Thanks to Chris Young for this guest post! As someone who definitely has a “brown thumb” I appreciate his tips! Follow him on Twitter or Instagram for more.
—
Everybody knows somebody who kills every plant they try to grow…aka “brown thumbs.” I’m giving you a green thumbs-up to keep trying with a few helpful tips on how to keep your plants healthy and thriving!
- If you’re trying to start a flower or vegetable garden outdoors, build up your confidence by choosing the easiest plants to grow. I always recommend vigorous growers such as sunflowers, zinnias, daffodils, clarkias, poppies, sweet alyssum and daisies for beginners. For the vegetable garden I suggest all peas and legumes, especially sugar snap peas and red runner beans. Other easy veggies include lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots. All these plants are particularly hardy and quick to grow with even the most basic care. Sunflowers are particularly easy and quick to sprout when planted from seeds. In fact, these sunny towers of power are recommended for children!
- Speaking of basic care, one mistake “brown thumbs” often are guilty of is loving a plant quite literally to death. Overwatering, despite our good intentions, can often cause a plant to wilt and rot (unless of course it’s a waterlily). Water when the soil is dry to the touch. If you push your finger in and it feels damp, then you can wait another day or so. Make sure your potted plants have containers with drainage holes at the bottom. You can also mix a bit of gravel to help your soil have better drainage.
