I have kept houseplants for years, but I wouldn’t call myself an expert. Living in Maine, I have beautiful outdoor gardens, so this year I thought about getting more indoor plants to help me through the long winters.
I’ve spent quite a bit of time on the internet, reading Instagram posts, and checking out this forum. I’ve come to believe that, like many things affected by influencers, houseplant care advice is full of nonsense. Or at least it can sometimes seem disconnected from actual knowledge. I’m not immune to influence either; after visiting a local plant store that had an Ikea greenhouse, my husband and I decided to create one ourselves. But the other stuff is harder to trust. Why are influencers using certain products? Is it because they’re actually good and based on facts, or is it just the new trend that companies are pushing? I think I know the answer. Why is everyone putting milk on their plants and dusting them with cinnamon? How do I know whom to believe when I read a thread about plant health and see multiple responses giving completely opposite care advice?
In short, aside from personal experience and some trial and error, how does a person who cares about plants find good information?
@Lior
I’ve thought about this too! I see varieties that look like many others and they’re named things like (cultivators name)'s Irish Jig. How do you tell one from another? Many look so close that it gets confusing.
Merrill said:
I go with the trial and error method myself.
I have three African violets. Two look great, but one always seems sad. So what do I know? Good luck though.
Please join us on the African violets forum, we would love to help you! Sometimes when a plant looks bad, the best course of action is to take leaf cuttings and grow new ones, and discard the sad-looking one. The DNA is what counts, not the individual plant. Collectors often prune and throw away plants, just make cuttings!
Much of the advice is nonsense, sprinkled with a few truths. I suggest finding information from experts like horticulturists or university extension programs.
When you’re on Google, the easiest way to find these is by adding “site:edu” which narrows your search to educational institutions.
Frost said:
Houseplant care varies with your climate. Before trusting any tips, check where the person giving the advice is based and only take advice if that climate matches yours.
Exactly. For problems that don’t have straightforward answers, I relied on my father who worked in forestry and loved plants. Since he’s passed away, I’ve relied on the Ag center website and publications from my state’s university. Again, local is key.
By the way, local universities often have extension programs where a professor would gladly answer questions through email for any difficult issues.
Also, if you add “production guide” or “University of Florida” to your plant search, you’ll find specific guides that include details on diseases from the University of Florida.
Nova said: @Ember
I feel a lot of the actual science info is more related to agriculture. That can be useful, but the goals and scales are very different.
University extension programs are meant to educate non-experts who work with plants on a smaller scale. Research often focuses on smaller plants as well. You may have to sift through a lot of larger agricultural information, but the sites I’m talking about deal specifically with houseplants.
Houseplant care varies with your climate. Before trusting any tips, check where the person giving the advice is based and only take advice if that climate matches yours.
@Zephyr
I’ve found ChatGPT really useful for context and it’s helped me manage around 40 plants while I’m still learning. It’s handy for complex Google questions too.
Frost said:
Houseplant care varies with your climate. Before trusting any tips, check where the person giving the advice is based and only take advice if that climate matches yours.
This is crucial for me!
I also try to understand my own environment and compare that with the natural conditions of the plants I’m growing.
Finding podcasts and resources from people near me, along with scientific info on natural habitats, gives me the best chance for good plant care.
Harley said: @Chen
This really helped me out. It opened my eyes to how many people believe a plant from the African grasslands shouldn’t be given direct sunlight.
Seriously, what?
Most plants that say they prefer low light actually have their natural habitat in full sun all day. No wonder they weren’t thriving before.
@ZephyrAspen
Right? It’s sad how people cater to ‘low light plants.’ Please stop the mistreatment of ferns, pothos, tradescantia, sansevieria, dracaena, and ZZ plants.
@Chen
Same here. When I transitioned from outdoor gardening, I knew I had to check zone differences. Moving to indoor gardening revealed how light and time of day are still big factors, making regionality very relevant.
Frost said:
Houseplant care varies with your climate. Before trusting any tips, check where the person giving the advice is based and only take advice if that climate matches yours.
Yes! I’m also from Maine, and in winter our homes tend to dry out from the heat, so one might actually have to water a bit more in winter than summer. But I live on the coast, and since this state is large, I enjoy a humid summer, which causes many mold problems if I’m not careful.
Frost said:
Houseplant care varies with your climate. Before trusting any tips, check where the person giving the advice is based and only take advice if that climate matches yours.
This is so true. Advice often fails for this reason. Recognizing your light and humidity is crucial. It’s also a trial and error method to learn about your space.