Somewhere along the way, plant care got complicated.

Multiple bottles. Weekly “treatments.” Four to five-step watering rituals. Charts. Schedules. Special tonics for every mood your plant might be in.

I don’t believe in that.

Plants are not complicated. They are biological systems that respond to three foundational inputs:

1. Light
2. Water
3. Available nutrition

That’s it.

Everything else is support.

Let’s break this down the way I approach it as the founder of Bless Your Soil® — and as someone who actually lives with plants.

First: Light (Nothing Works Without It)

You can fertilize perfectly.
You can water perfectly.

But without adequate light, your plant cannot convert nutrients into growth.

Light drives photosynthesis. Photosynthesis drives energy production. Energy drives everything else.

What “enough light” really means:

• Bright indirect light for most tropical houseplants (enough light to warm the space); for best results, use filtered, direct light
• Direct light only for sun-loving species, especially succulents (that catcus is not low-maintenance in your windowless bathroom)
• No dark corners unless you’re supplementing with a grow light; the image above shows

If your plant is stretching ("leggy" as we say), pale, or not growing — check light first. Always.

Before fertilizer. Before blaming soil. Before assuming pests.

Light is step one.

See our lighting guide for more on how to properly light your houseplants.

Second: Water (Not Too Much. Not Too Often.)

Most indoor plant problems aren’t fertilizer problems.

They’re watering problems.

Overwatering:

• Suffocates roots
• Encourages fungus gnats
• Breaks down organic debris
• Creates odor and microbial imbalance

Underwatering:

• Weakens plant tissue
• Causes inconsistent nutrient uptake
• Stresses growth cycles

Ever wonder why your leaves are turning yellow? Check your watering.

My Rule:

Water thoroughly. Then let the soil breathe.

Roots need oxygen just as much as moisture.

Most tropical houseplants like a good drench followed by a bit of a dry spell. A good "rule of thumb" is to let the the top 50% of the soil dry out (most plants) before watering again.

Soil Gnats? It’s Not a “Spray” Problem.

If you’re dealing with fungus gnats, it’s almost always:

• Too much water
• The wrong soil
• Compost-heavy indoor mixes
• Wood products breaking down inside your home

Compost and unfinished wood fibers belong outdoors. Inside, they:

• Stay wet too long
• Decompose
• Smell
• Attract pests

Fix watering.
Upgrade your soil.
Let it dry properly.

That alone solves most gnat cycles, throw those ugly sticky traps away!

Read: Does Potting Soil Go Bad?

Third: Fertilizer (Available Nutrition Is Everything)

Once light and watering are dialed in, fertilizer becomes powerful.

Plants don’t thrive on “hope.” They thrive on available nutrients.

That’s why I created Big Green Leaves® — a complete, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer designed for consistent feeding without burn risk (and no urea).

What plants actually need:

• Balanced NPK
• Microbe support
• Micronutrients
• Consistency

Not five separate additives.

Just complete nutrition delivered consistently.

Simple.

Dusty Leaves = Blocked Light

Here’s something most people overlook:

Dusty leaves block light.

If your leaf surface is coated in residue, your plant isn’t photosynthesizing efficiently.

That’s where Big Leaf Energy® comes in.

A gentle botanical leaf wash that:

• Cleans residue
• Refreshes the leaf surface
• Supports plant wellness
• Smells incredible

Once a month is usually enough for maintenance and to keep inevitable critters away.

And for that satisfying ritual?
Pair it with Leaf Lovers (2.0)™ gloves to wipe down leaves easily and evenly.

Clean leaves.
Better light absorption.
Healthier plant.

Pests Will Show Up. That’s Normal.

Even in the cleanest homes.

Instead of panic treatments and product stacking, I recommend:

A light monthly mist of Big Leaf Energy® to leaves and soil
Wipe down leaves
Monitor regularly

Consistency beats overreaction. If you're adding even more water with gnat killing drops, you may be provoking more infestation and perpetuating the problem.

Read: Say Goodbye to Soil Gnats

The Simple Plant Care Framework

If you want thriving houseplants, focus here:

✔ Adequate light
✔ Proper watering rhythm
✔ Complete available nutrition
✔ Clean leaf surfaces
✔ Good airflow

That’s it.

You do not need:

• 4 different supplements per watering
• Rotating tonics
• Complicated feeding charts

You need better fundamentals.

Why I Built Bless Your Soil®

I didn’t create these products to add more steps.

I created them to remove confusion.

One complete fertilizer.
One hardworking leaf spray.
Tools that make care feel effortless.

Plants are resilient.
They want to grow.
They just need the basics handled well.

Keep it simple.
Stay consistent.
Let your plants do the rest.