Plant notes
Bringing a New Plant Home: The First Two Weeks
I've killed exactly three plants by being overeager in their first week home. Turns out that bringing a new plant into your flat isn't like welcoming a puppy - they actually need you to mostly leave them alone. Here's what I've learned about those crucial first days after the garden centre.
Don't Repot Immediately (I Know, It's Tempting)
That plastic nursery pot is ugly, I get it. I used to repot everything the day I got it home, and wondered why my plants looked sad for weeks afterward. Plants are already stressed from the move - different light, humidity, temperature. Adding root disturbance on top is too much. I now wait at least two weeks, sometimes a month if it's winter. Just pop the nursery pot inside a nice cover pot if the aesthetics bother you. The only exception is if you spot root rot or the soil is absolutely waterlogged, but that's rare if you bought from a decent shop.
Find the Right Spot and Stick With It
My fiddle leaf fig got moved four times in its first week because I kept second-guessing myself. It dropped six leaves in protest. Now I research light requirements before I even buy, identify the spot beforehand, and commit to it for at least a fortnight. I use a compass app on my phone to actually check which direction windows face - what I thought was my 'bright indirect light' corner turned out to face north and was actually quite dim. Most plant problems in the first month come from wrong light placement, not watering.
Water Less Than You Think
The garden centre has been caring for that plant in their specific conditions - probably higher humidity, different temperature, maybe they bottom-water or mist regularly. Your flat is different. I killed a beautiful calathea by keeping up what I assumed was the shop's watering schedule. Now I check the soil properly before watering - finger two inches down, or I lift the pot to feel the weight. For the first two weeks, I check every few days but usually end up watering less than I expect. The plant's not growing much while it adjusts anyway, so it's not using much water.
Watch and Take Notes
I keep a basic note on my phone for each new plant - when I bought it, where it's positioned, and when I water it. I also note any changes: leaf drop, new growth, brown tips, that sort of thing. This has been invaluable for figuring out patterns. I learned my bathroom monstera loves the humidity and puts out a new leaf every six weeks like clockwork, while the identical one in my bedroom grows half as fast. I also check the plant every couple of days for pests - much easier to deal with scale or spider mites when you catch them early, and new plants sometimes bring hitchhikers from the garden centre.
Questions people ask me
Should I fertilize a new plant right away?
No, definitely not. I made this mistake with a pothos and got brown leaf tips everywhere. The plant is stressed and not actively growing yet, so it won't use the nutrients - they just build up in the soil and can burn roots. Wait at least a month, ideally until you see new growth starting. The nursery will have fertilized it anyway.
My new plant dropped a few leaves in the first week - is it dying?
Probably not, it's likely just adjusting. I've learned that a few lower leaves turning yellow or dropping is normal stress response. It's alarming but usually fine. Keep an eye on it - if it's just a couple of older leaves and then stops, that's adjustment. If it continues dropping leaves after two weeks, or if you see other symptoms like brown spots or wilting, then investigate watering or light issues.
The soil looks different from what I use for my other plants - should I change it?
Not right away. Even if it looks a bit rubbish or really bark-heavy, that's still a repotting job and should wait. I've noticed nurseries often use quite chunky, bark-based mixes that dry fast because they're watering loads of plants on a schedule. It might not be ideal long-term, but it's fine for the adjustment period. You can change it when you do that first repot after a few weeks.