The First Thing I Always Do When I Buy a New Plant

For enthusiastic plant lovers, nothing is more thrilling than adding a new greenie to the family — especially when it’s your first plant! While it may be tempting to immediately place it in the planter you created in pottery class or on that one super sunny shelf in your living room, there are a few steps you should take after buying a new plant to help it remain happy for years to come.

“Getting a new plant is always exciting, but you have to have patience,” says expert Ashlie Thomas, owner and author of The Mocha Gardener. “I love reminding people that plant care isn’t about getting it perfect — it’s a process, and a very rewarding one at that,” Thomas shares.

Taking proper care of your greenery is key for any chance of blooming plants, and that includes making some thoughtful choices right away. I tapped a few houseplant pros to serve you up a list of first-day to-dos that will keep your plant looking and feeling its best (for what it’s worth, I’ve also been growing plants for over a decade and have definitely learned a lot along the way!). Consider the below your road map to being successful with your plant hobby. Oh, and congrats on your new leafy addition!

Quarantine from Other Plants

If this is your first and only plant, you can skip this step — but make sure you follow the full process as you grow your collection. Placing your new plant alongside its peers in your living room or sunroom may seem like a logical first step, but it’s important to keep any new additions away from your existing plant collection for at least a few days while you take the time to observe them.

“I always recommend people quarantine new plants for at least a week, which will give you ample time for observation,” says expert Maria Failla, podcaster and author of Growing Joy. “You never know what kinds of things you may bring home from a garden center or plant store,” she says.

Inspect for Signs of Distress

It would be great if every plant for sale came home in peak health, but that might not always be the case. While quarantining your new plant, look for common signs of distress that may indicate improper care, illness, or pests. “Before settling it in, it’s very important to check for pests and diseases,” Thomas says.

“Look under the leaves and around the soil to make sure you’re not bringing home any unwanted guests,” Thomas adds. In most cases, mild infestations can be treated in a few weeks with a few applications of neem oil, a common natural method for discouraging bugs on plants. If you notice your efforts aren’t moving the needle, you may need to consider repotting your plant entirely (in the case of soil-borne illnesses or infestations) or cutting a healthy clipping from your plant for propagation and throwing out the “mother” plant. 

Aside from obvious signs of bugs, things like discolored or dropping leaves and rotting stems may signal that you need to give your new plant a bit of extra TLC (i.e., extra pruning, a bit more water, or additional sunlight) before it’s ready for a more low-key care schedule.

Learn Your Plant

One of my favorite hacks? Keep your plant tag! While it may just seem like a pesky piece of paper (you can also snap a pic of it!), the handy info on it can act as a guide for how to care for your new charge and help you remember what it’s actually called.

If you don’t have a plant tag, doing a bit of research into your new greenery is a must when it comes to treating it right. “Even if you’re an experienced houseplant owner, it’s always a good idea to do some research into what type of plant you just brought home,” says Failla. “Google the plant, look up the scientific name, and read a bit about its history. Not only will this help you learn how to care for your plant, but it’ll help you connect with it, too.”

Find the Perfect Spot

Choosing an ideal location for your new plant isn’t as simple as selecting the sunniest window in your home. You need to choose your plant’s new home based on the research you’ve done into its care. Select a spot with the correct light conditions and keep in mind other factors to help your little plant thrive, such as humidity levels and proximity to danger (like a low-laying pot that’s tempting for your curious cat).

Water if Necessary

It’s a bit of a myth that every plant that comes home from a shop or garden center immediately needs a good watering — in fact, a generous drink first thing may actually cause your plant to fail versus thrive. At most generic stores, plants are grouped together and all watered on the same cadence, which can often be too frequently for their true needs.

“Before watering your new plant, do a quick soil check to gauge the dampness of the dirt,” Thomas explains. “Oftentimes it’s still damp from the store, so you should allow it to dry out considerably before picking up with a watering routine more suitable for your plant type,” she adds.

Repot After 2(ish) Weeks

We know you’re dying to get your plant repotted in that adorable vessel you thrifted — but hold off for a bit, okay? In the plant world, your little warrior just went through a serious life change, and you want to give it a bit of time to adjust to its new arrangements. “While it’s tempting to repot right away, I always recommend waiting at least two weeks unless the plant is completely root-bound,” Thomas says. “Letting your plant adjust to its new environment before making any big changes will reduce its stress and increase the likelihood of the plant thriving,” she explains. 

That said, if you like the pot your plant was purchased in, repotting isn’t a must, as long as your plant seems well-suited to the size of its current abode and the pot has drainage. If you notice roots growing out of the drainage holes at the bottle of your pot — or coming up through the top layer of soil — that’s a sure sign that your little green friend is ready for an upsize.

Further Reading

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