The Green Scene For Everyone
Although I have a tendency to maintain otherwise, deep down I don’t truly believe people are born with a green thumb or that they have an intuitive ability to care for plants with ease and very little effort. I also don’t believe that the ying of that yang is a group of people who are so botanically-inept that they could kill an artificial plant. There, I’ve confessed.
I suspect we all start off at the same beginner level and move forward, similar to the gaining of belts in martial arts. Whether you move – and at what speed - from a white to black belt, in this case from a pale to a dark green thumb, depends on how much time and effort you’re willing to put into it. Just like the colour of the belts, the colour of a plant-nurturing-thumb approximates the skill level of the hand it belongs to.
There is no barrier – age, gender, cultural or other. All houseplant owners begin their training at the lowest thumb level – amateur. Each individual that is new to indoor plant growing progresses at his or her own rate. That rate is dependent on his or her desire and ability to learn. The more you practice, the higher your level of knowledge and proficiency.
If you are a beginner to the houseplant hobby and convinced that you could never possibly master the ‘secrets’ involved in growing houseplants successfully, I’m here to tell you that there really is no divine power guiding anyone who grows their plants successfully. We all start off as equals.
There is only one (veiled) secret every green thumb(er) possesses that has contributed to their current success, which some will never disclose:
“Most of us have killed many, many plants along the way to achieve a present-day
harmony with our leafy beauties”
The skeleton is now out of the closet...
Where can I get me one of those green thumbs?
The best advice I have ever heard from other experienced houseplant hobbyists and the best advice I can offer as well is to start small. Pick up a few inexpensive plants at your local greenhouse, at your supermarket or any other place that sells familiar houseplants. Besides being affordable, they are also the most common houseplants available, and almost always the hardiest. Try to stay away from high-maintenance plants that will discourage you as they decline under your novice care. As skills and confidence grow, you will be able to add those temperamental beauties to your collection.
Pick up one or two good houseplant books as a reference. Don’t just flip through the pretty plant pictures, read them. You will learn far more from working directly with your houseplants so don’t get overwhelmed by all the advice, instructions and strict habits assigned to each plant as you read. The book is there as a general reference. Learning the basics about watering, humidity, light, feeding and the plant itself is good. Following the book like commandments is bad. With houseplants it’s the ‘spirit’ of the law, not the ‘letter’ of the law that will help boost your skills.
Observation is one of the greatest skills to focus on and master. Sneaking a peak now and then to check on the progress of your plants will teach you more than any piece of advice will ever give. Train yourself to pay attention to what the plants are telling you. They give signs if something is ailing them, which in turn helps you to remedy the problem quickly and efficiently. They are also swift to relay contentment by showering you with blooms or new growth.
A green thumb is learned, like any other skill in life, so don’t feel bad if success is not immediate; keep trying. Trial and error, experience and patience...these things will help you get better at taking care of houseplants. Everyone has casualties in the beginning. That's normal. But as the years pass, you learn how to dance well together with your plants and your botanical bunch and they begin to thrive under your veteran touch. Every lesson is a building block towards success.
Like Martial Arts, There Are Skills To Learn And Master
Just like in Karate, there is a process to follow if you want to be awarded colored belts signifying a certain level of knowledge and proficiency. With practice and diligence, you move up the ranks. Gaining a green thumb is no different; there are skills to learn and improve upon with practice. Let’s pay a visit to what they are...
Physical Skills:
Stamina – When you have developed a fairly adequate green thumb, enthusiasm will get the better of you, plants will seem to mysteriously follow you home and your house may end up with more vegetation than it can accommodate. Your plant caring skills may be adequate but your stamina might not be. Yet. Keeping up with dozens of plants while trying to maintain every other responsibility in your life requires stamina, a skill you will master eventually. Yes it is possible to have your own vast botanical garden and still have a life. Trust me, I know.
Quickness – After you have been a host to tribulations and misfortunes one too many times, responding to a plant’s needs, dilemmas or demands in a timely fashion to avoid bigger problems and possible fatalities will become a priority. The mastering of ‘prompt action’ will be especially useful when dealing with pest infestations. For example, how ‘quickly’ you start exterminating will determine the difference between one plant infested by a few aphids as opposed to many plants infested by countless aphids.
Flexibility – In order to achieve the ultimate level of green thumb(ery), you must practice and sharpen this skill. You will have to learn to be easygoing, take all advice with a grain of salt and perform plant chores only when needed. When you are able to put the watering can back in its place after 7 days have passed – you always water your plants on an ‘every seven day’ schedule – without adding a drop of water to any plants, you have overcome the ‘following the book like a bible’ regiment and well on your way to experienced and intuitive plant care. “Please put the watering can down and step away from the plant…”
Strength – If you love plants, especially plants that grow exceedingly big, start building up that muscle! You may find yourself having to lug heavy pots into a shower to clean up an infestation or out to your patio for the plant to enjoy an outdoor summer vacation. If you have a lot of plants, you’ll also be lugging home bags of soil – or clay pellets if you decide to switch your leafy clan to hydroculture. The bigger the plant, the more strength required. A good level of strength will also come in handy when you squeeze the life out of uninvited pests on your plants between thumb and forefinger. The more force used to squish those nasty critters, the bigger the satisfaction. Start gobbling down that spinach!
Balance – As you become more proficient in plant care, you will be able to create and maintain a reasonably stable environment for your plants to minimize potential problems. Healthy humidity levels will be properly maintained, regular circulation of air will be performed either by running ceiling fans, opening windows or both, and all aspects of plant care will be carried out periodically – cleaning of leaves, pruning, insect inspection, removal of dead or dying foliage, overall health assessment and so on. You will also be knowledgeable enough to determine if certain conditions – example, light levels – are unfavorable to your plants and remedy the situation accordingly. Under a healthy balance, your plants will thrive.
Coordination – The dictionary’s definition of this skill is: ‘harmonious functioning of muscles or groups of muscles in the execution of movements’. One example of this skill being especially useful is in areas of your home where many plants are grouped together. With the mastery of coordination you’ll be able to reach the plant located furthest back and water it without spilling a drop anywhere outside the pot, primarily on the carpeted or waxed floor. Eye / water can coordination...your muscles will move harmoniously together even in the most complex circumstances.
Mental Skills:
Patience – Plants have a mind of their own. Your flowering plant may not flower as often as you’d like or when you want it to. Your foliage beauty may not put out new growth fast enough. Waiting patiently for new blooms or leaves to surface can be frustrating but it won’t take long for you to understand that new growth is at your plant’s discretion, not your own. Along with accepting that your plant will grow at its own pace, patience is also mastered when you don’t force fertilizer on your greenery thinking you can find a way around this ‘fact of plant life’. You’ll only end up with a damaged or dying plant.
Humility – In time you will learn that no matter how much you want or believe it to be true, you are not in control, your plants are. Humbling yourself to your plants is a difficult skill to master but there’s no denying it - they are the boss and you are the employee. Shedding a few weary tears now and then for the really trying plants is also nothing to be ashamed of. We’ve all been there, done that.
Self-Control – In due course you will restrain from tossing plants out the window or disposing of them in a green garbage bag no matter how high the frustration level is at their lack of cooperation to your many efforts. This will take time (and many discarded plants) to master. In the beginning don’t be too alarmed if you find yourself breaking stems, ripping out leaves and tossing out flower pots along with the plants. Your self-discipline will improve slowly but surely.
Perseverance – You may find yourself continuing to purchase the same plant over and over again even though it fails miserably under your care. Simply put, you are determined to succeed with it and believe that with time and the improvement of necessary skills it will. Don’t let anyone dismay you with phrases like “A fool and his money are soon parted” or “Quit while you’re ahead”. You will achieve your goal. Stay focused.
Concentration – Your green thumb level will be quite
substantial when you can avoid being distracted by one of your ‘Prima Donnas’ laying it
on thick in the background while you tend to another (undemanding) plant’s
requirements. Please see article: "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly"
Respect – If you want your plants to thrive, you will learn to show consideration for things that will cause them discomfort. Don’t place them in drafts, expose them to midday sun (unless they desire it), allow your cat to shred their leaves or place them somewhere where their leaves are always being brushed against. Don’t pour unwarranted liquids or bizarre potions into their pots, place them in dark corners or in front of air conditioners or heaters. Respect the requirements that are needed to keep them healthy and they will reward you with lush, steady, vigorous growth!
Although there is humour added to some of the above skills,
there is also a lot of truth and necessity in them. Once you have practiced and
increased each skill to a sound level, the ‘green thumb’ in its full capacity
is only a few months away. How will you know if you have improved your plant
care skills? There will be few – if any - flora casualties. And in addition,
there will be a sizeable amount of high-maintenance plants – alive and well –
growing in your collection.
To wrap up the mouthful on this article, the secrets of my own success can be summarized by a few words - don't fuss, don't drown, don't be rigid, don't do what 'they' say unless it’s required, keep an open mind and listen to your plants. And remember the most important ingredient of all: have fun! Once the care of your houseplants becomes a tedious chore, your own passion and attention to your potted foliage will plummet. A hobby is not relaxing when it becomes a drag. That’s when your plants will really start to suffer – green thumb or not - because the desire to nurture is spent and replaced by resentment.
So how green is your thumb? As green as you want it to be.
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