Have you ever found yourself overthinking over a yellow leaf and wondering, “Is this overwatering or underwatering? Does it need water? Is this normal?” You’re just like the rest of us, plant friend! It's something I've done many, many times, and I know it's something that people in our community do all the time. We all want to get it right, but overthinking plant care can suck the joy right out of it. But in 2025, we need as much joy and as little stress as possible. So here are 5 signs you might be overthinking your plant care and how to fix it!

 

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:57] Common overthinking traps in plant care
• [03:54] Five tips to stop overthinking plant care
• [04:33] Sign #1: You Google every little thing
• [09:34] Sign #2: You’re watering on a rigid schedule (and believing plant care cards)
• [12:55] Alternative to a finger test
• [14:10] Sign #3: You panic over every yellow leaf
• [15:37] Grow healthier plants, indoors and out, with Espoma Organic’s premium products!
• [18:06] Sign #4: You throw the ‘kitchen sink approach’ at small issues
• [19:40] Sign #5: You think you need to be a ‘perfect' plant parent
• [23:34] How to relax & enjoy your plants more

 

 

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Sign #1 You Google every little thing

Google has always been our go-to resource for everything… until the arrival of AI. When I was a beginner plant parent, I Googled everything too. But now we have ChatGPT, and it’s even easier.

So when you searched “yellow leaf” on Google (or ChatGPT), all of a sudden it made everything worse because one result says that “overwatering can bring yellow leaves,” and the other says “underwatering can bring yellow leaves.” And the rest say that low light can bring yellow leaves, and you don't know which one is right.

So instead of turning to unvetted advice, try this:

Get a few books by vetted authors you can refer back to.

I have a vintage collection of plant care books from the ‘70s and some modern ones from the last couple of years by horticulturists and plant care experts who really know what they're talking about. Unlike random blog posts, books are typically vetted by horticultural editors, so the info is more reliable.

 

Follow a few trusted plant experts online.

Follow them on Instagram, read their blogs, whatever works for you. Turn to them for advice instead. You can also go through 300+ hours of my interview with different experts!

 

Trust your observations.

Before turning to Google when you see a yellow leaf, ask yourself, “When did I last water this plant?” If it was yesterday, maybe it’s overwatered. If it’s been three weeks, it’s probably underwater.

 

 

Sign #2: You’re Watering on a Rigid Schedule
(and Blindly Believing Plant Care Cards)

Watering your plants every Sunday–no matter what–isn’t the best approach. I recommend having a weekly check-in day where you walk through your space, touch the soil, and see who actually needs water.

Also, these plant care card recommendations are based on what is the most general recommendation that makes sense for the largest population of people buying. But that's maybe 90%, right? So there's going to be 10% of people who that doesn't quite apply to.

So you can:

1. Use your finger or a moisture meter. Stick your finger into the soil. If the top inch is dry, water. If it’s still damp, wait.
2. Try the pickup test. Pick up the plant before and after watering to get a feel for how heavy the pot is when the soil is saturated versus dry.

Remember that this isn’t baking. You don’t need exact measurements or rigid schedules. We're growing, blooming, and changing. So rigidity in any aspect of plant care kind of ruins the vibe.

 

 

Sign #3: You panic over every yellow leaf

Yellow leaves happen, and it’s natural! Plants shed older leaves just like we lose hair. Just simply remove it and move on with your life. I wouldn't say you should leave yellow leaves on your plant once they're fully yellow because you want the plant to be directing its energy to its new leaves.

You should only worry if you find multiple leaves yellowing in a short amount of time.

 

 

Sign #4: You're Throwing the ‘Kitchen Sink’ at an Issue All at Once

When something goes wrong, I know that the first thing people usually do it try everything to solve it. So they water the plant, increase the light, and spray it down with neem oil… trying it do all of these things at once.

BUT If you try too many fixes at once, you won’t know what actually worked. So make one change at a time. For example, if you think the plant needs more light, move it and wait to see how it responds before doing anything else.

Avoid moving them constantly around the house, especially if they’re sensitive plants like ficus. See what's working first before trying something else.

 

 

Sign #5 You think you need to be a ‘perfect' plant parent

You think that if you’re anything less than a perfect plant parent, you are a bad plant parent. WRONG. That is a weed in your brain that needs to be weeded.

I know this has been the result of picture-perfect plant content creators on social media, but striving for that can make you miss the joy of your own plant journey.

So give yourself grace and stop comparing yourself and your plants to Pinterest/Instagram-perfect ones.

When I underwater accidentally or I've left a plant that I needed to treat for pests one extra day than I should have, I give myself grace. And I hope you do too.

 

 

Trust Your Intuition and Enjoy the Journey

If you do avoid doing these five things, you will have a more joyful 2025 when it comes to your houseplants. I hope this helps you give yourself a permission slip to not stress about plant care anymore this year and beyond!

 

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

•   Growing Joy with Plants Masterclass – use code  OVERTHINK to get it for $ 49
• Moisture Meter
• Growing Joy Episode 276: Houseplant Confidence: The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything

 

 

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Espoma Organic

Lessen you're overthinking, make sure you're using nontoxic products on your houseplants! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar-powered plant, zero waste manufacturing, and eco-friendly packaging.

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

 

 

 

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