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You may see lots of plants in the building where you work or at the mall where you shop. It is likely that these plants are cared for and replaced (yes, they do need to be replaced from time to time) by professional contractors. Most people recognize and enjoy plants at these commercial places but why not at home?
While you may not want to hire a professional, I am going to let you in on the big secret: Pick only a few known performers from a qualified source and measure your water. Sounds too easy to be true? It is not.
Most plants that you buy from the store are grown in a nursery pot. They are sized by either capacity in gallons or, more often, by the diameter of the pot in inches. Most are 6, 8, 10 and 14 inches and while pots can continue up to the size of a hot tub you might not need that 25-foot tall palm in your house.
Basically a 6 or 8 inch pot is sized for the table top. A 10 inch plant fits nicely on the floor and can be from 2 ft to 4 ft tall. A 14 inch plant is a true floor plant from 5 to 7 ft. tall and is the perfect plant for a well lit corner. Look for a shade acclimated Dracaena, one of the largest families of durable house plants. The corn plant and Janet Craig are near infallible in medium light.
How do you water them? If you can make iced tea you can water a plant. Throw away that watering can and buy a wide-mouthed jug from the grocery store. The kind that is marked in quarts (the kind you make iced tea in). I like to have a couple of half gallon jugs on hand.
Each pot size is watered with a specific amount of water:
6 inch - 12 ounces
8 inch - 20 ounces
10 inch - 1 quart
14 inch - 2 quarts
First, set up any new plants. Begin with a completely moist soil mass. You may need to add about 50% more than the recommended water amount to begin with, remembering that the above water volumes are designed to replenish soil moisture BEFORE the water is all gone. In any case, watch the pots' drain holes and dump any excess over an inch, or siphon off with a turkey baster. You will only need to do this once. The soil can actually hold more than the recommendations. Wait until the plant becomes dry on the surface to down about 2 inches for the 10 inch and 14 inch pots. If you dare, allow the plant to wilt EVER SO SLIGHTLY. Having recorded the amount of days since you watered the first time, now wait the same amount of time and water according to the recommendations. If you let the plant SLIGHTLY wilt, take two days off of that time. Stick to this frequency of watering. Variables do exist but using this system puts you closer than sloshing an unknown amount of water according to an unknown schedule. A little dusting, trimming and some plant food and you are now the "green thumb" of the block.
Even a nonprofessional plant owner can successfully care for the beautiful and hardy Dracaena "Art"!
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Too many people lose a plant and think that they are destined never to have another survive. Yes, plant care does require skill. The professional plant technician provides care for hundreds of different plant varieties under many different conditions. But, it is not magic, and no, a "black thumb" is not a condition that has been diagnosed or proven by science. 