Six Common Plant Care Myths Debunked

At your accounts, you are the plant care expert.

You can build goodwill by answering plant questions from clients and others around you. But if you haven’t spent a lot of time reading houseplant books, watching plant-care videos, or visiting horticulture websites, you may not realize just how many outdated practices, misunderstood processes, and downright myths are still circulating. You are in a unique position to debunk these plant care myths wherever they crop up and share the knowledge that comes from professional plant care.

Here, in no particular order, are some of the most common myths you’re likely to confront.

Myth #1: Gravel Improves Drainage in Pots

This one just won’t go away. I don’t know how many times I’ve read advice from supposedly well-informed and experienced sources recommending a layer of “drainage material” in the bottom of the pot, such as pot shards, gravel, or crushed brick. In reality, adding a layer of gravel doesn’t reliably improve drainage and reduces the amount of potting mix available to the roots.

People also tend to worry about soil falling out of the drainage hole, which generally isn’t a problem. If soil loss is a concern, simply place a small piece of screening over the drainage hole.

Myth #2: Misting Increases Humidity

Over and over, plant books and advice providers of all types recommend misting plants twice a day, daily, or at least once a week to increase humidity. What a crock! Misting may raise the humidity immediately around a plant for a short time, but the effect disappears quickly as the water evaporates. It simply doesn’t provide the consistent humidity that plants requiring humid conditions need.

Many commonly available plants can tolerate typical indoor humidity, although some are more sensitive to dry air than others. For plants that truly require higher humidity, grouping plants together, using a humidifier, or growing them in an enclosed, controlled environment can be much more effective. In any case, misting just isn’t going to cut it.

Myth #3: Letting Tap Water Sit Makes It Better for Plants

Years ago, people (well, some people) would let water for their houseplants sit in open containers overnight to allow the chlorine to evaporate. The problem is that many water treatment systems now use chloramine, which doesn’t dissipate simply by letting the water sit. So if chloramine is the concern, leaving tap water out overnight isn’t going to solve it.

Most common foliage plants do just fine with tap water. For the few that may be more sensitive to fluoride, chlorine, or accumulated salts—Janet Craig and spider plants come to mind—rainwater or another suitable water source may be a better option.

Myth #4: New Plants Should Be Repotted Right Away

People sometimes assume growers use cheap materials or cut corners when potting plants. As soon as someone buys a new plant, they want to rush it home, repot it into “good” soil, and “feed” the starving little thing. Frequently, they also put it into an attractive container, likely without drainage holes. These are probably some of the worst things folks could do, other than pouring on a quart of water and setting the plant in a dark corner.

Try to help them understand that a healthy new plant usually doesn’t need to be repotted or fertilized right away. Growers use potting media and fertilizer suited to healthy growth, and many plants can stay in their original pots until they actually need more room. Tightly circling roots, roots growing through drainage holes, or soil that dries out unusually fast are better reasons to repot than simply bringing a plant home.

This is also a good time to acquaint people with double potting, so they can use their nice ceramics and designer pots while keeping the plant in a container with proper drainage.

*Orchids are an exception. Newly purchased orchids often benefit from repotting into fresh orchid media, but the timing and container depend on the plant. If an orchid is in bloom, it may be better to wait until flowering is finished.

Myth #5: Moisture-Control Potting Mix Is Better for Plants

There are a number of packaged potting soils on the market—some supported by major advertising campaigns—that tell people their plants need a special soil to “manage” or “retain” moisture. Many of these mixes contain moisture-retentive additives that can keep the potting mix wet longer than some indoor plants need, especially in lower-light conditions where it dries more slowly. That can leave roots sitting in wet soil for too long and create more problems than it solves. This can also be a good opportunity to explain testing for moisture level.

I like to recommend a well-draining soilless mix for most foliage plants. If that’s not available, a lighter potting mix with added perlite can be a good compromise.

Myth #6: Water Is Always Best for Rooting Cuttings

I love to give people cuttings whenever I can. Whether it be pothos, philodendron, or ags, it’s such an easy way to make people happy. Usually, those cuttings end up in a cup of water on a desk.

Many people don’t know that cuttings can also be rooted directly in soil, and some plants actually root better that way. You might take a minute to explain that roots grown in water can develop differently from roots grown in soil. When a water-rooted cutting is moved into potting mix, it may need time to adjust and develop roots better suited to the new environment.

Answering plant questions for people quickly became one of my favorite parts of being a plant tech. I hope you feel the same way and that owners and supervisors encourage the practice.