Seven simple tips to turn your black thumb green

You know how it goes: Walk into a plant store, buy the cutest thing you see, take it home and hope for the best. 

But then something starts to go wrong, and one thing leads to another and the plant’s dead within a couple months. If you’ve gone through this several times, you probably think you’re in the “black thumb club.”

Despite what you may think, caring for plants isn’t some intuitive, inherited skill–it must be learned and practiced. Just because we are at the top of the food chain doesn’t mean we necessarily know much about the bottom, especially in our modern lives where most of us don’t grow our own food and we even outsource cutting our own grass.

After my 15 years of plant-mothering, I’ve pulled together my secret sauce for how to start turning your dead-plant streak around. I guarantee that if you follow these seven tips to find the right plant and get started, you’ll have better luck with your next green friend! 

1.   Start small.

Begin your journey with just one plant. Yes, just one! You need to find your rhythm with its needs before you can build a small army of green friends. Even if it’s an “easy” plant, easy plants can get sick and unhappy if you don’t pay attention to them.

If you’ve cared for one plant with success for a couple months, then I would say that’s a good time to consider adding another. You’ll know you’re eventually overextended when you start neglecting plants.

2. Adjust your expectations.

Plants are finicky, and mistakes are part of the process. So it’s best to think of your plant adventure as a learning experience and not as a test of success vs. failure. Then any disappointments will only be seen as an opportunity to learn and do better next time.

At worst, you’re getting a beautiful plant to enjoy with the potential to last longer than cut flowers. At best, you’re getting a long-term green friend who needs a decent amount of work and adjustments over time.

3.   Consider your resources.

How much time and money can you give to your plant? I’ve killed plants from being too busy or not wanting to deal with buying plant food, a bigger pot, etc. 

Find a plant with care needs that fit with your schedule and the investment you’re willing to make. And then put the care schedule on your calendar and make reminders. I’ll say it again, make reminders to water your plant!

4. Be honest about your caretaking personality.

Are you overly eager or more neglectful? Choose a plant that’s a good match to that! One of the biggest mistakes is over- or under-watering, so just remember to follow the directions on the care tag or given to you by your local plant nursery guru, and you’ll be good!

If you’re going to be annoyed with a cactus because it only needs water every couple weeks, then a tropical plant that needs your excited 1x day misting would be a better fit! 

5.  Match your plant to the right location.

If you want something on your desk at work that doesn’t have any natural light, then you need a plant that does well in low-light settings. If you have a sunny, south-facing window at home, then find a plant that enjoys that intensity every day.

Many plant tags have little description beyond “part-sun” or “shade,” but their needs are often more nuanced. Consider it’s native environment and try to mimic that. Ask questions at your local nursery or do some online research to make sure you give your plant what it needs.

6.  Watch your plant.

Besides the wrong watering schedule, the second biggest rookie mistake is ignoring your plant’s signs of distress. This is how it communicates what it needs! Pay attention and then research or call your local nursery when you see a problem. Most problems, if caught early, can be fixed!

That “perfect” sunny spot in the window? It’s not the right spot if the leaves are starting to bleach white from too much sun. Leaves turning brown at the tips? It’s likely getting too much water. 

And FYI, there are no “good bugs” for a houseplant or ones that “go away on their own.” So carefully observe the problem, find some help, and then eradicate ASAP.

7. Enjoy your plant!

And lastly, pick a plant that brings you joy. If you can’t find a plant you love that’s a good fit for your location/schedule/resources, then go someplace else to find a plant that does! You’ll take better care of a plant you truly love, so don’t settle for something that won’t make you happy each day. 

Caring for a plant is so rewarding when you feel like you’ve found the right one for you. And the best part is you can share it with your family to nurture a lifetime of plant appreciation and love! So remember to enjoy the process, and your plant will thank for you for the excellent care. <3

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Let me know if you have questions–I’m here to help! For more plant tips, green living ideas, wellness hacks, and family fun, subscribe to my newsletter!