Secret, Secret, I’ve Got a Secret
For years, I thought I had a brown thumb. I would buy flowers to plant in pots for the summer, and they would only look good for a few weeks before going downhill. My hanging pots would always look droopy, and after a while, I would get flustered and they would die. A few random plants made their way to our home through the years, never thriving, and typically either dying or getting rescued by my mom. I really thought I didn’t have “it”. There must be a special “green thumb” gene and I did not inherit it. I had even come close to accepting this narrative as my reality. My name is Celeste, and I will always have a brown thumb.
Or so I thought…until I discovered the secret to thriving plants…
I wanted to have a green thumb, I really did. I come from a family of green thumbs and always admired the lush gardens and flourishing houseplants I saw in my family’s homes.
Quarantine Uncovered the Secret
Last spring, after purchasing annuals to plant in my outdoor flower pots, I decided I was really going to try my best this year. I was going to pay attention to my flowers and give them the water and care they needed and deserved. I was not sure how the season would go, but I made a commitment. I was not going to give up on my flowers as I had in the past.
Being home every day, all day left no excuse about caring for my plants. I diligently watered and cared for my flowers every day.
Guess what happened? They grew! They looked beautiful. Shocking, I know, right? If you actually pay attention to your flowers and give them the care they need, they will grow? Who had been keeping this secret from me for all these years?
But What About Houseplants?
After witnessing some success with my outdoor flowers, I decided I needed to see if the same secret was true for houseplants. I picked up a plant from a local garden center and committed to learning about the plant. It was a pothos plant. If you know about houseplants, you will know that pothos have a reputation for being one of the easiest houseplants to take care of. This was lucky for me because I saw it thrive after placing it in indirect light and watering it on a regular basis.
My success gave me the confidence to branch out to other houseplants. Each time I bought a new houseplant, I made sure to learn about it first. I found out what type of light it prefers, and how often it needs to be watered. I set up a weekly schedule for myself so I would not forget to water my plants. I read about plant care and what to look for if a plant is being under-watered, over-watered, or not receiving the proper amount of light.
I truly began to enjoy taking care of my plants. When everything in the world seemed out of control, it was one small thing I could do in my own home. It was (and still is) a joy to watch them grow and flourish!
Is It Really That Simple?
Yes, yes it is.
The secret to thriving plants and flowers is YOU HAVE TO WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THEM AND TAKE CARE OF THEM. Sorry for shouting. It is out of excitement about this discovery. It is so obvious to me now I cannot believe I missed it for so many years. I would barely water my plants and not know why they died. Plants that liked a lot of sunlight were put in places with virtually no sunlight and I couldn’t figure out why they didn’t look very good. I would go several days in the hottest part of summer without watering my flower pots, and I didn’t know why they were dying.
When I think about it, it becomes obvious. Think of a different example. Maybe you adopted a pet from a shelter. I realize a plant and a pet are different, but just go with it. What if you did not know anything about the pet’s history or needs, and just had to guess. You didn’t know how much food, water, or what type of shelter it needed. More than likely, your pet would not thrive with your lack of knowledge about its needs. BUT, if you look into the breed, best options for nutrition, and find a veterinarian to exam the health of your pet, it will likely thrive. The same goes for plants. You would not quit trying with your pet, and you should not quit trying with your plants.
I’ll say it again because I am a teacher and I repeat myself a lot: The secret to thriving plants and flowers is you have to WANT to learn about and take care of your plants. Once I shifted my mindset from an unfulfilling obligation to a responsibility I was grateful to have the opportunity to participate in, this was a game-changer. I now not only want to take care of my plants, but I also look forward to it. I put it on my calendar and enjoy the time and care with my plants.
Do you try your best, but your plants still die?
You have to remember that since plants are living things, they are going to die someday. We hope they can live a long, happy life with us before this time, but if a plant dies under your care, please be kind to yourself about it. Do not give up and think you should not get another plant ever again. Please try again!
There are so many reasons a plant can die, and without knowing the exact care of the plant before it entered your home, it may not even be your fault. They can also just be finicky. Some have very specific light and watering needs, and since most of us have a million other things going on, we can’t just sit and watch our plants all day every day (even though that sounds fun!).
Outdoors there are so many factors that come into play when it comes to flower health. Weather, insects, and spray from neighboring fields/yards are a few potential road blocks you may encounter. Just like houseplants, you have to be resilient in your thinking and be willing to try again even if something dies. The trial and error process teaches us a lot, and we have to be willing to fail sometimes and get right back up again!
Final Encouragement
Now that you know the secret to thriving plants and flowers, my best tip is to learn about your plant’s needs and commit to doing the best you can to meet those needs. Your plant will reward you in return with luscious growth and maybe even blossoms!
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