In this blog post, we are aiming to address just that! Over the years at Podhghar, we’ve nurtured and cared for countless plants—from succulents and cacti to monsteras—creating stunning jungles in our homes. So let’s get some plant care myths straight and facts right. 💡
🌱 Myth 1: Indoor Plants Don’t Need Sunlight
Busted: Plants need light to survive. All plants need light of some sort to thrive.
Even low light tolerant plants such as Snake plants or ZZ plants still need some indirect or filtered sunlight. Plants require light in order for them to produce food. If you lack natural sunlight, artificial lights specifically designed for growing plants can be a worthy alternative.
🔍 Podhghar Tip: For best results, put low-light plants by the north-facing windows or in the rooms where the light is present, but not directly shining. And remember, low light is not no light!
🪴 Myth 2: Daily Plant Watering is a Must
Busted: Overwatering is the primary assassin of houseplants!
Root rot is most houseplants’ bane; too much watering is rarely the solution. The majority of house plants prefer their soil to dry out a little after each watering. The right amount of dry soil varies with plant type, pot size, kind of soil, humidity, and light.
🧪 Podhghar Trick: Use the “chopstick test” or a moisture meter. Dip a clean wooden chopstick. If it comes out clean, dry it’s time to water.
🌬️ Myth 3: Instantly Improves Quality of Air
Busted: While plants can contribute to cleaner air, it’s not as instantaneous or dramatic as often claimed.
In real life conditions, air purification provides only moderate support, still fulfilling Ed Mcdonnell’s expectation.
🌿 The Podhghar Truth: Not magic air filters, but indoor plants do help to some degree with overall humidity, dust levels, and even improve someone’s mental well-being.
☕ Myth 4: All houseplants thrive on coffee grounds
Busted: While highly rich in nitrogen, coffee grounds are not a universal solution.
The direct use untreated coffee grounds can foster mold and blockage within the pot. The acidic nature may be damaging for some plants with a preference for neutral pH.
📝 The Podhghar Tip: Better yet, the grounds can be composted or diluted into liquid feeds. It’s best not to use them directly unless you have sufficient knowledge of a particular plant’s needs.
🌵 Myth 5: Succulents don’t need any care
Busted: Succulents are low-maintain, but not no-maintain.
These desert plants require a proper watering schedule, well-draining soil, and adequate light. Placing them in low light can result in mushy or dying succulents.
🌞 Podhghar Pro Insights: Place succulents on bright windowsills whilst only watering when the soil is completely dry.
💧 Misting is beneficial for all plants
Busted: There are particular plants that benefit more from misting than others.
While tropical plants do appreciate occasional misting, some like succulents and cacti can develop fungal problems. Moreover, misting does not raise the humidity a great deal and serves only as a temporary solution useful only in dry climates.
🌫️ Podhghar Suggestion: Mist ferns, calatheas, and peace lilies, but restrict misting to mornings. For true humidity support, invest in a humidifier.
🌼 Myth 7: Brown leaf tips mean the plant is dying
Busted: Browning leaf tips are often cosmetic in nature and not a mark of critical stress.
A few brown tips could be the result of using tap water rich in fluoride, low humidity, over-fertilizing, or simply natural aging. Browning does not indicate your plant is on the brink of death.
🧴 Podhghar Fix: Suggests using scissors to carefully trim the brown tips and adjust the watering or feeding of the plant. Where possible, use filtered or rainwater.
🌳 Myth 8: Bigger pots mean better growth
Busted: Bigger pots can hinder growth more than assist it.
Plants do best in slightly snug pots where roots can freely breathe. Oversized pots tend to retain excess soil. Waterlogged soils pose a great threat of root rot.
📦 Podhghar Suggestion: When repotting, select pots that are 1–2 inches bigger than the previous one. Remember, drainage holes are essential!
🐞 Myth 9: Houseplants are pest-free
Deflated: Plants in the house can attract pests.
Damage from spider mites, mealybugs, fungus gnats, and aphids is quite common in indoor plants. Stagnant air and excessive watering create perfect surroundings for these pests.
🕵️ Podhghar Warning: Do not forget to check the topside of leaves as well as underneath and along leaf stems for pests. Organic neem oil and insecticidal soap (available on Podhghar.com) are good remedies.
🌱 Myth 10: Every Plant Responds Positively to Fertilizer
Deflated: Plants can be harmed by over-fertilization, which is a common issue.
Over-fertilizing is when too much fertilizer is administered at once. This accumulation can cause saltpeter buildup, burning of leaves, and root system stress. Most house plants can be fertilized once during the rest period (winter months) and twice during the growth season (spring and summer).
📅 Podhghar Fertilizer Rule: Indicated Feeding once a month: Apply liquid tonic fertilizer monthly during growth but stop liquid feeding entirely when the plant is dormant.
🧼 Myth 11: Glossy foliage means the plant is healthy and well cared for
Deflated: Sprays used to enhance the appearance of leaves can block stomata and lower the shrub’s health.
Specialty services offered by every florist include leaf polishing, which is essentially sprays designed to enhance sheen. Some of these ad-marketed products are detrimental as they lower the plant’s respiration and photosynthesis as well.
✨ Podhghar Tip: Dusty leaves can be cleaned using a gentle, damp cloth. Natural ways are always preferred when it comes to a plant’s wellness!
🪟 Myth 12: All Indoor Plants Love Being Near Windows
Busted: Not every plant does best in direct sunlight coming through the window.
Certain plants, like ferns and calatheas, grow best in indirect or filtered light, but can be burned by direct sunlight. Knowing the light requirements of your plant is very important.
🪴 Podhghar Suggestion: Light can be harsh on some plants, so sheer curtains can be used. Guarantee to rotate the plant weekly to avoid uneven light distribution.
💡 Myth 13: You Surely Can Agree That Artificial Plants Are Better Than Real Ones
Busted: Artificial Plants are devoid of life. They cannot freshen up a room, boost the mood of those in the vicinity, and improve over time.
Despite seeming easy to maintain, not only do artificial plants attract dirt, their presence does not improve one’s emotional state or the condition of the environment. Most importantly, they do not have the vibrancy that real plants do.
🌿 Podhghar Philosophy: We firmly believe that nurturing something is a pure joy. This goes beyond how something looks. Turning our gaze to nature is connecting with it and comes with a great sense of peace.
🌎 Final Thoughts from Podhghar 💚
At Podhghar, we strive to provide the plant community with well-researched, myth-free advice. Knowing what your plants need as opposed to what’s the outcome of suspicion can be the difference between thriving and dying.
Remember: caring for plants is not a task but rather an ongoing project. While certain myths might over-explain or under-explain things, plant care can be done joyfully and seamlessly with the right resources and guides.
We are here to help you at every stage, whether it be watering your monstera, relocating your peace lily to a sunnier window, or examining the white specks on your pothos. 🌱
🛒 Ready to Be Equipped with Tools that Will Help in Debunking Myths?
Visit Podhghar for:
- Sprays containing Neem oil and other organic pest solutions.
- Moisture meters that will guarantee precision watering.
- Custom potting mixes for every type of plant.
- Grow lights so as to assist during dormant seasons, and repotting kits.
Become a member of the Podhghar community, where plant care honesty resides alongside vibrant ideas, and where genuine advice devoid of plant care myths is readily available.
Join me in remaining unfettered by myths and smartly growing green together! 💚