I must sound like a broken record by now, but wow, I stuffed this up BIG time, over and over, when I first got into the hobby.
Especially with the first two things to NEVER do when bringing a new houseplant home. Step one came back to bite me (and my plants), too many times before I learned my lesson. Step two I once did IN THE STORE before I even got the plant home (I'm rolling my eyes at myself right now).
So with my usual warning of 'don't be me' and my never-ending hope I can help save you and your plants from the dumb mistakes I made...
Here's what to do - and just as importantly what NOT to do - when you bring a new indoor plant home or when you get plant mail (the best kind of delivery)...
Step 1: Pest Check and Quarantine
No, NOT pest check and hope. ALWAYS quarantine for a few weeks, even if there are no obvious signs of pests or pest damage.
I wait four weeks, since that covers the lifecycle of most indoor plant pests.
I have kicked myself too any times for my impatience, having caused myself outbreaks of spider mites, mealybugs and fungus gnats over the years, simply from not following the quarantine step after bringing a new plant home.
Some hobbyists also add a preventative pest spray or wash for all new plants. If you want to be extra safe (I've learned to do this extra step), here are a few options...
Optional Step: Prevent Pests
(otherwise scroll down to step two)
A warm soapy bath in insecticidal soap is my current preferred method of pest prevention for all new plants. I've also used preventative sprays with neem oil, like BioNeem, or mineral oil, like Enspray 99, for the same purpose.
All three are registered insecticides but can also be used preventatively. None of them leave a harmful residue behind and all are shorter-acting (but always read the directions before use).
On the topic of soap, do NOT use dish soap! It does kill pests, but can also strip your plant's leaves of their natural protective layer at the same time. I keep a small bottle of Yates Nutrasoap on hand for this exact use instead (a proper insecticidal soap for plants).
Two more mild options, which are more of a repellent only vs actual insecticides, are neem oil pre-mixed leaf sprays, like Plant Runner's best-selling Plant Runner Neem Spray, or the new Forsana Foliage Magic.
BUT if it's an alocasia or hoya, which are spider mite and mealybug magnets respectively, then I will make an exception and go hard when I get them home.
For those, I give them a spray of Groventive. Not as mild as other treatments, but much longer acting, with one spray protecting plants from emerging pests for 4 weeks.
And a WARNING if you do want to do more than just quarantine, is to know your treatment.
Pests cannot build up resistance to some treatments - like Enspray and insecticidal soap - so they can be used regularly as a preventative.
But pests CAN become resistant to other treatments - like Groventive. Always check if there's a maximum use. Groventive for example can be used a maximum of four times in six months.
Step 2: Do NOT Repot Straight Away
Yep, one of my biggest new plant mistakes was repotting a plant into a pretty new pot IN THE STORE before I even got it home!
Luckily for me (and the plant), it was a Syngonium. Hardy enough to handle my mess-up and recover quickly at home.
But in general, for the majority of houseplants, NEVER repot straight away when you get a new plant home.
Of course there are exceptions, like almost everything in our hobby. But unless there's a VERY good reason to repot, just hold your horses for a few weeks.
I wait four weeks since my plant's in quarantine anyway, but at least two weeks is a good minimum.
The reason is STRESS.
It may seem obvious, but plants pretty much stay put in Nature, and their natural habitat is pretty consistent.
Even those that come from habitats with distinct seasons, general conditions change very slowly (which is not the case for most houseplants that originate from a rainforest habitat where's it's bright, warm and humid all year-round).
Just bringing a new plant home from the store or nursery is a HUGE shock for them. Messing with their roots by repotting - one of the most stressful things for a plant - when they are already under stress, can be a recipe for disaster.
3 Exceptions: When to Repot a New Plant
I'll always make an exception for the dreaded root rot. That plant's coming out of its pot ASAP, getting a root trim and wash in hydrogen peroxide like GT Oxy 3% or Forsana's Plant Care Plus 3% to kill the rot, then being repotted into fresh substrate.
I'll also repot early if the substrate is so dense or holding so much water it hasn't dried out within two weeks after coming home,
It may be in a perfect sustrate for nursery growing conditions but no good for typical home conditions at my place and too risky that root rot will be next.
I always very gently slide new arrivals out of their pots for a quick once-over root check. Unless there's anything of concern, it's straight back in, no handling of roots or disturbing the rootball at all.
But if I see soil pests like root mealy, it's repotting (and treatment) time. Another good use for hydrogen peroxide like GT Oxy 3%.
Should a New Plant be Repotted if Rootbound?
If a plant is simply rootbound, I do NOT repot, unless it's so bad there's pretty much no soil left to absorb any water or nutrients, and I'm finding I have to water more than once a week.
Otherwise, rootbound is NOT on my list of exceptions and the plant can wait to be repotted after it's settled in.
Step 3: Do NOT Worry (expect a little drama)
Good advice for life in general I guess, but definitely applies when bringing home a new plant. Do expect a little drama queen behaviour while your plant adjusts to your conditions.
Signs of stress to expect can include:
🪴 Yellow leaves,
🪴 Leaf drop,
🪴 Leaves wilting when not needing watering,
🪴 Drooping or weak stems when not needing watering,
🪴 Leaves curling when not needing watering,
🪴 Browning, especially on weaker vareigated areas.
...within reason of course! We're talking a little, not a lot.
If you're unsure what's normal, where 'wait and see' is all that's needed, versus something to worry about that needs action taken, join the free private Facebook group Houseplant Help > for NZ houseplant parents to get free help from me and other hobbyists.
Step 4: Support Rehab and Recovery
As a general rule, I hold off on fertilising straight after bringing a new plant home. I also resist the temptation to water and allow a week or more and make sure a new arrival really needs watering before the first water.
But you absolutely CAN help things along with one of the many products that support recovery. I used to skip this step but having seen the difference I always add a rehab product for at least the first month.
Rehab and recovery starts at root level if you're a plant. My top favourites are GT Rootzone, packed full of stress-reducing, recovery-enhancing, root-friendly beneficials. Or try the new No.3 RapidRecovery from the NurtureSystem range (created by plant-world-famous Kaylee Ellen).
Your New Plant Welcome Home Checklist
So here's the plan...
Check for Pests
Especially in the hiding places. Underneath leaves, inside tender new leaves and buds, under the pot lip and other pot and plant crevices.
Quarantine
Keep your plant separate from the rest of your collection for at least two and ideally four weeks.
Pest Prevention
Wash or spray preventatively with insecticidal soap or your treatment of choice.
Rehab, Don't Repot
Know the typical signs of stress to expect. Help plants adjust and recover with a pick-me-up like GT Rootzone or No3. RapidRecovery. Don't repot unless absolutely necessary.
When it's Time to Worry
If things are getting a bit out of hand and normal signs of stress look to be getting rapidly worse; here's what to watch out for and what to do when things go from bad to worse, fast. Emergency plant rehab and recovery >
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Anna is the owner of plant store Love That Leaf which specialises in products and advice for indoor plants. She is also the resident indoor plants writer for NZ Gardener magazine. Her houseplant care articles appear in print in magazines in-stores NZ-wide, and online on Stuff, The Post, NineHoney and more.