Urban Garden's Christmas Tree Farm Louisville, Colorado

We highly recommend leaving the houseplant you just bought in it's original plastic container for at least 1 month in order to understand its watering requirements. Houseplants don't want too many variables changed at once. Leave your houseplant in it's original 'home' and you will have a much easier time understanding how fast it is drinking up water as opposed to planting directly into a container.

Don't like the look of plastic? We carry a wide variety of indoor pottery that is sure to fit any home interior, you can faux plant the houseplant of your choosing into a decorative container. Once you understand the plants water requirements better, feel free to plant directly into the pot.

Over-watering houseplants is the cause of leaf-drop, yellowing, crinkling, and eventually death in 99 percent of houseplants. A houseplant can die within a few days if it is being over watered. To prevent this, we highly recommend using a moisture meter. A moisture meter reads the soil moisture further than your finger can. Soil can look 'bone dry' on the top but be heavily saturated 3+ inches down. The moisture meter is used daily at our garden center, and has saved many plants lives. 

Most houseplants are at least 5 years old (although many are 15+ years old!) by the time they have made it to our greenhouse. They have gone through  many greenhouses, many up-shifts into larger containers, and many other variables that are unique to your plant. We bring up this point because houseplants are tough! Houseplants are used to living with millions of other houseplants and receiving zero special care. 

Bought a ficus? Leaves dropping from the bottom? DO NOT WORRY! Ficus are the most adaptive plant we carry. They are simply shedding what they do not need in order to adjust to your light, and watering. This usually subsides in 2-3 weeks. DO NOT OVER-WATER during this critical time. Use a moisture meter to insure the plant isn't dry for more than a day in-between watering, but, don't think that you need to water more often. The leaf dropping is a natural occurring defense and doesn't correlate to water needs!

Just like you don't need a constant intake of water,  houseplants are exactly the same. We often say let them dry "in-between watering." What does this mean? Let's say your plant is showing a 'zero' on the moisture meter, AND it is wilting slightly. This is the perfect time to give your plant a good drink of water. We always recommend that when you water, water with the intent of getting the soil moist from the top to the bottom, this ensures that the entire root system is getting a good drink. Then, check every day until you see your moisture meter go from a high number all the way back to a zero. Once at a zero don't rush to water your houseplant immediately! If your plant is looking super happy, give it a day or 2 to chill out before re-watering. A break from constant wet roots is preferred by almost all houseplants. The main exception to this rule is FERNS! FERNS LIKE TO BE SLIGHTLY MOIST AT ALL TIME IN ORDER TO PREVENT CRISPY ENDS! 

Plants aren't perfect. Just like we have scars, moles, wrinkles etc, plants have natural imperfections that make them  look...real! If a plant looks exceptionally healthy but has a few torn leaves, this is nothing to worry about. This especially holds true with Fiddle Leaf Fig, and Cacti. Fiddle Leaf Fig have enormous leaves, giving them many chances to get bumped and ripped along their journey. Cacti can never shed their skin, meaning anytime they were nicked along their life will live with them forever. Think of this as a character enhancement, instead of a flaw. 

If you don't fertilizer your plant, don't expect it to grow. Your plant need food as well as water to grow (just like animals or humans) plants can not live and grow properly without a well balanced diet. Ask our knowledgeable staff about the appropriate food for your houseplant. 

Bugs got you down? Here is how to fix it:

APHIDS-RARE-Kill with manual manipulation-put in a slightly drafty area or outside-spray with strong jets of water to knock them off. They are easy to kill!

MEALY BUG (WHITE STICKY LUMPS) COMMON- First, manually remove any mealy you can see, next spray and residual white areas with insecticidal soap. Apply daily for 3-4 days. Finally, apply a spinosad weekly for a long term ORGANIC approach.

GNATS-EXTREMELY COMMON- First, you are over-watering. Gnats CAN NOT live in dry soil. Let the plant COMPLETELY dry out. Next make a GNAT TRAP NEAR YOUR PLANT. Take a piece of fruit and place in the bottom of a cup. Make a funnel with a very small end, tape onto glass. You will trap the majority of the gnats within 24 hours. Finally use BENEFICIAL NEMATODES to create a permanent source of organic protection against soil dwelling pests.