Botanical Jargon

Humidity

Some plants are from tropical areas, others from very dry, arid climates. In a home, neither of these are always easy to achieve, but we have to try to simulate a healthy environment for each of our plant babies. Some plants like extra moisture in the air, which can be done by grouping tropical plants together, pebble trays with water (underneath pot), and misting regularly.

Water

One of the main components of owning a houseplant! This can be a beginner’s biggest challenge. Overwatering is, as a rule of thumb, worse than underwatering because roots that are in wet soil long term can rot, which will eventually kill the entire plant. There are signs for both over- and underwatering, but sometimes these can look almost the same. You need to want to get to know your plants. Stick your fingers in the soil, observe leaves drooping or yellowing, and eventually you will find a routine that works for you!

Light

Oh yeah, the sun. Plants need it just like we do! However, bright, direct sunlight can be too much for many plants, except those like succulents and cacti. I have found that every location is a little different (even from floor to floor inside a house!) and more observation is key here. Get your general research for each plant, attempt to place them in an ideal location, and watch. Leaves can get sunburned, so look for super dry or reddened spots randomly placed. If plants need more light they will often try to grow towards a light source.

Fertilizer

This is a topic I’m still learning about myself, and hope to conquer through this website. Basically, water and sun are not enough for many plants, and they need food to grow (again, just like us). Many fertilizers focus on a combination of minerals and organic material. The Spruce breaks down different types of fertilizer pretty easily here.

Propagate/Propagation

This means to take a cutting from an already established plant and use methods to encourage root growth from the cutting, eventually becoming its own self-sustaining plant. There are a few different methods here, but the two most common ways are by division and by taking stem/tip cuttings. Cuttings or younglings can usually be placed either in water or directly in soil to encourage root growth. Be warned: don’t cut up your plant without researching the best ways to do so for that specific plant. I have a few failures here, throughout many other successes, and each fail feels just as disappointing as the one before.

Soil

Not all potting mixes are the same, and not all plants want the same soil. Many make their own mixes at home. I’ve been playing with a mix of all purpose soil and/or cactus mix, with extra perlite and some peat moss, but I’d like to experiment with other options, including compost. I’ll continue to update this as I learn more, but for now, the best takeaway should be to start with a “well-draining mix” to counter possible overwatering tendencies, and as you get more familiar with your plants, experiment more.

Genus

A part of the plant’s Latin name, determines the larger group that the plant belongs to. (Haworthia is the genus of Haworthia attenuata.)

Species

Another part of the plant's Latin name, usually describes something about the plant (Sansevieria cylindrica, for example: Sansevieria is the genus, cylindrica is the species that describes what kind). The University of Wisconsin- Madison has a great page that explains the Latin names of plants and details some common species and their meanings.

Rhizome

A fleshy, underground stem, "rootstalk."

You can carefully divide them to separate your plants before repotting. Seen in Sansevieria cylindrica and Begonia rex.

Succulents vs Cacti

The easiest way to remember the difference: all cacti are succulents but not all succulents are cacti. Succulents store water in their juicy leaves and stems instead of in their roots, the way most houseplants do. The zebra cactus is a succulent, while Eve's needle is a cactus.

Bottom Watering, AKA Everyone's Favorite Way to Butt-Chug