take care of plants

It’s better to starting off with a solid beginner plant. Pothos, spider plants and snake plants are all great for beginners because of their durability. They’re hard to kill. Also, these plants are all really easy to propagate… something I’ll get into in a few paragraphs.

If you’re the type to forget to feed your dog or you travel a lot, then a snake plant is probably the best fit for you. They only need to be watered when their soil is completely dried out—I water mine once a month! (Pictured. Photo by Brittany Reed)

Propagation is cool because you’re creating new plants from the plants you already have… for free! Plants can get expensive, so this is a great, cheap option for a broke college student.era, can be propagated by cutting off the stem right next to the area where a leaf attaches (or where there is an aerial root) and placing it in water until it starts to grow its own roots. Eventually, you can put it into a pot.

2. Educate yourself!

Like people, every plant is different. Each species has different needs when it comes to water, sunlight, temperature and other environmental factors. Grace McGhee, a seriously knowledgeable plant-lover, gave me some great advice about this recently.

“Every grower will have different methods of keeping plants successfully. If you’re doing something that isn’t working, pay attention and be willing to adjust accordingly to make your plant thrive,” she said.

Doing research on your new plant or talking to an employee at the nursery you buy it from can make a world of difference—and may even be the deciding factor of your plant’s lifespan.

3. Watering

Water is a key factor in taking care of plants! Houseplants usually need to be watered once a week, but it is possible to water too much. Overwatering is one of the top killers of houseplants and sadly, it happens more often than not.

According to the article, “What to expect when you’re becoming a plant parent,” by Rebecca Strauss, overwatering can be detrimental to plants. “Once root rot… sets in, there may not be much you can do except take some trimmings to propagate a new plant.” Strauss says if the plant is still doing alright after overwatering, repot it with fresh soil and be thankful for mother nature’s second chance.

Underwatering can be an issue as well, but a nice long drink can make a plant bounce back within hours. When a plant gets droopy or the soil is dry, it’s time for water. Pictured above is one of my outdoor plants that I forgot about for a few days (outdoor plants need more water if you live in a hot climate). Honestly, he might be dead. Only time will tell. (Photo by Brittany Reed)

4. Sunlight

Sunlight is vital for plants! Each species has a different sunlight need—some like shade, some like full sun and some like a little bit of both. Learning your plant’s preferences can make a world of difference!

There are ways to tell if your plant is getting too much or not enough light. If it’s yearning for sunlight, it might get long and lanky. If it’s a flowering plant, it may not bloom. If it’s getting too much light, it may look sunburned with yellow or brown spots on leaves.

Succulents are a type of plant that are not only easy to care for, but LOVE lots of light. They thrive with little water and full sun, so if your dorm or apartment has large windows, then a succulent or cactus may be the perfect plant for you!

5. Acclimation

Sometimes plants can have a difficult time adjusting when moving to a new place. According to one of my favorite TikTok accounts, @edenish, who knows everything there is to know about plants, you should leave your plant in their nursery pot for a few weeks after buying it! Plants can get shocked when moving from a sunny nursery to a dark dorm or apartment and replanting them right away can shock them even more!

6. Propagating

Propagation is the way plants reproduce. This can be through seeds, cuttings or bulbs and tubers.

The way it occurs depends on the species. For instance, when spider plants get to a certain size, they sprout babies which can be cut off and planted. Other plants, like a pothos or monstera, can be propagated by cutting off the stem right next to the area where a leaf attaches (or where there is an arial root) and placing it in water until it starts to grow its own roots. Eventually you can put it into a pot.

With succulents, you can pull off a leaf (make sure it’s a clean break), lay it in soil for a few days to dry out and then put it in water. It will grow a new succulent!

Propagation is cool, because you’re creating new plants from the plants you already have… for free! Plants can get expensive, so this is a great, cheap option for a broke college student.

7. Great nurseries in Tampa

Tampa has a ton of great nurseries that range in price, size and availability. Here are a few of my favorites:

- Fancy Free Nursery (https://www.fancyfreenursery.com) - this place is expensive, but they have a lot of rare plants—and is the perfect place to snap a pic for Instagram!

- Bayshore Market (https://www.bayshoremarket.com) – I love the variety of plants here! Once I got a sweet potato plant for only $5!

- Plants Palms Pottery (5421 Hillsborough Ave.) – this nursery is HUGE, has a great selection and is well-priced.

- Bloom Garden Shop (https://bloomtampa.com) – Bloom has plants that are well cared for. Grace likes this place too! “They have a great aesthetic and everyone there is always super friendly!”

It’s better to start off with a solid beginner plant. Pothos, spider plants and snake plants are all great for beginners because of their durability. They’re hard to kill. Also, these plants are all really easy to propagate… something I’ll get into in a few paragraphs.

The most important thing about taking care of plants is understanding how to. Knowing the environmental factors that make your plant thrive is the key to be a good plant parent! Conduct research on your plants to understand the care they need and don’t quit the plant life if one dies—it happens to the best of us!