Welcome Home!!
Bringing home a new plant is exciting. Whether it’s your first plant or the latest addition to your collection, the first few days are a great time to help your plant settle in and set it up for long-term success.
No matter where you purchased it, in this area, your plant has likely been through several greenhouses, distributors and truck voyages, sharing close company with other plants. Plants don’t enjoy being moved around, so will likely be a little stressed.
Here are a few simple steps we recommend when you bring a plant home.
Give Your Plant a Little Space (At First)
If you already have houseplants, it’s a good idea to keep your new plant separate for about a week.
Even healthy plants can occasionally carry hitchhiking pests that are hard to see at first. A short isolation period helps protect the rest of your plant collection while you keep an eye on the new arrival.
Set it somewhere nearby where you can easily check on it each day.
Find the Right Spot
Before placing your plant, take a moment to think about the light in your home.
Most houseplants prefer bright, indirect light, meaning they like to be near a window but not directly blasted by intense sun for hours at a time. South or west windows tend to be brighter, while north and east windows are usually gentler.
If you’re unsure, start with a bright room and adjust if needed.
Plants will tell you a lot about how they’re feeling over time.
Don’t Rush to Water
One of the most common mistakes with new plants is watering too quickly.
Many plants are already watered before they leave the shop, so the first thing to do is check the soil before adding more water. A simple way to do this is with a wooden skewer or your finger.
If the soil still feels damp below the surface, wait a few days and check again.
Overwatering is far more common than underwatering, especially during the first week.
Do a Quick Plant Check
Take a minute to look over your plant’s leaves and stems.
This is a great way to become familiar with your plant and notice anything unusual early. Look under leaves, along stems, and around the soil surface. Most of the time everything will look perfectly normal, but getting into the habit of checking plants regularly is one of the best ways to keep them healthy.
Research Your Plant
Each plant species has slightly different needs.
A quick search for your plant’s care preferences—light, watering, humidity, and growth habits—can help you understand what it likes best. You’re certainly welcome to ask us also. We’re happy to share our knowledge.
Learning about your plant is part of the fun.
Should You Repot Right Away?
In most cases, there’s no rush to repot a new plant.
Plants often prefer to adjust to their new home before dealing with another big change. If the plant is very rootbound or in poor soil, repotting may make sense sooner, but for many plants it’s perfectly fine to wait a few weeks or even a few months.
If you do repot, be sure to use a pot with drainage and a soil mix appropriate for the type of plant.
You can purchase our special mix of soil, which includes potting soil, perlite, orchid bark and worm castings.
Expect a Little Adjustment
It’s normal for plants to take some time to adjust to their new environment. You may notice a leaf or two yellowing, or the plant may seem a little quiet for a week or two.
This is simply the plant adapting to new light, humidity, and watering patterns.
With consistent care, most plants settle in quickly and begin growing again.
The Most Important Tip: Observe Your Plant
Plants are great communicators once you get used to reading their signals.
Check in with them regularly, watch how the soil dries out, and notice how the leaves respond to the light in your home. The more attention you give early on, the easier plant care becomes.
And remember — every experienced plant owner started exactly where you are now.