Okay, so, I gotta share this because it’s been a real journey figuring out how to NOT kill my plants with kindness, aka overwatering. I used to think more water equals more love, right? Wrong! Let me tell you, my plants were NOT happy.
The Beginning of My Plant Parenthood
It all started when I decided my apartment needed some life. I went to the local nursery and got a bunch of different plants. I had this weeping fig, you know, the one that looks like a mini tree and is always in offices? Yeah, that one. Also got a peace lily, which I later found out is a no-go for my cat, Mittens – seriously, it’s toxic to them and birds, a total bummer. And of course, a spider plant, because they’re supposed to be easy and safe for pets.
The Overwatering Disaster
I was so excited, I watered them almost every day. I mean, I just wanted them to thrive! But then, the leaves started turning yellow. The soil was always wet, and honestly, it smelled kinda funky. My weeping fig started dropping leaves like crazy, and the peace lily just looked sad. I was like, “What’s going on?!”
Research and Realization
So, I hit the internet, doing all sorts of searches, reading forums, and watching videos. Turns out, I was smothering my plants. Overwatering is a real thing, and it’s apparently super common. I learned that plants need their soil to dry out a bit between waterings. Who knew?
Changing My Ways
First thing I did was to ease up on the watering. I started checking the soil with my finger, like, actually sticking it in there a couple of inches. If it felt dry, I’d water. If it was still damp, I’d wait. It was a total game-changer.
- Stopped watering daily: This was the hardest part, resisting the urge to water.
- Checked the soil: Became best friends with my index finger.
- Improved drainage: Made sure my pots had holes at the bottom and added some rocks for good measure.
- Observed the plants: Started paying more attention to how they looked and felt.
The Results
Slowly but surely, my plants started to recover. The weeping fig stopped its dramatic leaf-dropping performance, and the peace lily perked up. Even Mittens seemed happier, probably because she could finally stop worrying about eating the peace lily. The spider plant was always chill, but it started looking even healthier, if that’s possible.
It’s been a learning curve, for sure. I’m still no expert, but I’m definitely more in tune with what my plants need. It’s all about balance, I guess. And not drowning them in my enthusiasm to be a good plant parent.
