🪴HOW TO & TIPS
Last week, we wrapped up the launch for Houseplant Mastery — the biggest houseplant care program I’ve ever created.
I had been working on that program for a long time, so to see many of you enjoying it is wonderful to see.
This week, I wanted to talk about something I noticed while I was creating the program that I wanted to share.
You see, somewhere between the 47th filming take and accidentally knocking over a peace lily mid-shot, I noticed something:
Sometimes, when you slow down and teach what you’ve been doing for years, you rediscover the little things that really matter.
So, here are three underrated houseplant lessons I re-discovered whilst filming for this program — all things that can genuinely make your plants healthier right now!
1. Most People Under-estimate Airflow
We all obsess over light, water, and soil — but forget that stagnant air is one of the quietest killers of indoor plants.
Even just cracking a window for 20 minutes a day, or placing a small fan on a low setting near your shelves, can drastically reduce the risk of fungus gnats, mould, and leaf fungus.
Thankfully I’ve not struggled with this as much as I used to since moving into my new home, but this is a reminder.
Good airflow = fewer problems and stronger, sturdier growth.
2. Roots Need Breathing Room, Not More Water
I used to think “thirsty plant” automatically meant “needs more water.”
But filming all those root-zone close-ups reminded me: plants often wilt from poor oxygen, not dryness.
Compact, soggy soil suffocates roots. Before you reach for the watering can, loosen the top few centimetres of soil, or gently poke air holes with a chopstick.
Sometimes, your plant doesn’t need a drink, it just needs to breathe.
3. Consistency Beats Complexity
Watching myself care for plants on camera made something embarrassingly obvious: I don’t do anything fancy. No exotic fertilisers. No secret tricks. Just a consistent routine I stick to week after week.
It’s the small, repeated actions that matter (wiping leaves, rotating pots, checking moisture) not the occasional “miracle fix.” If you focus on rhythm over perfection, your plants will reward you.