Secrets to Flexing Your Green Thumb (Gardening for Life)

Longwood Gardens (JOSE GERMAN-GOMEZ)

DIY gardening and home renovation TV shows have convinced many people they can create a garden in an hour or two. These shows are essentially well-orchestrated informational ads that overlook necessary details about home gardening projects or even the basic elements of landscaping and garden design. Such shows promote instant gratification.

Expecting immediate transformation, people go to big box stores in pursuit of the types of plants and yard features they saw on TV. Often, they have no clue whether the plants work in their climate. The plants appear to be in good health, and consumers believe they will continue to thrive when planted at home. Many new gardeners know little about the profile of the plants they are buying, the type of soil they need to thrive, or even their water needs. Then, reality strikes. Within days, the plants will be deteriorating or even dying. Some new gardeners persist, going back to the nursery and buying more plants with the same results. Their conclusion: They must not have a green thumb!

Demystifying the “Green Thumb” Concept

If you are one among those who say, “Every plant I touch dies,” stop blaming yourself! A “green thumb” is often seen as a mystical power when it comes to plant care.

The opposite of a green thumb is sometimes described as a “brown thumb,” but I prefer the term “numb thumb.” Those with “numb thumbs” are unable to get plants to grow despite valiant efforts. However, a numb thumb is not necessarily a permanent condition. 

A numb thumb often results from the idea that plants are disposable items. You buy a plant, leave it on the table for a few days, and when it starts looking bad, give up and toss it in the trash or put it outside, hoping it will revive—with disastrous results. This behavior dooms both the plant and the aspirations of the owner to achieve green thumb status.

Contrary to myth, green thumbs are not magic or luck. The one and only ‘magical’ quality these people possess is knowledge and understanding of the conditions plants require. Such people also have the interest and capacity to provide the basic survival conditions for plants: appropriate soil, water, and sunlight. So, what can you do to turn your numb thumb into a green one? 

  • Read. There are loads of excellent gardening books for all levels and interests. Don’t feel like reading? Try watching serious gardening programs on TV or YouTube—not the commercial DIY shows on cable TV. 
  • Talk to someone who has a good working knowledge of plants, such as a friend or neighbor who gardens or a knowledgeable person at a local nursery. One common trait of gardeners is that they love to talk about gardening.

Making the Right Decision

Longwood Gardens (JOSE GERMAN-GOMEZ)

What to buy? Annuals? Perennials? Native plants? Indoor plants? Tropical plants?

Annuals live for one growing season, so they need to be replanted every year, Perennials may take longer to develop than annuals, but once established they save you a lot of work and money by regrowing every spring. Annuals propagate from one generation to the next through seeds, but most of the time, they die before seeding due to the climate conditions. Use perennial native plants. They are resilient and drought-resistant and create habitats for pollinators and other wildlife.

Learn About the Plant You Are About to Bring Home

It is important to know the provenance of the plant. Find out what sort of environment it is adapted to. You are making an investment, and you want to preserve the plant for the long term. Learn about the conditions it needs to grow happily. These include:

  • How much sunlight it requires.
  • The amount and type of fertilizer required for optimum growth.
  • The types of pests and diseases it may be subject to.
  • How much water it needs. 
  • For an indoor plant, the level of humidity it needs. Homes can be far too dry for many plants, so try not to place sensitive plants near a fireplace or radiator. Instead, try to raise the humidity around the plants.

Soil and Growing Mixes

You must match your plant with the appropriate soil. Not all plants are created equal. Plants, like humans, have unique needs and they rely on the different soil conditions to survive. Most plants sold at nurseries are developed using a potting mix of peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite. Since this mix dries out fast and does not have organic materials essential for a healthy plant, you will need to amend or fertilize the soil.

Indoor Plants

The approach for indoor plants is different from the approach for planting outside. For indoor plants, you should add a mix of compost and garden soil with your regular potting mix. This technique will create a balance that increases the moisture of the potting mix and adds the needed organic materials. 

Outdoor Planting

In our suburban environment, the “native soil” in your yard has not necessarily been there forever, but it could be good enough for most plants to thrive. If your soil is lacking in organic materials, a layer of compost will amend the soil. 

Soil pH is the measure of soil acidity. The pH scale goes from zero to 14 with pH 7 as the neutral point: the lower the number, the higher the acidity. A pH of 6.5 is about right for most home gardens since most plants thrive in the 6.0 to 7.0 range. Knowing the pH of your soil is important. Some plants, such as blueberries, prefer higher acidity (lower pH), while others, such as peas, prefer a more alkaline (higher pH) soil. You can find pH measurement devices online for under $20. 

Sun Exposure

It is not difficult to identify which spots in your yard receive direct or partial sun exposure (full sun, partial shade, and shade). These combinations create micro-climates, so you need to accommodate your planting to the sun exposure. Fortunately, there is a plant for every level of light, short of total darkness.

In summary, having a green thumb simply requires knowledge of plants and nature. A green thumb is not magic, after all! 

Patience: The Key Element of a Successful Gardening Project

Longwood Gardens (JOSE GERMAN-GOMEZ)

Ben Bellucci, a gardener and blogger, said in the online magazine Medium: “In today’s fast-paced world, patience seems to be a virtue that is becoming increasingly rare. We are constantly bombarded with instant gratification, where everything is available at the touch of a button. However, true success and fulfillment often require the ability to cultivate patience. Patience teaches us to slow down, to take a step back, and to trust in the process. It allows us to embrace uncertainty and to persevere through challenges.”

This applies even more to gardening than to most of the rest of life.


Jose German-Gomez is an environmental activist, Essex County certified master gardener and Montclair resident. He is the founder of the Northeast Earth Coalition.

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