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Comment by timdaub | Hacker News Reader

The most bewildering tip I always see and often hear recited is that a plant likes it to be moved/rotated. Like wtf, which plant gets rotated in nature???

Generally, some people like to think they know better what the plant needs than itself.

I went from being talked in to overcaring to the probable most careless approach. My plants get water when the soil is dry. That's it.

Gladly, I also ended up stopping to interfere with e.g. how they grow and I've now noticed that they started to look "wild" and healthy.

Done right, it's a beautiful display of nature.

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I assume rotating isn't for the health of the plant but for giving it a more symmetric and fuller appearance.

yeah but isn't there already a gigantic light in the sky rotating for free ever day?

Yes, but it is below the horizon when it's in the north and most rooms don't have 360 degree windows.

That's the thing - when the plant is outside it will get sun from multiple directions as the sun moves, but when it inside the light will only be coming from the window. And even outside the sun is shining more from one direction (south here in the northern hemisphere), since it is below the horizon at times, which will often cause plants and trees to have more branches and leaves facing that direction.

Something I learned to do is to only water the leaves (ie make them wet). And if the soil is very dry, to pour water directly to the roots.

My reasoning being that rain unless it is heavy, doesn't actually reach the soil directly and then there is the matter of water coming out through the openings in the pot if there is too much of it.

I don't know why this works for me.

> only water the leaves

Doesn't this get a lot of water on the ground? Or do you keep your plants in a dedicated area, where water wouldn't be much of a bother?

In my case, the plants are in the living areas, on hardwood floors, where I usually walk. I'd hate to get my feet wet every time I walk next to them.

Yes you are right in that I have a dedicated place for them.

You could try using water sprays instead.

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