Can we talk about how I used to kill every houseplant I bought?

For the longest time, I'd just grab whatever looked cool at the grocery store, put it on a table, and water it whenever I remembered. I lost a peace lily, a snake plant, and a pothos that way. Then, about six months ago, I started actually looking up what 'low light' or 'bright indirect light' really means for my apartment. Now I use a light meter app on my phone before I even buy something. Has anyone else had to totally change their plant buying habits to keep things alive?

3 comments

3 Comments

kim3731mo ago

I used to agree with William Jackson65 about plants being tough, but my string of pearls plant changed my mind. It looked fine in what I thought was a bright spot, but it just kept getting thinner. I checked the light with an app on a whim and found it was getting barely any direct sun. Moved it right by the window and it started putting out new growth like crazy. Some plants are hardy, but others really do need that specific light to thrive.

henry_martinez1mo ago

Trust that app, it's smarter than our eyes. My own string of pearls looked fine for months before it just gave up and turned to mush. Some plants are drama queens with very specific demands.

william_jackson651mo ago

Honestly a light meter app feels like overkill. Most plants are tougher than people think, they just need a decent spot and a basic routine. My mom kept the same spider plant alive for twenty years in a dim corner and only watered it when the leaves drooped.