Can you feel it? The light is hitting differently. The days are stretching out. Meteorological Spring officially begins on March 1st, which means we are in the final week of winter hibernation.
Your plants can feel it, too. They are waking up. They are stretching their roots. They are demanding more water.
If you wait until it’s 70°F outside to start thinking about your garden, you are already behind. The "Jungle Aesthetic" isn't built in May; it’s built in the quiet, prep-heavy weeks of late February. This is the "Pre-Season."
It’s time for The March Manifesto. Here is your 4-step checklist to ensure your indoor garden explodes with growth next month.
1. The "Last Call" for Slow Growers
The Plant: Bird of Paradise & Cacti The Urgency: High.
If you have been procrastinating on starting your Bird of Paradise or Cactus seeds, this is your biological deadline.
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Bird of Paradise: Takes 4–8 weeks to sprout. If you plant now, you’ll see green by April. If you wait, you’ll be staring at dirt until June.
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Cacti: These grow glacially slow at first. They need to establish their tiny root systems before the summer heat hits. Get them in the humidity dome (or bag, our favorite germination hack) this week, and you can ignore them while you do your spring cleaning.
2. The Great Soil Audit (Repotting Prep)
The Plant: Monstera & Established Houseplants The Activity: Inspection.
Spring is a great time for a soil reboot! Over time, the soil in our planters becomes compacted, hydrophobic (repels water), and depleted of nutrients. Before the spring growth spurt hits, you need to audit your pots.
The "Root Bound" Check: Go to your Monstera or other large tropicals. Gently lift the nursery pot. Are white roots circling the bottom or poking out of the drainage holes?
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No? Then consider adding some Soil Revitalizer to the mix to give the soil the refresh it needs.
3. The "Pest Patrol" (Winter Damage Control)
The Enemy: Spider Mites & Fungus Gnats. The Context: Dry February air is a playground for pests.
Spider mites love low humidity. They are microscopic vampires that suck the life out of your tropicals.
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The Test: Take a white sheet of paper. Shake a leaf over it. If you see tiny black/red specks moving, you have mites.
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The Fix Part 1: A thorough shower. Take your plants into the bathroom and gently hose down the leaves (undersides too!). This physically knocks off the pests and boosts humidity.
- The Fix Part 2: To really battle the infestation, give your plants a spray down with a natural pest spray like this one!
4. The "Fast Win" (For Dopamine)
The Plant: Polka Dot Plant & Coleus The Vibe: Instant Gratification.
Auditing soil and checking for bugs is boring. You need a win to keep your excitement high.
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The Solution: Plant a batch of Polka Dot or Coleus seeds this week.
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Why? They sprout in 7–10 days. While your Bird of Paradise is taking its sweet time, these colorful sprinters will pop up and give you that "I am a gardening god" feeling that fuels you for the rest of the season.
Deep Dive: The Science of "Waking Up"
Why does light matter so much right now? It’s not just about intensity; it’s about duration (photoperiod).
Plants measure the length of the night. As nights get shorter in late Feb, a hormonal shift occurs in the plant (specifically with phytochrome pigments). This signals the plant to switch from "Root Growth Mode" (Survival) to "Leaf Growth Mode" (Expansion).
What this means for you:
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Water More: The plant is drinking again.
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Clean the Leaves: Dust blocks light. The plant is hungry for photons. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to maximize photosynthesis. To give your foliage an extra boost, use this Leaf Wellness Spray.
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Rotate: The sun angle is shifting. Rotate your pots 90 degrees every time you water to ensure even growth, otherwise, your Monstera will grow permanently sideways toward the window.
Conclusion: Ready, Set, Grow.
The prep work you do this week is the difference between a garden that survives summer and a garden that thrives. Check your roots, wipe your leaves, and get those last winter seeds in the soil.
March is coming. Let's be ready.
Stock up for Spring: Shop the full All Seeds Collection.
