Just like human beings, plants have very specific needs for them to grow. There are some plants that can only grow during particular seasons, and there are others that don’t need a lot of attention for them to thrive.
If you know how to take care of your plants properly, you can benefit from their longevity. You won’t have to go through the process of starting things all over again, especially if you’re relying on your garden to harvest herbs, spices, fruits, and vegetables. You can always research the amount of water that a particular plant needs or visit this website to test the nutrients in the soil you’re using.
Still, you have to know that gardening is meant to be a fun and enjoyable experience. Sure, there are rules that you should play by, but when you get used to these concepts, it will be a smooth ride for the rest of the way. As is the case in almost all facets of life, every expert starts as a beginner.
The good news is you’re not alone in your gardening journey. Thanks to the Internet, you’ll always have access to the information you need, starting with these tips that could help you grow vibrant plants. If you get these tips down pat, there’s no doubt that your garden will be the best there is.
1. Start with Easy-to-grow Plants First
Going from simple to complex is an excellent way to approach your gardening journey. This way, you can make sure that you learn the essential gardening concepts, which could prove to be valuable in the long run.
Having said that, you could start with plants that are proven to be easier to grow. Plants that are easy to grow could include spider plants, snake plants, cast iron plants, coneflowers, perennial geranium, and daylilies. These plants don’t need a lot of attention to grow, which makes them a viable option for novice gardeners.
There’s no shame in taking the easy route at the start, especially in gardening, where you have to master the basic concepts first. The key takeaway here is you’re seeing your plants grow under your care. That is a big plus to your experience, and it’s also a huge boost to your morale for the rest of the day.
2. Ensure your Plants’ Access to Light and Water
As you might have known by now, plants need light and water to grow. For one, sunlight, along with water and carbon dioxide, is one of the three elements that plants need to perform photosynthesis.
There may be some indoor plants that are exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, you need sunlight and water to co-exist if you want a thriving garden. Make sure that you don’t overexpose or underexpose your plant to sunlight, and you can’t also overwater or underwater them.
In terms of knowing the exact amount of light and water that your plant needs, there may be a trial-and-error process at the start. You can’t get it perfect the first time, so just stay the course and take notes.
3. Take Good Care of your Soil
Having healthy soil is crucial for growing vibrant plants; after all, the soil is their habitat. Whether you’re using natural soil or potted soil, there are several techniques to make sure they’re healthy.
One of the best ways to take care of your soil is to provide them with organic matter. This could include compost, plant residues, dried animal manure, and humus. This is a very cheap but effective way of providing more nutrients to your soil.
4. Be Alert Against Bugs and Pests
If you’re not alert, you may not know that bugs and pests are already eating into your plants. If you see tiny holes, discoloration, or sudden wilting on the leaves of your plants, chances are your garden has already been taken over by insects and pests.
It’s difficult to always stay on top of these things, so don’t hesitate to hire a professional pest control team to get rid of these bugs and pests. This way, you’ll be sure that everything will be taken care of.
5. Use your Fertilizers Wisely
Along with sunlight and water, your plants need other nutrients to reach their true potential. This is where fertilizers enter the picture, as they could help make your soil and plants healthier. However, you should also learn how to use fertilizers in moderation, as too much of these could also be harmful to your plants.
First of all, you should test your soil to see what kind of nutrients will be more beneficial. Buying soil test kits will not break the bank, or you can also submit a soil sample to a dedicated testing laboratory. Upon seeing the results of your soil tests, use a fertilizer that specifically addresses your soil’s needs.
Moreover, it is important to read the instructions written on the pack of the fertilizer you purchased. The instructions there will tell you how often you need to apply the fertilizer to your plants.
6. Trim Damaged Parts of your Plants
Pruning or trimming your plants will only help them stay healthy. If you see dying branches, stubs, and leaves on your plants, the best course is to prune them. This way, you’ll be sure that the other healthy parts won’t get affected or infected.
Of course, there are rules in pruning your plants, so make sure that you’ve done your research as well. Some pruning methods include thinning, reducing, and raising, and each of these methods has its own importance.
7. Give your Plants Enough Space
It might be tempting to put in as many plants as possible in your garden but do remember that they need enough space to grow. For example, the roots of your plants do spread in a wide direction, so they need space to really absorb water.
Don’t let your plants sort of fight each other for water and sunlight; give them enough space to breathe and stay healthy.
