General Care Tips

WATER

Moist generally means the plant likes watered when the top layer of soil is dry, soil should stay damp but completely soaked or pooled.

Moderate water typically means the plant doesn’t want to be completely saturated or go completely dry between watering; just right in the middle.

Completely Dry means the soil should be completely dry between watering.

Drought tolerant means it will accept going completely dry between watering (duration depends on plant) but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t need any water.

Signs of Thirst – Edges of leaves are crispy, brown, droop or curl, and/or shrivel

Signs of (Over) Hydration – Leaves turn yellow, soft, limp and soggy

Drainage is key!  Drain holes are the most foolproof way to water because they eliminate the possibility of standing water (which can cause root rot).  If a pot doesn’t have a drain hole, make sure there is a drainage layer under the soil. 

All Dapper Dandelion plants have either a drainage hole or drainage layer.

CLIMATE

Where does your plant grow in it’s natural state – does it grow in the forest or the desert?  Keep in mind most plants are grown in greenhouses so they’ll need to acclimate to your home.  But re-creating the natural habitat can make for a happier plant.

Misting creates moisture for plants that would like a more humid environment.  For most plants, misting doesn’t replace watering.

Keep plants away from drafts such as doors, windows, or heat vents. Most plants won’t enjoy the sporadic temperature changes.

LIGHT

Bright Light doesn’t mean direct sun.  Plants sunburn too!  Typically, a windowsill with a filter (curtain sheer), east facing morning sun, or near the window without direct rays is the best bright light. For plants that do want direct sunlight, slowly introduce it. South facing windows receive the most light.

Moderate Light can be a mix of bright and low light, or further removed from windows.  West and East windows are good spots.

Low Light means the plant does well with minimal bright light but still wants some light.  North facing windows or tucked in a corner.

Winter months might require shifting (ex plants in Eastern or Western facing window might prefer a Southern facing window).

Signs of not enough light – plant starts to have a pronounced lean or stretch towards the light

Signs of too much light – color fades from leaves, brown or dry patches, leaning away from light

FOOD

Most plants enjoy fertilizer and many need it to bloom or to promote growth.  Frequency depends on the plant but most plants tend to prefer monthly or every couple month feeding during their growing season(s).  Most plants don’t want fertilizer in the winter because most plants are dormant in the winter.

When it comes to fertilizer, more is not better.  If your plant needs fed monthly, feeding it weekly isn’t necessarily better.  In some cases, too much food will damage or kill the plant.

LOVE

“They say love is the best investment; the more you give, the more you get in return.” – Audrey Hepburn

So name your plant babe, sing it a song, talk to it when you water or trim.  Give your plant some love.

PESTS

There are a wide variety of pests that can decide to make a home on your plant, unfortunately. The good news is that most pests are pretty easy to treat if caught early, and your plant will bounce back to its happy self.

Signs of a pest – fuzzy and non-fuzzy growths, webs, holes, nibbled edges, and teeny tiny bugs

Happy Plant Parenting!