We’ve all been there: you see a "hack" on social media or get a piece of advice from a well-meaning friend, only to find your plant looking worse a week later. In the world of plant parenting, there is a lot of outdated information floating around.
Let's break down three common plant care myths, why they don't work, and what you should be doing instead to keep your plants happy.
It’s the most common advice for tropical plants, and it certainly looks aesthetic and may feel right, but misting is rarely the solution people think it is.
The truth: Misting only raises the humidity around your plant for a few minutes before the water evaporates into the rest of the room. It’s a temporary fix for a “bigger” problem. Even worse, leaving stagnant water sitting on leaves, especially in homes with low airflow, is an open invitation for fungal diseases and bacterial spotting.
The fix: If your plant needs more humidity, skip the spray bottle. Instead, use a pebble tray or a humidifier. These methods provide a consistent, long-term increase in moisture that actually benefits the plant’s respiration without risking the health of the foliage. If you want to learn more about all the different humidity methods you can add to your home, check our our blog, Humidity 101.
You’ve likely seen "no-light plants" advertised for windowless bathrooms or dark hallways. Unfortunately, no plant will survive with no light at all...
The truth: Light is food for plants. Through photosynthesis, they turn light into the energy they need to survive. While some resilient plants like Snake Plants or ZZ Plants are "low-light tolerant," they cannot live in no light. In a pitch-black room, a plant will eventually exhaust its stored energy, weaken, and die.
The fix: Ensure every plant in your home has a light source. If you have a dim corner, "low-light" plants are a great choice, but they still need to be within sight of a window. If you’re determined to have a plant in a room with zero windows, you’ll need to supplement with a full-spectrum grow light to keep it alive. For more information on lighting and what they all mean, check out our blog, Ultimate Houseplant Lighting Guide.
It may sound logical, more room for the roots means more room to grow, right? Actually, it’s usually the opposite.
The truth: Putting a small root system into a massive pot is a recipe for overwatering. When there is a large amount of soil surrounding a small root ball, the plant can't drink all that water fast enough. The soil stays saturated for too long, leading to oxygen deprivation and root rot. Instead of growing bigger leaves, your plant will likely stop growing altogether as its roots begin to fail.
The fix: When it’s time to upgrade, follow the "one size up" rule. Choose a pot that is only 1 to 2 inches wider in diameter than the current root ball. This ensures there is enough fresh soil to provide nutrients, but not so much that it holds onto large amounts of moisture and overwhelms the roots. For more on knowing when to repot your plant and how to choose sizing, check out our blog, Is It Time to Repot Your Plant?
Mastering these basics is the first step toward a thriving indoor jungle. If you want to dive deeper into the science of plant care or just want to chat with fellow enthusiasts, we’d love to have you at our next event! Check our workshops tab, to see what informative workshops we have coming up.
As always, our in-store employees are also available to provide personalized guidance and assistance with your plant care questions. If you're looking for more expert advice, exclusive content, and a community of fellow plant lovers, be sure to sign up for our newsletter below!