Not sure when to water your plants? Try the 'Chopstick Trick'!

We get it. It's tricky to know when your plants need a water!

We find water meters can often be unreliable - how do you know if it's working?

This method using a chopstick is a reliable way to check if your plants are ready for their next drink.

Step 1.

Use a wooden chopstick (sorry, metal or plastic won't work!) and insert it into the soil as deep as it will go.

Step 2.

Wait 60 seconds.

Step 3.

Lift out the wooden chopstick. There will be moist soil sticking to the layers of soil that were still holding water. Hold it against the outside of your pot to get a feel for how many of the lower inches are still wet. Such a handy trick!

Watch this great video tutorial by 'Pretty in Green'.

#plantcaretips #wateringyourplant #chopsticktrick

We're featured in Rent.com's 'Winter Houseplant Care' Article!

We're excited to be featured in Rent.com's newest Winter Houseplant Care article along with several other plant shops and plant lovers! Read the full article below.

"According to U.S. Census data, 66 percent of consumers have at least one house plant. As we head into winter, it's important to acknowledge that plants need a little extra TLC to get them through the season.

Why is winter houseplant care so tricky?

During the winter, a lot of elements come into play when caring for your houseplants. Since the temperatures drop and there is less daylight this time of year, houseplants — many of which come from tropical environments — die-off easier than warmer times of the year. These three things could result in your houseplant's demise:

• Lack of light

• Too much water

• Not enough humidity

Keep these three things in mind when you're caring for your houseplants and follow these winter houseplant care tips so you can keep your plants — succulents and air plants, too — alive and happy until spring.

To help you keep your green thumb during the colder months, experts shared their winter houseplant care tips with us.

1. Mist regularly

“Humidity levels will decrease during the colder months and coupled with using heaters, this can be harmful to indoor plants such as ferns and calatheas which require high humidity, says Raymond from the Cheeky Plant Co., “Group up your plants closer together and mist them regularly to keep them happy throughout winter. Using a humidifier does the same trick but will be more effective and efficient.

2. Establish a watering routine

“One of our favorite winter houseplant care tips is to adjust your watering schedules! In the winter months, our plants receive less sunshine and have a slower growth rate. The best way to get a feel for your plants' new watering schedule is to check by sticking your finger into the soil a few inches down, and if it's dry, it's time for watering!" says Plant Therapy.

Also, it's important to water your houseplants with room temperature water during this time of year. A critical step in winter houseplant care is to not shock your plant's roots — so avoid watering your plant friends with cold water at all costs.

3. Do not over-fertilize

“For winter care in cold and dry northern areas, add a couple of drops of fertilizer to a spray bottle once a month and mist the leaves of your plants," says Christie Pollack from Learn Plant Grow, “Your plants will enjoy the additional humidity from the mist and will absorb the fertilizer through their leaves to help keep them green without over-fertilizing them in the winter months."

4. Add humidity where you can

"The key to maintaining your house plants in winter is to try to keep them in an area that has lots of natural sunlight plus increase the humidity around the plants by standing the plants on dishes or saucers which you can add water. This will offset the drying effects of central heating which is the biggest problem for houseplants in winter months," says Garden Advice.

5. Look to the light

“While reducing watering is essential to keep your plants alive during the winter months, people often underestimate the importance of light. As the amount of available light goes down, your plant's current spot might not remain suitable. Try moving your plants to a new location or add a grow light to substitute the natural light," says Samira from PlanterSam.

6. Don't forget to dust

“Just like you and me, houseplants require natural light to thrive. You may want to consider relocating plants to south or west-facing windows to optimize their daylight exposure during winter months," says Alex Kuisis of Soul Fitness Coaching, “Also, keep in mind that even thin layers of dust on a plant's leaves can block its access to light, so use a damp cloth to gently remove dust each time you water — your plants will thank you for the TLC!"

7. Help your plants stay warm

"Keep your roots warm. Invest in a root zone heat mat to keep your plant's root zone active all winter long! Heat mats are an easy and cheap way to make your plants thrive even in the dead of winter," says David Flores of Hort N Culture.

Winter plant care for specific types of plants

Not every plant has the same type of care routine — so it's key to know what type of houseplant you have. Most houseplants fall into three categories:

• Air plants

• Succulents and cacti (indoor and outdoor)

• Common houseplants (bright to low light)

Air plants

Formally known as Tillandsias, air plants continue to rise in popularity. A part of the Bromeliaceae family — there are about 650 different kinds. In nature, these plants grow on and around other plants like trees and they are native to desert, forest and mountain areas in South and Central America.

Airplants have a reputation for being relatively easy to care for, so it's no surprise they frequent must-have plant lists. Winter houseplant care specifically for air plants should focus on making sure they get enough light and don't get too cold.

“During winter make sure to protect your air plants from frost, keep them inside your home in colder environments. Air plants may demand more water when your heat is on creating a drier environment," says air plant experts from Twisted Acres, “Slowly increase your water if needed."

Succulents and cacti

There are over 10,000 succulent species in the world. Known for being hard to kill, succulents have leaves and stems that retain moisture — making them tolerant to drought periods and easy to care for.

“It's best to provide succulents with well-draining soil for the winter," says Chau Ly from SucculentsBox.com, “Before moving the succulents inside for the winter, water them so that they soak up the water and begin to dry out. Covering the succulents with bedsheets, row or non-woven fabric will also benefit them from the cold of winter. It is important for gardeners and plant lovers to keep in mind that many succulents do not need much water in winters, and they require at least 8 hours of indirect sunlight a day."

If you're looking for hardy succulents that will make it through cold winters, try these:

• Sempervivum Red Lion

• Sempervivum Mahogany

• Sempervivum Calcareum

• Sempervivum Cobweb

• Stonecrop Sedum

• Corsican Stonecrop

• Sedum Golden Moss

• Dragon's Blood Sedum

• Cape Blanco Sedum

• Ice Plant Oscularia Deltoides

• Agave Butterfly

Also, remember cacti belong to the succulent family too. Christmas cactuses and Opuntia, better known as prickly pear, both thrive during the winter season.

Other tips if your home has low-light during winter

• Check regularly if your plant needs water. Put your finger in the soil up to the first knuckle, if it's dry, it's time to water. Keep it splashing on until water comes out of the drainage holes. Don't just water in the same spot. Water all the way around the plant thoroughly so the root ball gets moistened.

• Keep your windows clean — the less dirt on the window itself or the screen the better for more light to make it through.

• Rinse your plants in the sink or shower — this will help remove any dirt or dust build-up on the leaves and will help your plants absorb more nutrients.

Plants that will thrive in the winter

• Maria Arrowhead plant

• Moth Orchid

• Maidenhair Fern

• Ponytail Palms

• Pothos

• Snake Plants

• Aloe vera

• Cactus

• Snake plant

• Clivia

• Corn plant

• Jade plant

• Dragon tree

• Sweetheart plant

• Dracaena Reflexa

• Dracaena Tarzan Bush

• Cast Iron Plant Aspidistra

• Euphorbia Milii Crown of Thorns

• Christmas Cactus

• Peperomia Obtusifolia

• Chinese Evergreen

• Philodendrons

• Fiddle Leaf Fig

• Wax Plant

• ZZ plant

Take a leaf of faith this winter

All in all, by modifying your routine to combat the challenges that winter may pose — you're giving your succulents, air plants and large, leafy green houseplants the best chance of survival. Remember, a little extra care goes a long way during the coldest months of the year and that stands not just for houseplants, but humans and animals, too. Whatever you do — don't give up on your plants this season because spring 2022 will be here before you know it."

View the article on Rent.com here.

Spring is on the way! What to look for in a plant fertilizer.

After their dormancy in winter, your plants are starting to wake up and enter their growth phase again come spring! It's always a good idea to start fertilizing in late April or early May, continuing into September.

There are so many different fertilizers - they have number codes, some are liquid, some are pellets - what do they mean?

Spring is the best time to start fertilizing your houseplants.

As an example, our 10-15-10 Houseplant Fertilizer is an all-purpose liquid fertilizer. It contains the basic macronutrients to keep your plants happy and healthy, including Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. As a general rule, all fertilizer labels will be listed in this order for the 3 macronutrients , and they each have a specific function:

• Nitrogen will help to develop fuller, healthier foliage

• Phosphorous will encourage bigger, healthier blooms

• Potassium will help to grow a stronger root system

So back to our example of the 10-15-10.

The numbers refer to the NPK values - 10% Nitrogen, 15% Phosphorous, and 10% Potassium.

This particular fertilizer is pretty even across the board, making it a great general houseplant food! Use it on your Pothos to encourage fuller and healthier foliage, or on your outdoor Daisies to encourage fuller blooms.

You can get into specialty fertilizers for specific plants. For example, if you're looking to fertilize your flowering plants in particular, look for a fertilizer with a significantly higher middle number for a higher percentage of Phosphorous (potash) to promote healthier blooms.

Slower growing plants, like Cactus, require less fertilizer less frequently, and typically their fertilizers will have lower NPK numbers for that reason.

Faster growing plants, like Begonias, can be fertilized more often and can handle a higher NPK value because they're always growing and hungry!

All that said, always be sure to follow the instructions on your fertilizer label. Giving your plants too much fertilizer can easily harm or kill your plant. Leaves can scorch or bleach due to overfeeding, so start slow, less is more, and monitor its use according to the instructions.

Another important thing to note, is that your plant still needs to be in the proper environment to thrive. If you have a Bird of Paradise (thrives in bright light) in a low light space, don't expect fertilizer to magically help it grow. Fertilizers are more like a booster for plants to get the necessary nutrients, but their real 'food' is derived from the sunlight they intake.

So if your plant looks sad, first ask yourself if it's in the right environment before choosing to fertilize. Once it's getting the light and care it needs, a gentle fertilizer is a great way to help it continue to thrive!

Fertilizers we carry:

Schultz 10-15-10 Liquid Plant Food (liquid concentrate)

Schultz 2-7-7 Liquid Cactus Food (liquid concentrate)

Earth Medicine Organic Microbial Fertilizer (pellet)