by: Janet Shepherd for Epic North County

The best way to achieve success with your plants is to let them lead the way.

Have you ever heard someone say, “I kill plants” or "I'm not good with plants even though I love them”? Have you said those words yourself? You're not alone. Even the most seasoned plant owners have experience with accidentally killing a plant, yet these mishaps don't have to be your whole story. Indoor gardening has gained a lot of traction lately. The idea of an urban jungle can be inspiring, and maybe a little daunting. It's easy to get overwhelmed and intimated with too much information.

While plant ownership can become a hobby of scientific proportions, it can also be a simple and rewarding pastime. The best way to achieve success with your plants is to let them lead the way. Keep in mind that plant care is a symbiotic relationship, not a one-way street. Here are four simple steps to get started.

Green-Thumb Mindset

Before you begin work on your indoor garden, release yourself from the idea that you are a “plant killer”. Like many things that take practice to learn and master, growing healthy plants in your home comes with experience. You wouldn't set out to learn a new sport or topic of interest by telling yourself that you can't do it. Plant care is no different. Set your intentions for success.

Getting to Know Your Plant

When purchasing a plant, find out the botanical name (common names can overlap and cause confusion) so you can look it up and get to know it better from the beginning. Once you know the optimum conditions for growing your plant, you can get started with choosing a location.

Light

Envisioning a plant in a certain place in your home doesn't mean it will be the right fit. Plants are like individuals, and one size does not fit all when it comes to providing them with what they need. Just about all of your houseplants will thrive in medium to bright indirect light. There are many plants that will tolerate lower light levels, yet they will likely be just as happy in bright, indirect light.

Observe the light that comes in through your window. You may notice a general brightness. This is indirect light. Direct light will hit a sill or nearby surface and be strong enough to create a shadow. Direct light will shine directly on the leaves of your plant. To avoid burning the more delicate leaves, indirect light is best. It's important to note the nuances of the light, and place your plant based on the specific needs of that variety.

An eastern facing window will get morning light, and even if the light is direct, it is a softer light and will most likely be brief and mild. Southern and Western facing exposures will give stronger, often longer lasting light. Direct light in these cases can get quite hot.

The key is to know what your specific plant can and cannot handle.

The happy medium is bright indirect light. It will seldom hit the leaves directly, providing a general brightness around the plant. As you move to the interior of a room or away from a window, the light diffuses and is considered medium level. A dark hallway with little or no natural light would be considered low light. If you would like to place a plant in a low-light room, a good system is to try a plant that can tolerate it, and have a backup plan in case you need to move it to a brighter spot.

Rather than choosing a plant by texture, color or leaf shape, it's important to match your plant to your environment. Letting the plant dictate the location is one way to set yourself up for success. Learning which plant varieties prefer which areas of your home is part of the joy of caring for plants.

Water

Water is as important as light. Mistakes in watering can be irreversible in some situations, and it is important to know how much each plant needs. Again, one size does not fit all. A fern in one person's home may thrive on a completely different watering schedule than the same fern in a different home. Variables like air flow and light exposure are at play in how much water is required.

While it may seem easier to have a set calendar date for watering your plants, it's better to know when each plant needs water. The best way to do this is to learn about the type of plant you have and listen to it. Some plants want to stay evenly moist, and others want to dry out in between watering.

Before watering your plant, check to see if the soil is wet. To do this, simply take the end of your finger and poke down into the soil about one finger digit or so. If your finger comes out with soil on it, your plant has moisture and does not need water at this time. Check often when you first get your plant, and soon enough, you will establish a routine without even having to get your fingers dirty.

In the cooler months, your plants may take longer to dry out, so you can adjust your schedule with the change of season. It is possible to have a "watering day” on a certain day of the week, yet by knowing what each of your plants require, your routine will be simpler and your plants happier.

Make sure that your plant is in a container with a drainage hole. Even plants that like to be evenly moist do not want to be soggy, and root rot is a quick killer. If you have a favorite pot that has no drainage hole, simply keep the plant in its nursery pot inside the other pot, and lift it out to water.

By taking a closer look at your home's light, and being mindful of watering practices, you will be able to provide your plants with what they need to thrive. Before long, you may find yourself collecting more plants, recognizing that you do actually have a green thumb, and achieving the inspirational green home you imagined.

You can do it!