If you’ve ever seen three seemingly random numbers on a package of plant food, you might wonder what they mean and if you need to pay attention to them. Typically, these numbers aren’t associated with any other context, except for being in the format of “X-X-X.” Each number represents an element in the following order: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Many fertilizers have other elements too, but there’s a reason these three in particular are highlighted. They each play a vital role in overall plant health and need to be replenished for potted plants. The higher the number, the higher pe ..read more

Hoyas are having a moment in the sunlight with their lush foliage and easy-to-care for nature. They’re the perfect plants for those who might forget to water or accidentally neglect their plants from time to time. Hoyas are very forgiving and can maintain their tropical charm with minimal love. If you’re looking for a low maintenance beauty, the Hoya might be your answer. Here’s a complete guide to keeping Hoyas thriving year-round. Watering: Hoyas like their soil to dry out completely between waterings. Overwatering is their biggest enemy, so when in doubt, err on the side of dryn ..read more

As the cold weather sets in, our plants might feel the winter blues, just like us. The shorter days and drier air generally cause them to slow down their growth in order to conserve energy, but it doesn’t have to. It’s not that plants can’t grow in the winter, they just need a little extra TLC to give them the right flourishing conditions. 1. Maximize light: It’s important to take advantage of the few daylight hours we have in the winter months. A good rule of thumb is to place your plants in south-facing windows so they can soak up as much natural light as possible. Plus, don’t forget to cl ..read more

Plant food can have so many positive benefits for our house plants. It helps them grow those big, beautiful leaves that brighten up our homes. However, there can be too much of a good thing. When not fed at the right time, the nutrients in plant food can actually harm your plants. Here are three scenarios where you will want to wait to feed your plant babies. 1. When they’re in their dormant periods: Many plants have dormant periods during which they are not actively growing, therefore, they won’t need as much nutrient input. Like people, plants are unique, and some plants may require regula ..read more

When we domesticate our plant babies and nurture them indoors, we’re taking away their ability to get nutrients from natural sources that they would have access to in the wild. These include things that have decomposed in their soil, minerals from rocks breaking down over time that have been released into their soil, and even some symbiotic interactions with other organisms that may bring them nutrients.   So, it’s up to us plant parents to feed our babies a complete diet so they can still thrive. This is where plant food comes in. A good plant food is comprised of all of the elements a ..read more

You probably already know plants love light—since it’s what powers photosynthesis, it’s basically their food. But the same way a salad and a bag of chips are different, the type of light your plants receive can affect the way they grow. Let’s look at the advantages and drawbacks of sunlight vs indoor light. Sunlight As the most natural and abundant source of light for plants, the sun’s rays contain the full spectrum of light wavelengths they need for photosynthesis. The broad range of wavelengths, including blue, red, and far-red light, is like an all-you-can-eat buffet of nutrients. Blue li ..read more