The Easiest Houseplant

Gardener's Secret
A common error beginners make when buying houseplants is transplanting new ones directly into decorative pots. All of a sudden, these beautiful plants start looking poorly, and the leaves begin drooping and falling off. The solution? Don't repot. It's much easier to keep it in the plastic container it came in. Just place a plastic saucer or dish inside your decorative pot to catch the drainage.

Why is this better for your plants? Lots of reasons. It avoids the risk of transplant shock. You can water them where they are; or lift the plastic containers out of the pots, water them in the sink, and then let them drain. If the leaves get dusty, you can place the plastic containers in the shower to gently clean the foliage. It also makes it easy to give plants a summer vacation outside in the shade.

Is your plant leaning to the side? Just rotate the plastic container inside the pot to balance the amount of light received. Remember, too, that large plants in glazed pots can be heavy to move. But if you keep them in their plastic containers, you can lift them out of the glazed pots and move the pots separately.