You Bought a New Plant! Here Are the First 5 Things to Do

🛒 Step 1: Inspect It at the Store

Your success starts before you even reach the checkout. Take 30 seconds to play plant detective. Gently check:

• Under the Leaves: Look for any tiny webs, white fluffy spots, or small insects.
• The Stems: Check for any mushy spots or damage.
• The Overall Look: Does the plant look vibrant and healthy, or wilted and sad?

Choosing a healthy plant from the start is much easier than nursing a sick one back to health.

🔬 Step 2: Give It a Quarantine Period

Even with a good inspection, pests can be sneaky. The best practice is to quarantine your new plant by keeping it in a separate room from any other plants you own for at least a week, if possible.

This isolation period ensures that if any hidden pests like spider mites or mealybugs do appear, they won’t have a chance to spread to your entire collection. It’s a simple step that can save you a huge headache later.

🚫 Step 3: Don't Repot It Immediately!

This is the most common beginner mistake! Repotting is a stressful event for a plant. Your new plant is already dealing with the shock of being moved from a perfect greenhouse environment to your home, which has different light, temperature, and humidity.

Adding the stress of repotting on top of that is a recipe for a very unhappy plant. Let your plant acclimate to its new environment in its nursery pot for at least 1-2 weeks before you even think about giving it a new home.

☀️ Step 4: Find the Right Spot

While your plant is acclimating, place it in a spot that meets its light requirements. If you bought a Snake Plant, a lower-light spot is fine. If you bought a succulent, it will need your sunniest windowsill.

Giving it the right amount of light from day one is the best thing you can do for its long-term health. If you’re unsure, check out our 👉 Ultimate Houseplant Light Guide to become an expert.

💧 Step 5: Check, Then Water (Maybe)

Resist the urge to water your new plant as soon as you get home. Nurseries and big-box stores often drench their plants. The soil could already be soaking wet.

Instead, perform the finger test. Stick your finger an inch into the soil.

• If it’s wet or moist: Leave it alone. Check again in a couple of days.
• If it’s dry: Go ahead and give it a thorough watering. This simple check prevents you from starting your journey with the #1 problem: overwatering.

✅ You're All Set!

That’s it! By following these simple steps, you’ve given your new plant a calm, stress-free welcome and set it up for a long, happy life in your home.

Now that your plant is settled, let’s make sure you have the right gear.