Plant Witchcraft: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing
I would like to start this post out by saying I am in no way a professional and have only been studying/practicing witchcraft for about a year. I just know a lot about plants and the ability to sense the health/needs of a plant comes very naturally to me (I will make a post about how to do this soon!)
EASIEST PLANTS TO GROW IN WITCHCRAFT~
IN ORDER FROM EASIEST TO HARDEST
• Chives- can grow in limited light and space, very easily propagate (regrow)
• Mint- very hardy, requires shade and some light, start from seeds
• Cilantro- fast growing, can be planted indoors, does not transplant easily, Is NOT perpetual (dies after it flowers, wilts quickly, pretty much dead after one growing season. Info from @rwt-mystic-corner)
• Basil- can grow in small spaces, require sun, start from seeds
• Parsley- easy to grow, low maintenance and limited lights, though hard to germinate
• Oregano (wild marjoram)- very hardy, easy to grow in winter, requires full sun
• Sage- large, hardy, start from cuttings, requires full sun
• Thyme- requires full sun, hardy, easy to propagate from seeds or cuttings
• Aloe Vera- easy to overwater, low maintenance, slow growing, little water, full sun (they are a desert plant)
• Chamomile- low maintenance, little water, full sun with some shade, easy to overwater
• Dill- start as seeds, small, easy to grow indoors, hard to overwater, requires full sun
• Rosemary- though very large, easy to grow indoors and easy to overwater
• Bay laurel- requires well-draining soil, full sun, water often, grows large, slow growing
• Lavender- hard to grow indoors, requires little water, best in dry conditions, start from seeds
• Roses- requires full sun, seasonal, grows only outside, requires fertilizer, best grown from transplants
INDOOR VS. OUTDOOR~
As a green witch with a strong yearning to be at one with nature, I prefer to grow my plants outside. I have a small garden (about 4’ by 4’ and 10” deep) that I have several plants in, mostly succulents. Though my garden is small, it’s very peaceful for me to have my own little space that I can survey all at once. I’ve never grown a large garden and so can’t say if it is better/worse. If you are going to plant outside but have little space to do so, a little garden is a simple solution. This also allows your plants to get more sun, fresh air and space to grow.
Winds, heavy rain or a hot/cold front can easily kill off more delicate herbs and plants. Animals like birds, cats and mice might be attracted to outdoor gardens, and though these animals are delightful to be around, they rarely leave your garden at peace. Planting outdoors is all-in-all a less controlled environment and, though it is more natural, can be tough with little experience.
If you live in an apartment or can’t plant outdoors, an indoor garden is ideal for you. Plants used in witchcraft like herbs and flowers can be easily grown indoors provided they have enough light and proper care. Having plants inside can really help create a safe space and keeps them from the harm of rain and unwanted animals or bugs. It also gives you easy surveillance of your plants.
Plants can easily die if they are strangled by too much care, and beginner gardeners can be over-bearing. The biggest problem with growing indoors is that most plants require 4-6 hours of full sunlight a day and windows are just unable to provide this amount of light. Also, keeping plants in small pots tends to strangle new growth, and limits a plants ability to grow very large. While your plants might be kept warm in the winter, it’s less worth watching large plants struggle indoors.
Indoor planting is good for beginners or those with little outside space or building ability, but don’t be too over-bearing and make sure they get enough light and fresh air. Outside gardening is better if your plants are healthy and hardy and should be left to more experienced gardeners with enough space to tackle the project.
HOW TO PLANT ANYTHING~
IF YOU DON’T HAVE A “GREEN THUMB”
Even though I consider myself a green witch, I also struggled with this in the beginning. Before I really learned to read the health of my plants, they would die without me even knowing it. I thought, “I can’t even keep a cactus alive!” Well, cacti are actually quite hard to care for if you don’t know what to look for. In fact, everything is. Plants are hard to care for if you don’t know what to look for. So first, do your research. Plants have two basic needs: food and water.
Research how this plant grows in the wild. If it grows in the desert, it probably needs a lot of sun and little water. If it grows on the rainforest floor, it needs to be consistently moist and doesn’t need much light. It is important to replicate plants’ natural conditions to keep them healthy. Research is everything.
Plants need sun, and most need lots of it. Plants have to have sun or they can’t produce enough “food” for themselves and they starve. 4-6 hours of good window sun is enough for most plants. If a plant is growing in an odd direction, growing too tall or dropping leaves at the bottom while wilting, it is probably not getting enough sun. Slide it towards a window or put it outside on sunny days.
On that note, plants need water. This is by far the biggest thing “black-thumb” people struggle with! If you buy the wrong kind of soil, it can drown a plant even if you never water it. If you over-water in the winter, your plant may freeze. Again, think about the plant in the wild. A good tip is to see how thick the leaves are! A cactus is essentially one big leaf, and they are very thick and round, therefore they need very little water because they store it in their “leaf.” A big tree with many leaves or a stalky plant needs a lot of water because it can’t retain any. If a plant is yellowing, mushy or dropping leaves while others remain plump, it is being overwatered. Do not water it again until all the soil feels bone-dry. If it is being under-watered, a plant will be wilted, brown or yellow and the soil will be very dry.
PLANT IDENTIFICATION~
WHAT IF I CAN’T I.D. MY PLANT?
A lot of people struggle with this and, if you didn’t buy your plant as a baby from a store that includes labels, then you might not know what your plant even is! Stores like Home Depot, most plant nurseries and private growers label their plants and how to care for them. But if you find yourself not knowing what your plant is, here are some helpful tips.
I’ll divide this plant identification into 2 categories: simple and advanced.
(simple identification tools such as types of leaves, plant anatomy, and easy to use interactive identification)
(requires knowledge of dichotomous keys, latin names and meanings, and some complex plant anatomy. These are probably more accurate.)
How to Google your Plant-
Of course, Google is always your best friend! If you can determine the type of leaf, flower, color or species from the easy-to-use guides, you can just google it!
WHERE TO GET HERBS IF YOU CAN’T PLANT THEM~
CONVENIENCE OF STORE-BOUGHT HERBS
Most local supermarkets sell herbs with other spices, in small containers, either ground or whole. While these herbs have already been preserved and possibly seasoned, it is a quick, easy and time/money-saving option for any witch. There is a certain magickal property to growing your own herbs, but it is by no means necessary! I don’t grow any herbs at all; I buy them all from the store. Preparing your own herbs goes much farther than just being able to grow them, and knowing it has been done right by a professional is certainly magickal. They work just fine and are often more enjoyable to smell or eat because they have been grown professionally.
HELPFUL GARDENING TIPS~
I hope this had been of some help to you! If any links are broken or you would like me to add/edit something, just shoot me a message. Happy growing!
