Acclimating plants – how to welcome plants into your home
Acclimating is an important stage in your plant’s journey, and it can have a big impact on its overall health and how well it settles into your home.
We bring these beautiful tropical plants into our living spaces, but our homes can be very different from both their natural habitats and the greenhouses they’ve grown in. Changes in lighting, humidity, temperature and growing conditions can all take some getting used to.
With that in mind, let’s explore what acclimating is, what the adjustment period can look like, and how to recognise when your plant might need a helping hand.
What is acclimating?
Acclimating your plants means giving them time to adjust to their new environment, including factors such as lighting, humidity and temperature.
By providing suitable conditions and keeping their environment as consistent as possible, you can help minimise stress and give your plants the best chance to settle in.
What’s the best way to acclimate a plant?
Whether you’ve imported a tropical plant, ordered one online within your country, or brought a new plant home from a shop, there are a few things you can do to help your new plant baby settle in.
Find the right spot
Choose a suitable location based on your plant’s needs. For example, if it prefers bright, indirect light, find a spot that provides those conditions. Try to keep its environment consistent while it adjusts.
Keep it separate from your other plants
Whenever possible, keep your new plant away from your existing collection for a few weeks. This gives you time to inspect it for pests and signs of disease before introducing it to your other plants.
Avoid drafts and temperature changes
Keep your plant away from cold drafts, air vents and direct heat sources, such as radiators. Sudden temperature changes can add to the stress of moving.
During colder months, keeping your plant somewhere consistently warm can help it settle in. If you use a heat mat, make sure it's suitable for your plants and monitor the temperature to avoid overheating the roots.
Give it time before repotting
Unless there’s an urgent issue, such as root rot, unsuitable soil or your plant arriving bare-root, try to give it a few weeks to settle in before repotting.
Of course, if the soil is staying too wet, the roots are showing signs of rot, or the growing medium isn't suitable for your plant, it’s best to address the issue rather than wait.
Hold off on fertilising
Avoid fertilising for the first few weeks while your plant adjusts. Once it has settled in, you can assess its condition and decide whether it needs feeding. This will depend on the growing season, whether the plant is actively growing and whether its growing medium already contains nutrients.
When you do eventually repot, take the opportunity to check the roots for signs of root rot. If your plant has root rot and needs treatment, hold off on fertilising until it has recovered. Using fertiliser within this time, not knowing if it has root rot or not, can cause further stress on your plant.
Shock, stress and leaf dropping
Plants get stressed, just like us! The stress of transportation and adjusting to a new environment can look different depending on the species and how well the plant is coping with the change.
Here are some signs to look out for:
- Yellowing leaves
- Drooping or wilting leaves
- New leaves emerging misshapen
- Leggy growth
- Leaves or flowers dropping
- Discoloured leaves
- Crispy, brown leaf edges or patches
-
Spotted leaves, sometimes with bleached or white patches
Some leaf loss is completely normal while a plant adjusts to its new surroundings. However, excessive leaf drop or several symptoms appearing together could indicate that something else is going on.
Keep an eye out for pests, too!
A stressed plant may be more vulnerable to pest problems, so check the leaves, especially the undersides, and look out for pests or sticky residue.
Remember; these symptoms aren't necessarily caused by acclimating alone. Watering issues, root problems, pests and disease can cause similar signs, so it's worth investigating if symptoms persist or worsen.
When to intervene
It's important to monitor your new plant over the first few weeks so you can spot any signs that it's struggling and decide whether it needs help.
So, when should you step in?
If you notice several negative signs appearing within a short period, it may be time to investigate. Look at the bigger picture, assess your plant's environment and check for underlying issues before deciding what needs to change.
Try not to change too many things at once. Making lots of adjustments in a short space of time can put your plant under even more stress, and it also makes it harder to identify what's causing the problem.
Once you've made a change, give your plant some time to respond before making further adjustments, unless the problem needs urgent attention. Fingers crossed, it'll bounce back for you!
How do you know when your plant has acclimated?
You'll know your plant is settling in when it's growing steadily, with no ongoing signs of stress or excessive leaf drop.
After around a month of healthy, steady growth, you can feel more confident that your plant has adjusted. You may then decide to move it to a more suitable spot or introduce it to the rest of your collection, provided you've checked it for pests.
And remember kids
Some hardier plants will settle into their new environment without showing any signs of stress, while others may need a little more time and attention. The season, your home's conditions, the plant's health and its individual needs can all influence how well it adjusts.
The key is to get to know your plant and give it time to settle in. With a little patience and observation, you can help your new plant find its feet and thrive in its new home.
We’re wishing you and your new plant baby, a smooth journey ahead in your home together.