A Beginner’s Guide to Being a Plant Parent By The Sill

This year, as we spent more time in our homes than ever before, we couldn’t help but look at every room with a closer eye. Should we rearrange the furniture a certain way? Should we add some new art? And, of course, our #1 question: should we get some plants?

The holidays are the perfect time to consider adding some life to your home, or gifting a new plant to your loved one. We partnered with MeUndies to help you get started on your plant parenthood journey.

Being a plant parent is a learning experience, and it’s never 100% perfect - and that’s okay! If you kill your first plant, we’ll never judge, because we’ve been there. To get started on getting your very first plant, we recommend thinking through a few factors to make sure your experience is a good one: 

The lighting in your home- Is your home dim, even during the summertime? Do you have a ton of light in your bedroom? Consider the light you have first before you bring a plant home so that your new plant baby is set up for success. Most plants have preferred lighting conditions, so you can pick the plant that’s most compatible with your home.

Your schedule- Are you often out and about or spend long days away from home? Are you more of a homebody? Think through how often you’ll be able to tend to your plants. Certain plants, like the Fiddle Leaf Fig, might need closer attention than others, and you’ll want to make sure you’re attentive in order for it to thrive.

Watering- Your plants will tell you when they’re thirsty. Try not to water your plants on a specific schedule and instead check your plant’s soil. If it’s especially dry, it’s probably time to give your plants a drink.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about a plant favorite and great choice for beginners: the ever-popular cactus.

Desert cacti, like the Bunny Ears Cactus (Optunia microdasys) and Star Cactus (Astrophytum asteria) are most commonly found as houseplants and require full sun in order to thrive. If you have a sunny windowsill, it’s a great home for your new cacti. They will tolerate bright indirect light, preferably in a south or west facing window, as they do not tolerate very low light levels. We recommend allowing the soil to get bone-dry between waterings, which allows the soil to aerate, and helps your plant stay healthy.

Jungle cacti like the Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera) and Mistletoe Cactus (Rhipsalis) can also be found as houseplants, but require different care than their desert cacti cousins. For these plants, be sure to place them in medium to bright indirect light, or potentially even lower light levels. They love humidity, so make sure to place them in a humid environment and allow soil to dry out halfway between waterings. 

If you are looking to add your cacti into a new planter, be sure to use a cacti or succulent potting mix that is well-draining (and usually, it contains sand). Jungle cacti can tolerate a mix that contains more perlite than sand. Our tip: make sure you use a planter with a drainage hole (a small hole at the bottom of your planter that allows water to leave the soil). 

If you’re looking for the perfect cacti, head to one of our Sill shops for our local selection. For all of your plant care and plant gifting needs this holiday season, head to TheSill.com.