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7 Common Plant Myths Demystified

We all know stories that are shared so many times, people start believing them.

There are a few stubborn plant-related misconceptions going around. And these can make caring for your indoor plants unnecessarily hard.

Let’s talk plants, separate facts from fiction, and debunk plant myths.

7 common plant myths demystified

Common Houseplant Care Misconceptions

1. You don’t have a green thumb so you can’t keep plants alive

Why do so many people believe this?

Keeping plants alive has nothing to do with green or black thumbs. It is just a matter of knowing some basic information on how to care for your plants.

A good place to start is the houseplant guide. You will find all the basics, from where to buy house plants, to how to water them, we talk about indoor plants and pet safety, and about things like the best way to re-pot your plants.

2. You water your plant every week

Well, maybe. You might find yourself watering your plant every week. But it shouldn’t be because your calendar tells you so.

I feel this myth started because new plant parents want to know how often to water their plants, and the quick and easy answer they often get is “You water about once a week”.

And that is where it goes wrong. The most important bit of information is missing.

It’s not your schedule, it’s your plant that will tell you when it’s time to water it.

You can use the once-a-week schedule as a reminder to check if your plant needs water. Look at the soil. Feel it. If it is still moist, you should not water it. Watering when it still has water will prevent the soil from ever drying out and the roots will be prone to rot.

Related: How and When to Water Houseplants

3. If you want your plant to grow big, put it in a big pot

No. Just no. Don’t do it. Your plant will literally drown in all that space.

Indoor plants do best when their pot is balanced in size with the size of the plant and its roots. If your pot is too large for the plant, there is too much soil surrounding the roots. When you water your plant, it will stay wet too long and become more susceptible to root rot.

Next time you have to re-pot a plant, choose a pot one size up from the current pot. You want the roots to have some room to re-grow, but not drown.

Related: When and How to Repot your Houseplants

7 indoor plant myths

4. You water your plant when it’s wilting

Watch out for this one. This obviously happens with good intentions. Your plant looks sad, so you want to perk it up with some water.

While it is true that most plants will show signs of wilting when they get thirsty, it could be a different reason.

Before you water, you should do a quick inspection. Does the plant have enough light? Are there any visible bugs? Is the soil still wet, might it have been overwatered? All good reasons your plant might be wilting.

If your plant is wilting but happy with the light, there are no bugs, and the soil is dry, go for it, water away.

5. Indoor plants need a lot of sunlight

Yes, some plants like many succulents, benefit from a lot of direct sunlight. But not every houseplant does.

Most indoor plants prefer bright, indirect light, and will suffer from sunburn when placed in direct sun all day. So move your plant further away from the window or put a sheer curtain between to soften the rays.

If you are feeling crafty, you can make these easy embroidery hoop sun diffusers to protect your plants from the heat.
houseplant myths demystified

6. Plants aren’t safe when you have pets

This is not completely true, but nonetheless, something we should really talk about for a second.

There are certain plants that are toxic to pets.

But not every plant is toxic. And not every cat eats plants. And not every toxic plant will seriously harm your cat when it nibbles on a leaf or two.

It is definitely important to know what type of plants you are bringing in. Do your research and if needed, place your plant out of your pet’s reach.

Read more: Indoor Plants and Pets. How to Keep it Safe.

7. If a plant looks unhappy, you give it fertilizer

Here’s another one that comes from a heart filled with good intentions.

Plants don’t need nearly as much fertilizer as you might think.

Don’t use it as you would take your daily vitamins. For plants, less is more when it comes to fertilizer.

The reason your plant looks unhappy is rarely due to a lack of fertilizer, so adding it won’t solve it. Too much fertilizer can actually add to the stress the plant already has.

First, figure out what is wrong with your plant, fix it, and then wait for the plant to show new growth before fertilizing again.

Plant Shelfie Houseplant Myths

The Indoor Gardener

Tuesday 11th of October 2022

3. If you want your plant to grow big, put it in a big pot No. Just no. Don’t do it. Your plant will literarily drown in all that space

THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE AT ALL. There is no evidence that plants drown in larger pots. Plants thrive and grow better needing less water and less feeding.

Mod and Mint

Wednesday 12th of October 2022

Hello Indoor Gardener, I agree completely with what you are saying. Plants don't drown indoors in large pots 100% of the time. Experienced plant growers will know how to water plants in large pots so that they won't get too much water. But overwatering is already a huge reason many houseplants don't survive, and large pots with lots of soil that stays wet longer will only up that risk. This post is about myths surrounding plant care. What I was saying is that putting your plant in a large pot doesn't make your plant grow bigger and the risk of overwatering is much higher.

Thank you so much for your input and for sharing your plant knowledge on my site with those that are still learning about plant care!