New Year’s Resolutions For Your Plants
Happy 2021! It’s a new year, which for most of us, means fresh starts and new year’s resolutions. For some, that’s getting fit, eating healthier, quitting a bad habit, etc. But have you thought about new year’s resolutions for your plants?
I wanted to give you some ideas on what you can do to have a successful year of growth with your plants; which will naturally lead to some personal growth! Because nature is cool like that. There are always lessons to be learned when observing nature. Even if it’s just observing and nurturing one small plant in your small apartment.
Which brings me to my first new year’s resolution tip: Constantly observe your plant(s). I recommend taking a little bit of time in the morning and later afternoon with no distractions even if it’s just 3-5 minutes a day. The more you observe the more connected you will be your plants. You will begin to notice movement and signs of a happy plant and also signs of a stressed plant. Frequent observation will help you to tackle any pest problems or other issues right away, before it may be too late.
Another hot tip I have for you, is to keep a plant journal. This goes for indoor plants and outdoor gardens. Plant journals are great because they can help you keep track of all your plants and any issues that you may be having with them throughout the year. It’s also a good way to keep track of your successes with your plants!
Keeping a plant journal is an excellent way to keep track of what’s going on with your plants.
Keeping a plant journal doesn’t have to be complicated and you don’t need a fancy schmancy journal to get started. Although, a cute journal that inspires you to use it, never hurt nobody!
There are no rules on how you should organize your journal or how to format it. Get creative and have fun with it!
I do however, recommend adding some basic elements to get you started:
Write the name of plant (adoy!) but also incorporate the botanic name (the fancy, hard to pronounce, scientific name you’ll often see on a label) and any other common names the plant may go by.
Write down origin of plant (where its native habitat is). Knowing this info will help you to better understand its care requirements. Being able to mimic a plant’s natural environment to the best of your ability will definitely help ensure success of your plant’s growth.
Write down lighting, temperature, humidity and water requirements.
Keep track of when you purchased. It would be a good idea to also write down where you purchased. You may notice trends in quality vs non quality plant vendors. And you may want to veer away from wasting your time and money at non quality vendors. (That’s a whole other blog coming soon for ya!)
Keep track of when you fertilize each plant. Remember that most plants go into a resting period in Fall/Winter, so fertilizing is not necessary during these times. Stick to fertilizing in Spring/Summer during their active growth periods.
Keep track of when you repotted each plant. This will help you know when it’s time to repot in the future. Most houseplants benefit from a repot every year or so. But some are faster growers and may need to be repotted sooner than that.
A good thing to note is the location of where you keep plant. Note any changes in your plant throughout the year. Sometimes you might find that you will need to move the plant at different times of the year, depending on change in light/seasons for optimal plant health.
Keep a section to jot down any notes throughout the year. You may find you encounter plant pests, watering issues, etc. And it’s really helpful to reference back on your methods and outcomes of what you did to rid of any issues. Don’t forget to jot down your plant health and growth wins!
Finally, it’s always fun if you can add pictures, sketches or even dried leaves to your journal. It’s a fun way to stay connected to nature and keep track of how much you and your plant fam have grown through the year!
There’s no wrong or right way to keep a plant journal. Use what method works for you!
Not only is keeping a plant journal great for you to keep records of your plants for your own reference, but it is extremely helpful to be able to show a plant professional in the event that you can’t quite figure out what may be wrong with your plant. The plant pro will be able to look at the plant and your notes and should be able to pinpoint the issue rather quickly for you!
I hope you get started on your journaling journey right away, as Spring is upon us and our plants will be waking up, get ready!
Are you already an avid plant journal-er? Leave a comment below for more helpful tips that might help other readers!
