Black Thumb? 10 Items That Will Make Your Houseplants Explode with Life

I love houseplants. I want to be someone with many houseplants. I've had my fair share of them, but unfortunately, not many have thrived under my black thumb. For some reason, it is ridiculously hard for me to keep them alive. It's not for a lack of trying or interest. I try very, very hard to keep them happy, but it feels like I'm constantly messing up — so I decided to look outward instead of inward for a remedy.

Luckily for me, there are tons of people out there trying to sell gidgets and gadgets to hopeless people who like plants. Here are the best items I found that: a) were not too expensive, b) didn’t look too much like they were from the space, and c) didn’t require extra plant or tech knowledge to operate. I got serious only a few months ago, but I must say (with a hard knock on wood), so far so good. If you get everything below and still manage to kill a plant, there may be no helping you and you should probably skip over to this guide of the best faux plants you can buy instead. But if you're feeling like you want to bring the outdoors inside this spring, then read on, friends.

Sometimes you need a fancy, grown-up watering can to remind you that plants need water. How does that work? You look so good holding this thing, you'll want to hold it all the time. If vanity is what it takes to remind you to water the plants, so be it!

It took me a while to realize this: Sometimes plants just need a light spray and not a full-on bath. It's exactly like how you would mist your face with that fancy spa water for a little rejuvenation.

Have I already confused the heck out of you with everything I've said so far? Then just go ahead and get yourself these. They will slowly let out water within a 3-5 day period so you don't have to worry about saturation levels. These are also great for keeping your plants alive when you have to get out of town.

Leave the big pruners for your future outdoor garden. Inside, all you need are these gorgeous scissors.

HHCC Xiaomi 4 in 1 Plant Flower Care Smart Monitor

I've been told that I should keep track of when I last watered and fertilized my plants in my calendar somewhere. Alas, I don't. Instead, I have this thing to remind me of when the plant is dry, hungry, or needs to be moved to a sunnier or less-sunny spot.

Need extra help? If you can't be bothered to check the last meter yourself, this monitor will actually ping you to tell you your plants need attention. On top of that, it will also track your plants' daily growth and offer tips on how to maintain over 5,000 species.

An oldie but goodie. Yes, you can find all kind of information on the internet, but there is only one Barbara Pleasant. Available in Kindle format, too.

Proper drainage is super important, especially if you have a tendency to over-love your plants with water. Root rot is real, my friends! I have found that it never hurts to have a few of these guys at the bottom of a pot. 

Just because you have a window, doesn't mean you have the right amount of light coming through it. If you have any plants that are looking a little sad, it might be worth it to try putting it under a growing light. This bulb has also allowed me to keep a plant in my room even though it gets no direct sun.