Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Creating a Healthy Environment
• Method 2 of 3: Providing food and water
• Method 3 of 3: Additional Tricks
• Tips

Are you a plant killer? Take your time to label yourself with a heavy-handed person. Anyone can learn to give plants everything vital to thrive. It is necessary to mimic the natural environment of plants and provide them with nutrients, sunlight and water. Read on for basic strategies for growing healthy plants.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Creating a Healthy Environment

1. 1 Examine your plants. No matter how much care and attention you give them, they won't thrive if you don't know their specific needs. This applies to both indoor and outdoor plants. Some plants are able to adapt to different climates, but others require a controlled environment as they can only survive in a specific region.
   • Before planting a garden or buying another houseplant, look online or ask an expert at your nursery what conditions a particular plant requires.
   • Find out which region the plants grow best in. Even if a plant came to you from distant countries, this does not mean that you cannot grow it. However, it is much easier to manage plants from your climatic region that suit your soil and temperature.
   • For indoor plants, keep the temperature fairly stable. If you are cold, then your plant is cold too. Avoid placing pots in drafty areas.
2. 2 Make sure the pot or container is large enough. Plants need the ability to grow. Roots shouldn't be cramped. If you are planting outdoors, be sure to provide adequate space between the plants.
3. 3 Provide adequate sunlight. Plants tend to live in sunlight, partial sunlight, or shade. This is essential for plant health and growth.
   • Take a look at your garden before purchasing plants.Pay attention to how much sun there is in different areas of the garden before buying plants.
   • If you are setting up a garden, make part of the garden shady and part of the garden sunny so you can buy a variety of plants.
   • Most indoor plants grow better in partial shade, which is good, since sunlight does not always get inside the room. Consider this before placing the plant pot in a place where direct sunlight will constantly fall on it.
   • If you notice that the plant is getting thin and reaching for light, it needs more sunlight.

Method 2 of 3: Providing food and water

1. 1 Water the plants only as often as necessary. Watering can turn perfectly fine people into serial plant killers. They water either too little or too much. Many budding gardeners over-water their plants, believing that the more water the better. It works well for some plants, but can kill others.
   • You should study the water requirement of the plant, but you can also determine it by sticking your finger about 1 inch into the ground. In most cases, you should water the plants if the soil is slightly dry. Use just enough water to just seep out from the bottom of the pot. Do not over-water the plants.
   • Succulents and other plants adapted to arid regions generally require less water than plants from wet regions.
   • Seedlings usually require more water than mature plants. Maintain a constant moisture content of the seedlings until they germinate a few centimeters above the soil surface.
   • Picky plants such as orchids need better water quality because they are sensitive to chemicals found in tap water.
2. 2 Fertilize. Most avid plant breeders use a certain kind of fertilizer, but this is a matter of personal preference. If you would like to use fertilizers, visit your local flower shop and check what to use and how much.
   • Find the optimal soil for your plants. Some plants grow best in low acid soil, while others require acidic soil. Check with an expert at your nursery which soil is best for your plants.
   • Consider using compost. Compost made from fruits and vegetables makes the soil nutritious, which is great for growing most plants. Keep in mind that some plants, such as many wild plant species, actually prefer poor soil conditions, so find out exactly what your plants need before using compost.

Method 3 of 3: Additional Tricks

1. 1 Bury the banana peel under the rose bushes. Roses need a lot of potassium, which is found in bananas. Remove the banana and bury the peel directly under the roots of the rose bush. Potassium will nourish the rosebush throughout its growing season.
2. 2 Use crushed eggshells to feed your plants. Eggshells release valuable nutrients into the soil to nourish plants such as tomatoes throughout the season. Crush the shells and pour into the hole or bottom of the pot before planting the plant.
   • Crushed eggshells nourish peppers and tomatoes, promoting the growth of delicious and aromatic fruits.
   • Eggshells also serve as a natural alternative to pesticides, as they prevent the invasion of slugs and other plant pests.
3. 3 Scare away pests with soap. Outdoor plants can be attacked by rabbits, squirrels, and other creatures. Scare them away by scattering soap flakes around the garden. Some gardeners also find it quite effective to use human hair or predator urine.
4. 4 Use coins to prevent slugs. Scatter coins around the garden as the metal acts as a natural slug repellent.

Tips

• You can buy a healthy and grown plant from a greenhouse.In this case, you just need to worry about watering it, providing sunlight and nutrition.
• If you are unsure how often to water and how much water to use, get a hydrometer. This fairly inexpensive device can be found in most flower shops. This is a metal probe that sticks into the soil, and the pressure gauge shows dry or wet plant, etc.
• If all else fails, buy artificial plants. Nobody would guess that they are not real! They come in a variety of sizes.