Get Growing

​Spring is here and it’s time to get growing! I can’t wait to share some awesome gardening tips and tricks with you, but before I begin I just want to say that it’s GREAT to be back. Abbie and I really missed blogging but I think that you will find that we were still busy with the blog even though we weren’t posting anything new. If you don’t get our email newsletter, you may not have heard the awesome news. If you would like to find out what’s new, take a peek around the blog (there might be something on the Meet Us page) and come back every Friday and Monday in April to see the latest changes. 

So with that said, roll up your sleeves because it’s time to get growing! 

Choosing your plant: 
This first step, right here, is where most newbie gardeners go extremely wrong. It’s where you could make it or break it, so don’t skip this section! Picking the right plant for you is way more important than it sounds. You don’t want to pick a plant that requires too much of a time commitment and then it gets unhealthy. You also might want to consider what you want to GET from a plant. Do you want something that will produce veggies? Purify your air? Grow up a post? Make your room smell good? Plants don’t just have to be about caring for something. They can care for you too. 

Choosing your pot:
This is another step that seems unimportant, but is actually very vital. Take a look at your chosen plant. If it came in a good ceramic or hard plastic pot, you shouldn’t need to do anything with it. But if your plant came in a flimsy plastic container (or no pot at all if you are starting from seeds) then you will definitely need a better pot once the plant grows for a couple weeks. Be sure to choose a small pot to start with. You don’t want the moisture to go down to the bottom of a large pot where young plant roots can’t reach. You can always replant the plant in a larger pot as it grows. You could even try pulling seeds in ice cube trays to start them off.

Growing do’s and don’ts: 
So after you are all set up with your plant, pot and dirt, now what? Below I have a list of plant do’s to help you with your growing needs. 

Do’s: 
• Do keep young plants and seedlings inside your house for now. They can’t handle rough weather yet. When there’s no chance of morning frost or snow it should be ok. If you see that there is a high wind advisory in your area and your plant’s stem is thinner than a straw, pull them in temporarily. 
• Do check your plant’s dirt each week. Touch the dirt and then look at your finger. If dirt sticks to your finger then the dirt is moist enough. If it falls off and/or feels like sand then your plant needs water.
• Do weed your plants every time you see a weed. If you wait until there are multiple weeds then by that point the first few weeds will have grown much stronger. 
• Do give your ivy and tomato plants something to grow on. Metal wires or posts are a good choice. If they have nothing to grow on they will drop to the ground and grow on that. 

Don’ts: 
• Don’t forget to give your plant lots of sun. Check on the internet for how much sun your plant needs each day and be sure to give it approximately that amount. 
• Don’t give your plant too much water. It is very possible to drown a plant, so watch the dirt closely as you water it. If you see that the dirt is not rapidly absorbing the water as you pour it then stop watering immediately and feel the dirt. Touch the dirt in a spot where you didn’t water it and note the consistency. If it feels wet, then your plant is watered enough. If it feels dry and dusty, then it’s probably too packed to absorb the water quickly. Use a fork to gently fluff the soil but be careful to not snag or pull up the roots. 
• Don’t forget to add something to the pot to absorb extra liquid. This can be anything from a tray or towel under a small pot, or a layer of fist size rocks in the bottom of a large pot. 
• Don’t put plants together that don’t like each other. If you plan on putting several small plants together in a large pot, be sure that those plants work well together. Look it up online or ask the greenery you are buying from for suggestions on compatible plants. 

I hope this posts answered all of your basic gardening questions. If you have any questions or maybe a gardening tip of your own, put it in the comments below. 

-Brooklyn