Help

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Choosing a Plant

How do I start choosing which plant to buy?

We recommend to read our helpful guides to help you to choose the right plant for your home or office:

• “How to choose the right plant for your home”
• “How to choose the right plant for your office”

What is the difference between bright, medium and low light plants?

Bright light plants will do well in direct or strong sunlight for the most part of a day.

Medium light plants should stay out of the direct sunlight. They should be placed in a bright room and will enjoy partial or filtered sunlight. 

Low light plants prefer to stay in the shade or to be displayed under fluorescent light.

Read our Light Guide that will help you to determine the light environment in your space before choosing a plant.

Which indoor plants are the easiest to care for?

Pothos, Aglaonema, Sansevieria, Dracaena Lisa, Spider, Corn, Iron, ZZ plants, Bird’s Nest fern, Cacti, Succulents. 

Which plants are hardy and can take some level of neglect?

Iron plant is the toughest. Sansevieria, ZZ, Aglaonema, Dracaena Lisa, Dracaena Art, Yucca, Jade plants, Ponytail Palm, Succulents and Cacti can deal well with some degree of neglect.

We only have the fluorescent light in our office. Which plants should we choose?

Dracaena Lisa, Corn plant, Sansevieria, Iron plant, ZZ plant, Aglaonema. These plants will survive in very well lit with the fluorescent light space. The light must be on for at least 8-10 hours a day. 

Our office building turns AC/Heat and lights off during after hours, weekends and holidays. Which plants can survive in this environment?

Dracaena Lisa, Sansevieria, Iron, ZZ, Aglaonema and Yucca plants can deal better than other plants with some environment challenges.

We strongly recommend moving plants that are displayed in a room with artificial light only close to a window when office is closed for weekends and holidays.

Avoid placing plants under direct sun, especially during hot summer days, to avoid leaf burning.

I don't have much light in my home. Which plants should I try?

Iron, Aglaonema, Dracaena Lisa, Sansevieria plants.

Note: if you can’t read a book as it is too dark in certain areas then it is too dark for any plant as well.

I have a lot of sun in my space. Which plants should I choose?

Ponytail and Bella palm, Bird of Paradise, Yucca, Jade plant, Majesty palm.

Note: make sure to rotate your plants to assure equal light exposure to all sides and avoid leaf burning.

Care

How To Water Plants in Lechuza Self-watering Planters

Watch the detailed video here.

Do I really need the Soil Moisture Meter?

We strongly recommend getting the Soil Moisture Meter. This tool will help you to understand when your plant is ready for a drink to avoid over or under watering.

Meter can be purchased in our online shop.

Do you offer any care tips for plants?

With a plant of your choice, you will receive printed basic care tips to help you to understand your plant better and get a general understanding of its care.

NOTE: Care tips are just the guidelines, and every plant will behave differently depending on air flow, light, humidity, and temperatures in a space.

Should I mist my plants? Which plants like to have leaves misted?

Plants like Bird of Paradise, Philodendron, Fern, Iron plant, Bella Palm will enjoy if you mist their leaves often.

Plants like Majesty Palm and Spider plant should have air misted around them.

Plants like Snake, ZZ, Yucca, Jade prefer not to be misted.

Heat dries out the air the most, and misting pants that love humidity daily during the cold season is essential.

AC will remove moisture from the air as well but not as much. Mist your humidity loving plants at least few times a week during the warm season.

A humidifier is also a good option. Your skin and your plants will benefit from it equally :)

What fertilizer do you recommend for indoor plants?

Most plants need to be fertilized during Spring time - March, April and May.

The fertilizer we use can be applied anything time. Its unique formula will help your plants grow and thrive with this. It contains oilseed extract, a renewable source of plant nutrition which contains amino acids known to improve overall plant health. No GMOs. Pathogen free - heavy metals free. Gentle on plants - no root burn issues.  

Fertilizer can be purchased in our online shop.

I bought a plant in grower’s pot. When should I repot my plant and what kind of pot to look for?

It is best to repot your plant as it is not supposed to live in its growing pot. If you do not see the roots poking out of drainage holes, you can wait for a few months and take your time to find a perfect pot for your green baby. Otherwise, repot it rather sooner than later.

Choose a pot 1-3 inches larger than the original container. Pots with drainage are always the best choice but if you found an awesome cache pot that you must have, make sure to add a good layer of rocks at the bottom of a pot to provide a drainage for your plant. 

Troubleshooting

How can I tell if a plant is struggling?

Here are some general signs of a problem:

• yellowing or dropping leaves;
• leaf spots appear brown with a yellow halo;
• brown or yellow spots or brown edges on leaves;
• leaves are curling in;
• droopiness or wilting;
• white spots or web are showing on a plant;
• loss of leaf color;
• weak growth.

 

Where those bugs come from?

Cut Flowers: Cut flowers, whether from the store or the garden, are another possible carrier of houseplant bugs like aphids, spider mites, and mealybugs.

Fruits and Vegetables: Whether from the grocery store or the backyard garden, fresh produce can carry all types of houseplant bugs.

Other Bugs: It sounds crazy, but bugs like ants are known to bring sap-sucking pests like aphids, scale, and mealybugs to a houseplant.

Other Plants: Mealybugs can come from any other plants that are nearby or plants that are anywhere in a building as they are can get around via air vents.

Doors, Air vents, and Windows: Houseplant insect pests, like soil gnats and spider mites, can easily come even through the screens of open windows/doors (especially during warm seasons) or from anywhere in the building through an air vent. 

Soil: If a plant had gnat's eggs in the soil (which are invisible to the human eye) you will notice an issue very early, within first few days, as these guys spread super fast.  

What are the little dark flies swarming over the pots of my plants?

They are probably fungus gnats. They are not very harmful to plants but very annoying to us:)

These guys can come from anywhere - air vents, drain pipes, etc. They find nice warm and moist environment to lay their eggs in. Frequent or excessive watering encourages their development. You can usually get rid of them by reducing the frequency of watering and allowing the soil to dry more between watering.

Read our post about How to Get Rid Of Gnats. 

Why are leaves turning yellow?

 This can be happening for a few reasons.

• Plant is under stress due to environmental changes or while coping with an acclimation period to its new home.
• Some older leaves might turn yellow and shed. Usually, it happens to the lower leaves.
• Over- watering. It is important to provide enough time for the soil to dry to some degree, and always test the soil before adding water.
• Under-watering. If you have not watered your plant for a while and soil feels too dry, give your plant a good drink and make sure to test the soil at least once every 2 weeks.
• Nutrient deficiency. We offer amazing plant food as well.

We strongly recommend getting the Soil Moisture Meter. This tool will help you to understand when your plant is ready for a drink to avoid over or under watering.

Why are leaves rotting?

Rotting leaves are a definite sign of over-watering and can also be the sign of root rot.

Use a pencil or stick to fluff up the soil to allow oxygen get through and to help soil to dry out faster.

Give your plant a “dessert treatment”, as we call longer than usual breaks between watering, to allow soil to dry. Lower watering frequency for the future or/and use less amount of water for each watering. Always check soil before watering plants.

Plant Replacement/Refund

Can I have a plant replaced using an existing planter?

If you have purchased a plant potted in one of our Lechuza self-watering planters, you can replace your plant using an existing planter. The same type or any other type of a plant that is available for this planter shape and color.

Replacement request form is at the bottom of our Replacement Policy.

Can I replace a plant I bought in nursery pot?

If your plant dies within first 3 days, we will replace it free of charge. 

After 3 days period, we don't offer any replacement discounts.

Replacement request form is at the bottom of our Replacement Policy.

Please include your order number.

Do you offer any guarantee?

Plants are living and perishable, and just like any living things require proper environment and care.

Our job is to choose the healthiest and best-looking plant(s) for you. Once a plant is delivered to you it is beyond our control, and we can not be responsible for a plant behavior.

There is no 100% guarantee that your plant will survive and thrive in your space. That is why we recommend to contact us at helpdesk@mycityplants.com as soon as you see any signs of distress so we can help with any issue at an early stage.

• If a potted plant in Lechuza planter dies within first 7 days, we will replace it free of charge. After 7 days period, we offer 30% off discount of an original price using an existing planter + delivery fee + sales tax (if in New York).
• If a plant in nursery pot dies within first 3 days, we will replace it free of charge. After 3 days period, we don't offer any replacement discounts.

Replacement request form is at the bottom of our Replacement Policy.

Please include pictures and order number.

What if my plants/planters arrived damaged?

If your plant(s) or planter(s) arrive damaged, we will replace it free of charge. Notify us within 24 hours via email helpdesk@mycityplants.com and we will send a replacement asap. Please include pictures and order number.

What is your cancelation/refund policy?

• If order is canceled by a customer prior a delivery date, a customer will get a full refund.
• If order is canceled on a day of delivery, a customer will get a full refund minus 20% re-stocking fee.

All other order cancellations are non refundable.

I received my plant but I do not like the way it looks in my apartment?

If you have changed your mind after receiving your order, no worries, you may return it.

Notify us within the first 48 hours via return request form, and we will come to pick it up.

Pick up fees + 20% re-stocking fee will apply to the refund amount of the returned order. Original delivery fees are non refundable.

*** Pickup and delivery fees vary depending on your location and amount of plants.

• After 48 hours period returns are not excepted.

Pots

How does the self-watering planter work?

We offer our plants potted in Lechuza planters. These planters have built in the sub-irrigation system and provide the self-watering feature.

Watch a short video and read our post about how to use this cool feature.

Note: We recommend to wait for min of 5 months before using the self-watering feature to provide enough time for roots to grow in order to reach the water reservoir. The built-in sub-irrigation system lowers the watering frequency even before this feature can be used.  

Still Have a Question?

Send us a message and we will get back to you ASAP. We are open Monday through Friday 8am to 4pm and check our mail 2-3 times a day.