How to Care for a Large Houseplant Collection
Does this story sound familiar to you? You buy a houseplant. Maybe two houseplants. You love them so much you fall down a Pinterest/Instagram/Facebook marketplace rabbit hole…and before you know it, you are staring at a very large houseplant collection of double (or even triple!) digits. You don’t even want to try to count this large jungle.
Well, never fear! Here are some tips for caring for a large houseplant collection without getting overwhelmed. Since everyone inevitably develops their own routine that works for them, you can adopt a few ideas or share your own!
1. Plan your large houseplant jungle wisely!
Organizing a large houseplant collection can sometimes feel like a game of Tetris, crossed with a home design show! Making sure that each plant is in the right space with everything it needs can be tricky! It will ultimately set you up for success and save you a lot of stress and effort in the long run!
Some important things to consider:
- Each plant is getting enough sunlight
- Your plants are getting enough humidity
- Each houseplant is positioned according to their watering needs. For example, don’t stick that thirsty aroid or calathea in the very back of a shelf or in a hard to reach area.
- Avoid drafty areas near vents.
Don’t Forget: it is also your home too as much as it is your plants’ home. You may want to experiment with what is aesthetically pleasing to you as well.
2. Group plants together with similar care needs
We all know that plants love friends! Grouping certain plants together based on watering requirements, humidity requirements and even your own care habits is a simple way to care for your larger houseplant collection more efficiently. Keeping all your succulents together in a sunny windowsill for example, might make remembering to water them all at once easier. Or sticking all of your calathea next to the humidifier by your desk where you can keep a close on them. This will make your jungle much more efficient and minimize stress!
3. Pest Prevention
Speaking of stress…
One of the worst feelings people with large houseplant collections will collectively shudder at the thought of…. is a pest infestation. Having pest prevention measures in place is KEY to keeping a large plant collection.
Some tips for incorporating an effective pest prevention routine into your plant care include:
- Spraying your plants down regularly in the shower.
- Check your plants regularly for any signs of pests.
- Isolate any new houseplants for 2 weeks (up to a month even) from your collection, as they could have eggs or larva hiding in the soil.
- Spray your plants down with neem oil, or a pest preventative solution.
A full blog on this topic is coming soon, so stay tuned!
4. Understand Your Own Routine and work around that
Do you like to spend a little bit of time each day tending to your plants? Or do you prefer to set aside a full day to care for everything in one fell swoop? Or do you fall somewhere in the middle? Ensuring that your plants’ needs are met is very important, but it’s also important to work with a routine that works for you. Lean into your own schedule, and adjust your jungle accordingly. If you only have time to tend to your plants weekly, opt for plants that handle having their soil dried out between watering, or choose a self watering planter.
5. Don’t Overwhelm Yourself!
Collecting and caring for houseplants is supposed to be fun! If your larger jungle becomes a source of stress for you, you may want to consider downsizing your collection a little bit. Focus on the particular plants that give you joy, and that are compatible with your environment and care needs.
Some plants may look enticing on social media or generate a lot of hype in the plant community, but just are not a good match for you. And that’s okay! You can always sell, gift, or trade a houseplant to someone who will love it just as much.
Also, if you happen to kill a few houseplants on your journey of growing a large houseplant collection, that’s okay too! Don’t beat yourself up about it. All houseplant collectors have killed a few (if not many!) houseplants along the way. It’s all a part of the learning process.
In Conclusion…
I hope that this has inspired you to grow a large houseplant collection of your own, or found ways to care more efficiently for the ones that you have already! I’d love to hear what works for you when caring for your large indoor jungle! Leave a comment below and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @plantyquirkyblogger for a glimpse of my planty journey.
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