Core guide
Start with light
Check how much light the spot receives through the day and match plants to it. A plant in too little light uses less water, so the mix stays wet for longer.
Water by checking, not by calendar
Feel the mix a few centimetres down before watering. Water thoroughly, let excess drain away and empty the saucer. Pots with drainage holes are essential.
Choose an airy mix
Roots need air as well as water. Perlite loosens a dense mix; a thin layer of expanded clay can support drainage in larger pots but does not replace drainage holes.
