Plant Parenthood…begin
“The expert at anything was once a beginner.” Perhaps you’ve heard of this quote from Helen Hayes? This is actually a really comforting phrase when it comes to beginning anything.
Let’s take plant parenthood for example. What is plant parenthood?
Plant parenthood:
/plant//ˈperənt/ (noun)
involves nurturing a plant and caring for it as if it were a child or pet, allowing it to grow and thrive in the loving environment that it is provided.
Oftentimes, “want-to-be” plant parents have this crippling fear that they will kill any plant they try to grow. Well, I have bad news and good news about that fear. Bad news: you will most likely kill some plants that you first try growing. But good news: you will have an understanding about what happened (at least, what NOT to do with that plant).
Let’s circle back, “The expert at [growing plants] was once a beginner.” Life, in general, is a multitude of mistakes that we go through figuring out along the way. Why do you think the wisest people have MANY years of experience? Plant parenthood is no different.
I read a blog post from Jackie Maahs entitled, “The One Plant Phrase I Refuse to Say,” and I couldn't agree more with her insight. Growing plants is more about a learning experience and less about having a green thumb (or lack of one).
Do I consider myself a plant expert? Absolutely not! However, I really enjoy learning about a variety of plants. I grow and have grown plants, but I also have killed some along the way.
I worked in a greenhouse for 10 years and learned so much! I learned about watering plants, how to get plants to rebloom, the wonder of pests and bugs that magically appear on plants, and methods other gardeners used for the success of their plants. I am grateful for all the knowledge I obtained there, but that wasn’t (nor isn’t) the end of my learning.
When I first starting growing succulents (which are supposed to be easy to grow), I went through (killed) many in the process of learning. Some that were supposed to be cute and flower-shaped ended up looking like tall, spindly, awkward middle-schoolers. Others turned into a mushy mess or got so crispy that just looking at them made them crumble to the floor.
However, after learning that succulents have specific light and watering requirements; I now have a beautiful windowsill full of healthy succulents.
If you’re still a little bit nervous about becoming a plant parent; that’s ok. Just remember to keep in mind that you have to begin somewhere. Additionally, we are so lucky to have easily accessible resources (internet) available to us as we journey through plant parenthood.
There are so many articles and advice from other plant parents who have learned and have found success (and mistakes) growing. It’s definitely a trial-and-error process, but what parenthood isn’t?!
The best advice I can give: begin.
Houseplant appreciation day is on January 10th! Why not make your house a home with a new plant? Houseplants not only beautify our spaces, but can also have tremendous health benefits. So now is a great time to begin plant parenthood. For Floral Sake offers plant subscriptions (monthly & weekly options) - so if you kill (learn about) a plant the first time, you will receive another one the next week or month.
