Being a Crazy Plant Lady is a badge of honor. It is a title I hold dear to my heart.
My Grandma was a Plant Lady. She had so many house plants in her house, I don’t think I could have counted them all if I tried. I loved looking at all her plants when I was a kid – she really had quite the collection!
My Mom was a Plant Lady. Like her Mom (my Grandma), she had a love of plants and a Green Thumb. Growing up, we had a formal living room that was only used when company came over. The room was filled with house plants! Sure, it was supposed to be the formal living room, but in reality, it was my Mom’s “garden room”. It had a very large west facing window that had plants from floor to ceiling. There were hanging plants, plants on stands, plants in pots on the floor, plants on window ledges, plants on coffee tables and end tables. Plants everywhere! I loved it! Well, I admit. I did love all the plants, but on watering days in the Summer, I wasn’t too crazy about them. It took me hours to water all those plants, when I would have rather been outside playing with the neighbor kids. But, in hindsight, tending to Mom’s plants taught me how to care for them, and for that, I am grateful.
When we moved into our first home, I had lots of plants in every room. I enjoyed being surrounded by all that “green”! I had become the third-generation of Crazy Plant Lady. Many of those plants moved with us to our newest home, and now I’ve added many additional plants as well.
I love being surrounded by lush, living, green unique plants. They make me feel grounded. The plants add interest to our home. I get very excited when I find a new plant to add to my collection. I also really enjoy helping people who have never had plants discover their possibilities.
Whether you’ve made the decision or not to start collecting plants, let’s take a look at the five easy steps you need to take to become a Crazy Plant Lady! They’re easy steps, and I have no doubt you’ll have fun becoming “one of us”. 😉
I only write about things I have or love – and I’m sharing them with you because maybe you’ll love them, too. The links in this post may contain affiliate links. I’ll receive a small commission (at no expense to you) if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.
Step #1 – Buy a Plant
Yep. The first step is pretty darn simple. Buy a plant.
If you’re new to house plants, I recommend you start with an easy-to-grow plant. One that will make you proud (and feel successful) right off the bat. You can’t go wrong with a Snake Plant or a ZZ Plant – they’re both unusual and very easy going.
You can find house plants in many locations! Make sure to check your local home improvement stores (such as Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Menards). Grocery stores are another source of fun houseplants. If you’re lucky enough to have a florist or greenhouse near you, they are another source to check out. And of course, you can also buy houseplants online – like I do! Make sure to check out Etsy for lots of plants online.
Step #2 – Name Your Plant
I know, I know. This might seem ridiculous. But… maybe plants do have feelings!
If you give your plant a name, it solidifies your ownership and makes you a better plant parent. Really!
Be creative and have fun naming your plants.
Step #3 – Display Your Plant
Of course by this point, you’re proud of your plant! Display it somewhere in your house where you’ll get maximum enjoyment from it.
Of course, you need to take into consideration it’s light requirements, but surely you’ll be able to find some place in your house that is adequate for both your plant and for you.
Step #4 – Share Photos of Your Plant
Just like a proud parent likes to share photos of their children, share photos of your plant!
Share on Instagram and add the hashtags: #plantshelfie; #plantlover; #indoorjungle; #plantsofinstagram; and #houseplants. TIP: You should follow those hashtags, too, to be inspired by other crazy plant ladies!
Share on Facebook and add the hashtags: #plant; #houseplants; #plantsmakepeoplehappy, and #indoorplants. Again, do a search for those hashtags to see similar posts.
Share on Pinterest and add the hashtags: #indoorplants; #urbanjungle; #plant; and #plantlover. If you search for those hashtags, you’ll find tons of inspiration for more plants to add to your growing collection – very inspiring!
Step #5 – Buy Another Plant
Once your first house plant is all settled in, you’ve named it, found the perfect place to display it, and shared photos of it – it’s time to buy another plant (or two, or three, or more)!
You’ll be amazed how fast your house plant collection can grow (pun intended). Pretty soon, you’ll have your own indoor jungle. It’s fun to collect house plants and watch them grow. Don’t hesitate – get started today!
Cheers to becoming another Crazy Plant Lady!
Additional Crazy Plant Lady Steps You Can Take
- Join the Houseplant subReddit on Reddit – You can learn a LOT about houseplants in this subReddit! Everything from plant identification, best soil types, awesome plant stands, and so much more! Just click Houseplants to join.
- Join a Buy/Sell/Trade Facebook Group for Houseplants – There are a lot of buy/sell/trade Facebook Groups for houseplants. Just search for “houseplants” in the Group section to find a group that suits your needs. If you like unique, rare, and unusual houseplants, consider joining Rare/Unusual Plants Group.
- Follow My Blog – I post new unusual and unique houseplants here on my blog on a regular basis. Make sure to follow me (subscribe to my email list) so you never miss an awesome plant. TIP: Make sure to click House Plants to see all the cool plants I’ve already written about.
Houseplant Tips to Consider
Owning houseplants is a lot like caring for pets. They require love and attention in order to flourish. Here are some quick tips to consider before you become the Crazy Plant Lady.
- Research the Plants Needs – Before choosing a plant, make sure you do a little research on it’s needs. You’ll want to be able to provide the proper lighting, temperature, and humidity for your plants. A quick search on the internet will give you the answers you need. And remember, you can also learn lots from the Reddit group I mentioned above.
- Examine the Plant – Before you take a plant home from the nursery or plant shop, make sure to give it a good look. Look for any bugs on the leaves (especially the underside). A plant infested with pests (such as mealy bugs) can infect all the other plants waiting for you at home. If there are only a few pests on a plant, it can be salvaged with proper treatment, but make sure to keep it quarantined at home to avoid infecting your other plants – at least until the pests are controlled. Also look for discoloring on the leaves. If the leaves are yellowed it could be a sign of too much water. If the leaves are dry and crispy, it could be a sign of not enough water. It’s best to choose plants that look healthy.
- Acclimate Your Plant – When you first bring a new plant home, it may take a couple of days for the plant to get acclimated to it’s new home. It’s best not to repot new plants until they’ve become accustomed to their new environment.
- Put Your Plant on a Schedule – Determine a schedule for each of your plants and water them accordingly. Some plants need more water than others. You might want to group together all the high water plants in one area, and all the plants that need little water in a different group.
- Keep an Eye on Your Plant – Once your plants are established in their new home, you’ll want to keep an eye on them. Always be on the lookout for any kind of stress – over-watering, under-watering, pests, humidity, and light needs are all things to be aware of. If your plant looks stressed, and you notice it right away, you can make adjustments as needed to avoid long periods of stress for your plants. They’ll thank you for it!
Fun Facts About Houseplants
Houseplants come with lots of benefits!
- Did you know that plants can help your well-being? They can make you feel more relaxed and can even help you sleep better. They also reduce stress and can make you feel more productive.
- Plants improve the air you breathe. Plants take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen – giving us cleaner air to breathe. They also filter out toxins that can occur in a home or office.
- Plants add moisture/humidity to our homes. This can make our homes more comfortable, our skin less dry, and reduce the chances of catching colds.
- Tending to houseplants can help treat depression, lower anxiety, and improve attention – all leading to better mental and emotional health.
I hope you find these tips helpful! Share your favorite plants in a comment below.
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