The joy of plants, without the hassle.
Welcome to Leafwise. This guide covers the everyday checks that help you get started. Use it alongside your plant’s own care guide: a fern and a snake plant will not need the same watering routine.
First things first: helping your plant settle in
Your plant has just been on a journey. It left our nursery, spent a day or two in a box, and arrived somewhere with completely different light, temperature, and humidity. A little adjustment period is completely normal.
Choose a stable spot suited to your plant’s light needs and check the compost on arrival. Avoid unnecessary repotting or feeding while it adjusts, but investigate persistent wilting, spreading damage or pests rather than waiting a fixed two weeks. A little leaf loss can follow a move; there is no guaranteed settling-in deadline.
Check before you water
Too much water can damage roots, but leaving a moisture-loving plant dry can also cause harm. Check the compost and your plant’s needs before reaching for the watering can.
🌿 The finger test
Feel the compost below the surface and notice how heavy the pot feels. Your plant’s guide tells you how much drying to allow: some prefer only the surface to dry, while others need the compost to dry much further. When watering is needed, wet the root ball thoroughly and let excess water drain.
Keep the plant in a nursery pot with drainage holes. Lift it out of its decorative cover pot to water, let it drain, then empty any collected water before replacing it. A cover pot does not drain itself. Use room-temperature water; check the individual guide if your plant is sensitive to hard tap water.
Understanding light (it’s simpler than it sounds)
Every Leafwise plant comes labelled with its light preference, and these three terms cover nearly everything:
Low light
A position with less natural light, rather than a dark or windowless corner. Some plants tolerate this better than others, but growth may slow. Follow the individual guide and check that your plant receives useful light throughout the day.
Bright indirect
A bright position near a window with strong sunlight filtered or kept off the leaves. Window direction, season and distance from the glass all matter; being able to read comfortably is not a reliable plant-light test.
Direct sun
Sunlight falls directly on the leaves. The amount a plant can handle varies by species and previous growing conditions. Introduce stronger light gradually, and protect sensitive plants from intense midday or summer sun.
Long, weak growth can suggest too little light; bleaching or scorched patches can follow excessive sun. Check watering, temperature and pests too before deciding that light is the only cause.
Humidity, warmth, and finding the right spot
Choose a place with suitable light and steady temperatures, away from radiators and cold draughts. A bathroom or kitchen can suit humidity-loving plants if it also provides enough light; the room name alone does not make it suitable.
Check moisture and other possible causes before treating brown tips as a humidity problem. Grouping suitable plants or using a humidifier can help in dry air; keep pots out of standing water and maintain airflow.
Feeding and repotting: the relaxed version
A newly purchased plant may already have feed in its compost. Check its care information before adding more. Give it time to adjust, and inspect its roots and compost if there is a problem rather than following a fixed waiting period.
Feed when the plant is actively growing, using a suitable fertiliser at its labelled rate. Reduce or stop feeding when growth slows, often in winter. Avoid feeding dry compost or trying to cure a stressed plant with extra fertiliser.
Check the root ball if growth stalls, water runs straight through or the pot dries unusually quickly. Crowded roots or deteriorated compost may mean it needs repotting. Use suitable peat-free compost and, when more root space is needed, a modestly larger pot with drainage.
A note on pets and little ones
Some popular houseplants are toxic if nibbled, so always check the toxicity icons on your plant’s care label — every Leafwise plant carries clear guidance on whether it’s safe for cats, dogs, and children. If you share your home with a determined leaf-chewer, stick to our non-toxic plants, or keep toxic ones on high shelves where curious mouths can’t reach.
Quick troubleshooting
Yellow leaves, especially lower ones
Check moisture, drainage, light and pests before deciding on a cause. An occasional old leaf can yellow naturally; widespread yellowing or new leaves affected deserves a closer look.
Brown, crispy leaf tips
Check for dry compost, dry air, heat, excess feed and pests. Move the plant away from radiators if needed, then adjust care to the cause you find.
Drooping or wilting
Check the root ball first. If it is too dry for this plant, water and let it drain. If it is wet, empty trapped water and check drainage and root condition. Persistent wilting needs investigation; simply adding more water may worsen it.
Stretched, leggy growth
Insufficient light is one possible cause. Compare the position with your plant’s guide and move it gradually towards better light if needed. Avoid a sudden move into strong sun.
Dropping leaves after arrival
A move can cause leaf loss, but do not assume every falling leaf is normal. Check moisture, temperature and pests, and ask for help if the decline continues.
You’ve got this
Start with regular checks, then let your plant’s needs guide the next step. Find the individual plant care guide for more specific watering, light and troubleshooting advice.
And if something’s looking sad and you can’t work out why, just reply to any of our emails with a photo. We’re a small team who genuinely love this stuff, and we’re always happy to help.
Ready to put it into practice?
Every Leafwise plant is raised in our own UK nursery on collected rainwater, potted in peat-free compost, and shipped plastic-free — with a tree planted for every order.
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