Hear directly from Ross, Despatch and Purchasing Manager, as he shares his personal insights on keeping plants happy and thriving. From watering to avoiding common plant care mistakes, these are the lessons he learned from years of hands-on experience.

The water weight test: A simple trick to avoid overwatering

One of the best bits of advice that I can give for judging when to water your plants in your own home, is to get used to the weight of them! It may sound silly but with smaller plants, the majority of the weight that you feel is when you pick it up will be the water weight in the root ball.

Here’s how to master this trick:

  • If you get used to the weight of the plant when you’ve just watered it, it makes it easier to judge quite quickly when it has used all of the available moisture

  • Some plants like to dry out entirely, and some will like to have constant moisture

  • Do your research, work out your plant’s preferences, test the weight, and adjust accordingly. Give it a go!

Experiment, observe, learn

If you’re a budding plant fan, the next bit of advice is to experiment. I can’t stress the amount of knowledge I’ve picked up from experimenting with plants however every plant is different, and the best way to truly understand them is to try the following:

  • Overwater, underwater—see how your plant reacts

  • Give it more light, less light—watch what happens

  • Prune, propagate, and test different care methods

The key? Observe! Plants will tell you what they need if you pay attention. Just maybe don’t experiment on your most prized specimens—stick to easily replaceable plants at first!

Give your plants space: why less attention is better

Some of the most common problems people have with plants is over loving them entirely. Why?

  • Repotting too soon can lead to too much water retention in the soil for how many roots there are and can lead to root rot

  • Overwatering is the number one killer of plants. Resist the urge to water on a strict schedule and let your plants tell you when they’re thirsty

  • Constantly moving plants around can often send them into a state of shock and slow them down entirely. Try to leave them alone as much as possible.

The truth is plants have been around long before us, and they’ll be here long after. They’ve adapted to survive, so sometimes, the best thing you can do is step back and let them do their thing. Water when needed, provide the right light, and give them space to grow.