I Want to Be a Plant Mama! (A Beginner’s Guide to House Plants)

The quarantine life has transformed many homes into semi-jungles and plant mamas everywhere are giggling with delight. What may have been a new life skill learned out of boredom a few months ago is now a full-fledged hobby for many! From one pot of plant to too many to mention, how does one begin? Today, we’ll go through the basics of picking up some dirt and growing plant babies for your own cozy home.

Start by assessing your space. How much room do you have for plants? Which areas have access to sunlight and which areas don’t? How much time are you willing to spare in caring for your plant? Why do you want to start your own indoor garden? These are just some questions that will help you start your hobby on the right foot.

Based on your answers above, you can now decide what kind of plants are perfect for your home. If your home is low in light, it’s best to start caring for the Pothos variety. Kina Vargas, a plant enthusiast shares her personal experience:

“The easiest plant for me would be the Pothos variety. They can survive in low light and variable temperatures. They are the best plants to put in your bathrooms, too. Pothos are easy to propagate as well. Simply cut the stem with the node and place them in water or soil.”

If your plant space has a regular access to sunlight, you can start with caring for succulents and cacti. These types of plants need continuous daily sunlight but are very low maintenance.

Here’s a list of good indoor plants you can start researching about:

Aglaonema
Aspidistra
Succulents
Dracaenas
Philodendrons

For first time plant moms, the tricky part is usually the watering task. How much is too much and how little is too little? Well, the answer lies in the species of plant you decide to grow. In general, see to it that the soil is not too wet and not too dry. There should also be drainage holes at the bottom of the pot so that the soil can breathe and the water can seep through. As much as possible, always place your plant near a source of light. If this is not possible, you can move your plants around and schedule a sunlight day for each one.

We talked to a new plant mom, Roma Agsunod, and she shared with us her plant experience:

“I only started learning about my indoor plants recently. Before, I just do it by trial and error. I observe how the plants react to my watering schedule. The only rule I follow then is that if the leaves turn yellow, it’s probably due to overwatering. If it’s brown, lack of water. During the quarantine, I learned that it’s not always that simple. Now, I take the time to identify the plants so I know how best to take care of it.” -Roma Agsunod, New Plant Mom

It also pays to learn from experts. Talk to your gardener or to the seller of your plants.

“I learned by reading articles from Google and Pinterest. I also learn by talking to the garden owners where I get my plants. I also learn by doing. I observe the plants that I have at home. What they like in terms of how much water and sunlight they need.” -Kina Vargas, Plant Enthusiast

Though the task may look daunting, give yourself the chance to learn something new. If you fail the first time, it’s okay! You can still try again with an easier variety of plant next time. Maybe you’re feeling anxious because you’re afraid you might have a black thumb and end up killing the plants you purchase. The good news is, you can’t really know this unless you try, right? You can do it, plant mama!

Aside from clean air and enjoying a new hobby, having plants at home can improve your overall emotional wellbeing. It reminds us of life, of the outside world, and of new things to come. Put a little plant near your window and instantly, it will surely brighten your space and your disposition.

“Home took on a whole new meaning these last few months. It became the only world we get to experience personally. The plants give life to the four concrete walls of our space. They reduce feelings of confinement because their presence makes it seem like part of the outside world is still with you. They also kept us busy! Learning how to propagate helped divert our attention from worrying too much about things we cannot change.” -Roma Agsunod, New Plant Mama

Growing plants is also economical. Once you get the hang of taking care of easy plants, you can slowly transition to growing your own herb garden. Think basil, rosemary, mint, and more! Instead of buying a pack from the store, you can just snap a few leaves from your own plantation.