My friend in Portland said my plant care was too rigid

She pointed out that I was watering my fiddle leaf fig every Tuesday like clockwork, even when the soil felt damp. I switched to just checking the top inch with my finger first, and it's been way happier for about two months now. Has anyone else had a plant care rule they had to break?

4 comments

4 Comments

lilya761mo ago

Funny how we get these fixed ideas. For years I was sure my peace lily needed low light because that's what the tag said. Moved it to a brighter spot out of sheer frustration and it finally bloomed. Sometimes the plant just tells you what it needs.

sandra_bennett591mo ago

That part about the plant telling you what it needs is so true, @lilya76. I mean, the tags and guides give a general idea, but every plant in every home is different, right? I had a similar thing with a fern I was sure needed constant damp soil. It was dying until I let it dry out a bit more between waterings. It makes me wonder how many other care tips we follow too strictly. Maybe we just need to watch the plant more and the instructions less.

lindag331mo ago

Oh man, that reminds me of my fiddle leaf fig disaster. I read all these blogs saying to give it bright, indirect light and never move it. So I stuck it in a corner and basically ignored it. The thing dropped leaves like crazy. Out of spite, I shoved it right in front of a sunny window and started watering it more. It's the happiest it's ever been. Who even writes those guides?

allen.kai1h ago

Tell you what, my monstera was doing the same sad droop until I stopped following the "let it dry out completely" advice to the letter. Started giving it a good drink whenever the top inch of soil felt dry, not bone dry, and it put out three new leaves in a month. Those guides are a starting point, but your own windows and watering can are a totally different environment.