6 Tiny Plant Habits to Help Your Indoor Greenery Thrive
If you’re new to having plants in your home (like if you just bought your first houseplant ever!), you might feel like you need to do the most to take care of them. Of course, you can’t just ignore your new leafy friends, but taking good care of your plants actually requires less effort — and is a lot simpler — than you might think. It’s all about incorporating easy plant habits into your routine.
“Many plant parents make the mistake of giving too much love to their plants,” says Ashley Nussman-Berry, a plant expert and founder of Black Planters. “Plants thrive with care, but they also need stability and time to adapt,” she says.
As someone with more than two dozen indoor plants, I’ve learned how to successfully care for houseplants through so much trial and error. All you need are some good daily, weekly, and (in some cases) monthly habits to help your plants thrive.
Easy Habits to Help Your Plants Grow and Thrive
Smaller habits can often get overlooked when considering the bigger picture, but these are the practices that can make a more meaningful difference in plant care. Plus, they’re much more achievable than some of the more advanced plant care methods out there.
I tapped two plant experts to learn more about how to take care of houseplants through small rituals — some of which you can do while sipping your morning cup of coffee. See what tiny habits the pros suggest to help your plants thrive.
Do a quick plant perusal daily.
According to Kaitlin Mitchell, a houseplant and garden expert, one of the best ways to take care of your plants is to get to know them on a daily basis. This only takes a few minutes, but can have a lasting impact. Mitchell likes to grab a cup of coffee and conduct a quick plant perusal between sips. “It’s good for you and your plant[s],” she notes.
These short, quiet moments can create a sense of calm before a busy day and help you understand what your indoor greenery needs. A daily check means you can quickly spot if something is off with one of your plants and address it. You can even dedicate a journal to jotting down notes and keeping track of your plant care to-dos. (I also like to keep my pruning shears where my plants are in case any of them need a snip!)
Check for moisture daily.
Nussman-Berry says getting in the habit of feeling the soil or using a moisture meter to assess when your plant needs water is vital to overall plant care. “This prevents overwatering and gives you insight into your plant’s specific needs,” she notes, adding that it’s a frequent issue with beginner plant owners.
“In reality, many plants prefer to dry out between waterings, and too much water can lead to root rot.” A quick moisture check is also a great habit to incorporate into your daily plant perusal.
Dust your plants weekly.
Dusting is an often overlooked part of plant care, but it makes a difference in plant health. A layer of dust can get in the way of leaves receiving the maximum amount of sunlight. “Have a small supply of microfiber towels on hand that can be slightly dampened and used to wipe dust from leaves quickly,” Mitchell says.
She likes to incorporate dusting into her morning coffee perusal and says it can be done weekly (or as needed, depending on how dusty your space gets). If microfiber towels are too much effort, a pack of microfiber gloves for plants can make the process go by quicker and are often easier for getting in all of the nooks and crannies.
Rotate your plants weekly.
It’s no secret that plants need sunlight to survive, but they’ll often start to reach toward the light, creating a “leggy” effect where they have long stems but not a lot of leaves. Rotating your plants on a weekly basis is a small but impactful way to ensure that your plants thrive — and look their best. “Turning your plants every week ensures they receive even light exposure,” Nussman-Berry says.
Rotating them 180 degrees weekly can prevent them from growing in this uneven way. To make it easier, you can add this habit to your watering routine, if they line up!
Create a watering schedule for your plants.
Watering your plants is an obvious and necessary part of caring for your plants, but it’s often super easy to forget, especially when you’re busy. To ensure that you actually remember to water — and don’t overwater — Mitchell says to pick a weekly watering day and write it down on your calendar or set a reminder on your phone.
“If anything, indoor plants can get too much hydration, which leads to fungus and fungus-loving pests,” she notes. A standing watering date with your plants is a fabulous way to stay on top of things without being too overbearing, which plants don’t usually respond well to. (Pro tip: A cute watering can that goes well with your home design will entice you to remember to water your plants — and double as a fun decor moment.)
Learn the nuances of your plants to incorporate into their care.
Not all plant species are the same, and many have very picky preferences (I’m looking at you, fiddle leaf figs!). Learning the nuances of your plants can help you take better care of them. For example, the finicky fiddle leaf fig tree doesn’t typically love to move from its spot, but enjoys a good daily shake. If you have a fiddle leaf, you can grab onto its trunk and give it a gentle shake for one to two minutes during your daily perusal.
Snake plants don’t like a weekly watering schedule and instead prefer a splash of hydration every other week; pothos plants appreciate a regular trim — spending a little extra time pruning can support bushier growth. Whenever you get a plant, do a little research into its quirks and you can easily incorporate specific care into your established routine.
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