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Guides

Diagnose and fix common plant problems like yellowing or pests

48 posts

• How to Acclimate New Plants to Your Home (Without Killing Them)

  That gorgeous new plant from the nursery is about to freak out. Here is how to ease it into your home so it actually survives the transition.

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• Best Houseplants for Your Bathroom: Plants That Actually Love the Steam

  Your bathroom might be the best room in your house for certain plants. Here are the humidity-loving houseplants that thrive in steamy, low-light bathrooms - and how to keep them happy.

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• Best Houseplants for Your Home Office (From a Dad Who Works Next to a Toddler)

  The best low-maintenance houseplants for your home office that boost focus, clean the air, and survive neglect - because you have enough to manage already.

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• The Best Trailing Plants for Shelves and Hanging Baskets

  Looking to add some drama to your shelves and hanging planters? Here are the best trailing houseplants for every light level, skill level, and vibe - plus tips on keeping them happy.

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• Bottom Watering Houseplants: The Lazy Dad Method That Actually Works

  Bottom watering lets your plants drink at their own pace, prevents fungus gnats, and takes the guesswork out of when to stop pouring. Here is how to do it right.

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• Brown Leaf Tips on Houseplants: The Real Reasons (And Fixes)

  Crispy brown tips are annoying but fixable. Here is what causes them and how to prevent them.

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• Best Houseplants for Your Bedroom (That Actually Do Something)

  Not every bedroom plant is created equal. Here are the best houseplants for bedrooms based on real science, low-light tolerance, and the one quality that matters most - being hard to kill when you forget about them.

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• How to Build Your First Terrarium (A Tiny Ecosystem on Your Shelf)

  Terrariums are low-maintenance, beautiful, and a perfect weekend project with kids. Here is everything you need to build one that actually thrives.

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• Cat-Safe Houseplants: A Plant Dad With Cats Guide

  You can have a jungle and a cat. Here are the best non-toxic houseplants for cat owners, plus which popular ones to avoid.

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• How to Choose the Right Pot for Your Houseplant

  Terra cotta, plastic, ceramic - they all work, but they work differently. Here is how to match the right pot to the right plant so everyone stays happy.

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• What Your Houseplant Is Trying to Tell You: A Guide to Nutrient Deficiencies

  Yellow leaves, stunted growth, and weird discoloration can all point to nutrient deficiencies. Here is how to figure out what your plant is missing and how to fix it.

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• How to Clean Your Houseplant Leaves (And Why It Actually Matters)

  Dusty leaves are not just ugly - they hurt your plant. Here is the complete guide to cleaning every type of houseplant leaf the right way.

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• The No-Nonsense Guide to Fertilizing Your Houseplants

  Everything you need to know about feeding your indoor plants - what to buy, when to use it, and how not to overdo it.

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• Dealing with Fungus Gnats Without Losing Your Mind

  Those tiny flies hovering around your plants are annoying but fixable. Here is how to get rid of them for good.

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• The No-Nonsense Guide to Grow Lights for Houseplants

  Not enough natural light? A grow light can save your plants - and your sanity. Here is everything you need to know about choosing, setting up, and using grow lights for indoor plants.

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• How to Pick Healthy Plants at the Nursery (Without Getting Duped)

  That gorgeous plant at the garden center might be hiding root rot, pests, or weeks of neglect. Here is how to spot the winners and skip the heartbreak before you bring anything home.

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• The Humidity Guide Every Houseplant Parent Needs

  Your tropical plants are thirsty for moisture in the air, not just the soil. Here is everything you need to know about humidity - what levels your plants actually need, how to measure it, and the best ways to raise it without turning your apartment into a swamp.

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• Indoor Bonsai for Beginners: Growing a Tiny Tree Without Losing Your Mind

  Bonsai looks intimidating, but a few beginner-friendly species actually thrive indoors with basic care. Here is how to pick your first tree and keep it alive.

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• How to Transition Plants Indoors for Winter

  Your outdoor plants need to come inside before the first frost. Here is how to do it without bringing pests along.

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• Beginner Guide to LECA Setup

  Rinse, buffer, fertilize, and maintain stable moisture with semi-hydro basics.

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• 5 Low-Light Champs for Apartments

  ZZ plants, snake plants, and pothos that thrive with minimal sun while keeping air clean.

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• Mealybugs on Houseplants: How to Beat the Cottony Invaders for Good

  Mealybugs look like tiny bits of cotton hiding in your plant joints and leaf undersides. Learn how to identify them early, treat them with rubbing alcohol and insecticidal soap, and prevent them from coming back.

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• How to Mix Your Own Potting Soil (And Why You Should)

  Store-bought potting soil is fine, but custom mixes work better. Here is how to build soil for your specific plants.

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• How to Use a Moisture Meter (And Finally Stop Guessing When to Water)

  A moisture meter takes the guesswork out of watering houseplants. Here is how to use one properly, what the numbers actually mean, and which plants need what reading.

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• Growing a Meyer Lemon Tree Indoors - Yes, Even in Your Apartment

  Everything you need to know about growing a Meyer lemon tree indoors, from light and watering to pollination tricks and why your apartment might be the perfect citrus grove.

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• White Mold on Potting Soil: Gross, Common, and Usually Fixable

  That fuzzy white stuff on your potting soil looks scary, but it is often a moisture and airflow problem. What causes mold, types of mold (white, green, black), when to worry vs ignore, prevention strategies, and treatment methods.

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• Monstera Aerial Roots: Keep Them, Cut Them, or Train Them?

  Those brown tentacles dangling from your monstera are not a problem. Here is what they do and what to do with them.

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• Moving Your Houseplants Outdoors for Summer - A Step-by-Step Guide

  Your houseplants want a summer vacation too. Here is how to safely move them outside, avoid sunburn and shock, and bring them back healthy in fall.

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• Why Your Monstera Has No Splits (And How to Fix It)

  Monstera leaves should split as they mature. If yours are staying solid, here is what is going wrong.

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• Moving with Houseplants: How to Relocate Your Collection Without Losing a Single Leaf

  Moving is stressful enough without worrying about your plants. Heres a practical timeline and packing guide to get every last pothos and monstera to your new place safely.

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• Why Your Peace Lily Is Drooping (And How to Fix It in One Day)

  Peace lilies are dramatic, but they are predictable. Here is how to tell thirsty droop from root rot and get your plant standing again.

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• How to Spot Plant Pests Before They Take Over

  Most pests are invisible until they are everywhere. Here is how to catch them early and save yourself weeks of frustration.

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• How to Set Up a Plant Shelf in a Small Apartment (Without Losing Your Mind)

  A practical guide to vertical indoor gardening with shelves, stands, and wall mounts - perfect for apartment dwellers who want more plants but have zero floor space left.

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• Why Your Pothos Is Turning Yellow (And How to Fix It)

  Overwatering, root rot, or nutrient issues - decode the yellow leaves and save your plant.

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• How to Prune Your Houseplants (Without Having a Panic Attack)

  Pruning houseplants feels scary, but it is the single best thing you can do for leggy, lopsided, or overgrown plants. Here is a practical guide to when, why, and how to cut.

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• How to Read Your Houseplant Leaves: A Troubleshooting Guide

  Your plants are always telling you something. Here is how to decode yellowing, browning, curling, drooping, and spotting so you can fix problems before they get worse.

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• How to Repot a Plant Without Causing a Meltdown (Yours or the Plant)

  Repotting is stressful for plants and humans. Here is a step-by-step guide to do it quickly, cleanly, and without regret.

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• Root Rot - How to Spot It, Save Your Plant, and Never Let It Happen Again

  Root rot is the number one killer of houseplants, but catching it early can save your green buddy. Here is how to identify the signs, treat affected plants, and prevent it from coming back.

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• How to Save an Overwatered Plant (Before It's Too Late)

  Root rot rescue guide - dry out soil, trim dead roots, and give your plant a second chance.

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• Spider Mites on Houseplants: The Tiny Pest That Wrecks Your Week (Treatment Guide)

  Spider mites are hard to see and easy to ignore until your leaves look dusty, speckled, and sad. Learn how to spot them early (paper test, webbing, speckles), treat them effectively (spray, wipe, repeat for 3-4 weeks), and prevent them from returning (humidity, inspection routine).

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• How to Stake and Support Your Climbing Houseplants (Without Making a Mess)

  A practical guide to moss poles, coco coir poles, trellises, and DIY supports for climbing houseplants like monstera, philodendron, and pothos.

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• Succulents for Beginners: Which Ones Actually Survive Indoors

  Not all succulents thrive indoors. Here are the easiest ones that actually work in low light and dry air.

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• Thrips on Houseplants: How to Spot, Treat, and Prevent These Sneaky Pests

  Thrips are tiny but destructive houseplant pests that leave silvery streaks and damaged leaves behind. Learn how to identify thrips, treat an infestation with natural methods, and keep them from coming back.

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• How to Keep Your Houseplants Alive While You Are on Vacation

  Heading out of town and worried about your plants? Here are practical, tested methods to keep your houseplants watered and happy while you are away - from weekend trips to two-week family vacations.

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• Does Your Water Quality Matter? A Houseplant Guide to Tap, Filtered, and Rainwater

  That crispy brown edge on your calathea might not be a humidity problem - it might be your tap water. Here is what you need to know about water quality and houseplants.

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• Winter Watering Rules to Avoid Root Rot (Most Common Winter Mistake)

  Winter is when most plants die from overwatering. Learn how to adjust soak schedules for dormancy, check soil dryness by weight or finger test, improve airflow in heated rooms, and troubleshoot yellowing leaves, fungus gnats, and root rot. Plant-specific winter watering schedules included.

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• Self-Watering Pots for Houseplants: Do They Actually Work?

  Self-watering pots promise to keep your plants happy with less effort. Here is how they actually work, which plants love them, and whether they are worth the investment for busy plant parents.

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• Worm Composting for Houseplants: Turn Kitchen Scraps Into Plant Superfood

  A practical guide to starting a worm bin in your apartment and using worm castings to supercharge your houseplant soil - no yard required.

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