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My friend in Portland said my plant care was too rigid
She pointed out that I was watering my fiddle leaf fig every Tuesday like clockwork, even when the soil felt damp. I switched to just checking the top inch with my finger first, and it's been way happier for about two months now. Has anyone else had a plant care rule they had to break?
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lilya767mo ago
Funny how we get these fixed ideas. For years I was sure my peace lily needed low light because that's what the tag said. Moved it to a brighter spot out of sheer frustration and it finally bloomed. Sometimes the plant just tells you what it needs.
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sandra_bennett597mo ago
That part about the plant telling you what it needs is so true, @lilya76. I mean, the tags and guides give a general idea, but every plant in every home is different, right? I had a similar thing with a fern I was sure needed constant damp soil. It was dying until I let it dry out a bit more between waterings. It makes me wonder how many other care tips we follow too strictly. Maybe we just need to watch the plant more and the instructions less.
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lindag337mo ago
Oh man, that reminds me of my fiddle leaf fig disaster. I read all these blogs saying to give it bright, indirect light and never move it. So I stuck it in a corner and basically ignored it. The thing dropped leaves like crazy. Out of spite, I shoved it right in front of a sunny window and started watering it more. It's the happiest it's ever been. Who even writes those guides?
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allen.kai6mo ago
Tell you what, my monstera was doing the same sad droop until I stopped following the "let it dry out completely" advice to the letter. Started giving it a good drink whenever the top inch of soil felt dry, not bone dry, and it put out three new leaves in a month. Those guides are a starting point, but your own windows and watering can are a totally different environment.
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