What to Do When I Bring a New Plant Home ?

You’ve chosen a plant and brought it home. Now it’s time to get it established in your space. By making a few important choices now, you’ll be able to set it up for success.

But first — buy supplies before you leave the store.

Before you bring your new plant home, it’s best to ensure you have basic supplies available to take care of it. Here’s what to add to your shopping cart:

  • indoor potting soil
  • fertilizer blend
  • misting bottle
  • mild insecticide (organic insecticide soap is best)
  • larger pot with drainage holes
  • small scissors or pruning shears

Next, here’s what you can do to ensure your plant acclimates to its new living conditions.

Assess the Planter and Repot (If Necessary)

Depending on the plant’s size, it may need a new pot immediately. Size up at least one to two inches over the current pot’s dimensions to provide plenty of space to grow. Use an indoor potting mix but refrain from adding extra fertilizer so the plant doesn’t become reliant on it.

Inspect for Disease and Insect Damage

If the plant grew in a crowded nursery, it might be dealing with pest or disease problems. Inspect it closely, especially along the undersides of leaves, for signs of eggs, honeydew (a sticky sweet liquid secreted by aphids and other sapsuckers), or webbing. Treat any infestations with insecticide soap.

Gently Clean Your New Plant

Not only do plants get dusty over time, but retailers are notorious for spraying leaves to make them seem shinier and healthier before purchase. Unfortunately, these chemicals can clog the leave’s pores (known as stomata) and prevent them from breathing. Wet a soft cloth with warm water and diluted dish soap and gently wipe down the leaves to clean them.

Keep it Quarantined

Once the plant is clean and prepped, you need to isolate it from other houseplants for one to two weeks. This helps reduce the risk that any unseen pest or disease problems could spread to other plants, or vice versa. If you don’t see anything concerning after a few weeks, you can safely place the plant near others.