8 Must - Haves For Budding Plant Parents

The perfect hand trowel, gentle fertilizer and other essentials for healthy, happy houseplants.

As anyone who’s struggled to keep a Calathea alive and thriving knows, being a good plant parent requires more than the occasional watering session. Each plant is unique, and when you’re tuned into your plant's needs, stepping in with a pair of shears or spritz of Neem Oil becomes necessary from time to time.

Having the right tools in your closet helps streamline upkeep, whether your plant is having a pest problem or calling out for fertilizer. Here are eight essentials every plant parent needs to tend to their leafy companions.


Watering cans with long, narrow spouts allow you to water the soil directly, without wetting your plants’ leaves. This is particularly important for plants like African Violets, which have sensitive foliage that will become discolored if splashed. We like this brass watering can from Rejuvenation for its apartment-friendly size and elegant design. It’s one tool you won’t want to hide when you have friends over.
Watering Can, $59


If you’re still grabbing soil with your hands or using old novelty mugs, it’s time to up your gardening game with a potting scoop. Potting scoops are great for containing the mess that soil usually makes, and their high sides and deep belly are perfect when repotting. We're into this one from Bloomscape for its understated, practical design.
Bloomscape Soil Scoop, $30


Trowels may not be one of the first tools you’d think to acquire, but the sooner you add one to your arsenal, the better. Here’s why: they keep your plants intact during repotting, preserving their root system so that they acclimate quickly to their new container, and they’re great for mixing up batches of soil that meet your plants’ specific needs. You can also use them to fill in the small spaces around the edge of your containers. This small one from Wilcox is perfect for houseplants.
Wilcox All-Pro Stainless Steel Garden Trowel, $14


While most gardening gloves are thick and clunky, this pair from Bloomscape is thin and flexible with some awesome features. A snug fit around the wrist keeps soil from getting in, and rubber palms offer an excellent grip. They’re a great choice for keeping your hands clean and protected while repotting, digging, or doing whatever it is you need to do in the garden (ahem, or living room).
Bloomscape Garden Gloves, $20


A quality potting mix can make all the difference for strong and healthy growth. We love keeping one in our closet so we can repot on the fly. FoxFarm’s Ocean Forest is a high-quality option made with natural, organic fertilizers like worm castings to encourage leafy foliage, and pH-adjusted ingredients to inspire fast and furious nutrient uptake.
FoxFarm Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil, $34


Dead stems attract insects and can even harbor deadly diseases, so it’s important to prune regularly to keep your plants healthy. To prune your plants, simply snip away at any parts that have died. These small shears are easy to use with one hand, with a spring action handle that requires only a slight pinching motion.
Deadhead and Herb Mini Snippers, $10


During the spring and summer, most houseplants want to be fed. Fertilizer provides essential nutrients that are super important for your plants’ overall growth and development. Still not convinced? Skipping fertilizer can stunt your plants’ growth, preventing them from reaching their fullest potential. We like this all-purpose organic fertilizer by Humane, which comes in a convenient shaker and is gentle enough to not burn roots.
All-Purpose Organic Fertilizer by Humane, $14


Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, the occasional pest problem is inevitable. Enter: Neem oil. Neem oil is a powerful fungus and insect repellent harvested from the neem tree. It also happens to be non-
toxic, so it’s safe for pets and perfect for indoor use. Neem oil spray is effective against common houseplant pests like aphids and spider mites, so we always keep a bottle on hand, just in case.
Safer Brand Neem Oil, $15

With the right tools on hand, tending to your houseplants becomes a breeze. While you’re sure to add to your gardening toolkit as time goes on and your plant collection grows, these are a few quality essentials to kick off your collection.