Field Notes · Nº 01

Plant Care

However you found your way to a plant, keeping it alive comes down to a few simple things. Here is what we have learned, in plain language, plus a quick guide to the plants that live happily in our planters.

This is not a botany lecture. It is the short version: enough to keep a plant healthy on a windowsill or a desk without overthinking it.

The three things that matter

Almost every plant problem comes back to one of three things: light, water, and drainage. Get those roughly right and most houseplants forgive the rest.

  • Light is the one people underestimate. A plant in the wrong light will struggle no matter how carefully you water it.
  • Water is the one people overdo. More plants are lost to too much water than too little.
  • Drainage is what keeps water from turning into root rot. Every planter we make ships with a drainage tray for exactly this reason.

How often should I water?

There is no single schedule, and that is the honest answer. Watering by the calendar is how most plants drown. Instead, water by the soil: push a finger an inch or two into the soil, and only water when it comes out dry.

As a rough starting point, most common houseplants want water every 7 to 10 days, succulents and cacti every 2 to 3 weeks, and thirsty plants like ferns and herbs a little more often. Less in winter, when growth slows and soil stays wet longer. When you do water, water thoroughly until it runs through, then empty the drainage tray so the roots are not left sitting in it.

Reading the light in your room

Light is easier to judge than it sounds. A south-facing window is the brightest. East and west windows give good, gentler light. North windows are low light, fine for the tough plants below but a struggle for sun-lovers. A simple test: if you can read comfortably by the daylight in a spot, most foliage plants will be happy there too.

A quick guide, plant by plant

These are the plants our customers reach for most, and the ones our planters were sized and shaped to hold.

Succulents and cacti

The easiest place to start. They want bright light and very little water: soak them, then leave them alone until the soil is bone dry, usually two to three weeks. The most common mistake is kindness, in the form of too-frequent watering. A small planter suits them well, since they like to dry out quickly.

Pothos and philodendron

The forgiving trailing plants that thrive almost anywhere. Medium to bright indirect light, water when the top inch of soil is dry, and they will spill happily over the edge of a shelf. Hard to kill, quick to grow, and a good first houseplant.

Snake plants

The plant for people who travel, forget, or have a dim corner to fill. Snake plants tolerate low light and want water only every two to four weeks. Overwatering is essentially the only way to harm one, so err on the side of neglect.

Ferns

The exception to the dry-out rule. Ferns like their soil lightly and consistently moist, plus humidity, which makes a bright bathroom or kitchen a natural home. Keep them out of direct sun and away from dry, heated air.

Herbs

Basil, mint, thyme, and the rest want the brightest window you have, ideally south-facing, and regular water. Harvest often: pinching them back keeps them bushy and productive. A sunny kitchen sill is the classic spot.

Monstera and large tropicals

Bright indirect light, water when the top inch or two of soil is dry, and room to grow. These reward a larger planter and a little patience, unfurling a new leaf every few weeks in the right spot.

When to size up

A plant is ready for a bigger home when roots circle the bottom or creep out of the drainage holes, or when it dries out within a day or two of watering. When you do move it up, go one size larger, not three: a pot that is too big holds too much wet soil around small roots. It is why we offer most planters in small, medium, and large, so you can match the pot to the plant rather than the other way around.

Common questions

Do your planters have drainage?

Yes. Every planter ships with a drainage tray, and the pieces meant to hold water directly are printed in weather-resistant PETG. For purely decorative pieces, the simplest approach is to keep the plant in its plastic nursery liner and lift it out to water. There is more in our care guide for the pots themselves.

How do I know if I am overwatering?

Yellowing lower leaves, soft or mushy stems, and soil that stays wet for many days are the usual signs. If in doubt, wait. A thirsty plant perks up within hours of watering; an overwatered one takes weeks to recover, if it does.

What is the easiest plant for a beginner?

A pothos, a snake plant, or a ZZ plant. All three tolerate low light, irregular watering, and the ordinary neglect of a busy life. Start there, build confidence, and branch out.

Find a home for it

When the plant is sorted, the pot is the fun part. Browse all our planters, sized small to large and finished in nine matte colors, each made to order in our Seattle-area studio.

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