为什么我的植物看起来很悲伤?

Why Does My Plant Look Sad?

为什么我的植物看起来很悲伤?

Look, we've all been there. You fall in love with a plant at the store. You bring it home. You find a cute spot for it on your bookshelf. Then, after a few weeks, that lush, beautiful plant you picked out is ... suddenly on its last leaf.

听着，我们都有过这样的经历。你爱上了商店里的一株植物。你把它带回家。你在书架上找了个可爱的地方放它。然后，过了几个星期，你挑的那棵茂盛美丽的植物就……突然只剩最后一篇叶子。

Here are six tips to help your plant live its best life:

以下是帮助你的植物度过最佳生活的6个贴士:

1. Adjust the light

调整光线

The first thing you need to do is figure out the type of lighting you have.

你需要做的第一件事是弄清楚你的灯光类型。

Intensity

强度

Different light intensities are described as low, medium and bright. This can depend on a bunch of different factors, including the time of year and the direction your windows face. (In the US, south-facing windows will have the strongest light, while north-facing windows will get the weakest.)

有低、中等和明亮不同的光强度。这取决于很多不同的因素，包括一年中的时间和窗户朝向。(在美国，朝南的窗户光线最强，而朝北的窗户光线最弱。)

Direct vs. indirect light

直接光与间接光

If there's a straight line from the sun to your plant, that's direct light. Indirect light is diffused by something such as clouds, curtains or trees outside your window. Plants such as succulents and cactuses will appreciate some direct light, but be careful about burning the leaves on more tropical types.

如果从太阳到植物有一条直线，那就是直射光。间接光线被云、窗帘或窗外的树等物体扩散。多肉植物和仙人掌等植物喜欢阳光直射，但在热带地区的植物要注意不要燃烧叶子。

2. Choose the soil and the pot

选择土壤和花盆

You'll also need to choose the proper pot and soil mix for your specific plant.

你还需要为你的特定植物选择合适的花盆和土壤混合物。

It starts with soil

首先是土壤

"Plants need a balance of water, air and nutrients in order to do their best," says Kirsten Conrad, an agriculture natural resource agent with the Virginia Cooperative Extension. "A good soil mix is going to have pores that maintain good spaces for air to get into." Most ready-made soil mixes at the store are just fine.

“植物需要平衡水、空气和营养才能发挥最大的作用，”弗吉尼亚合作推广署的农业自然资源代理人柯尔斯顿·康拉德说。“良好的混合土壤会有气孔，为空气进入提供良好的空间。”商店里大多数现成的混合土壤都很好。

Picking a pot

选择一个花盆

The right pot can also help with drainage. When you bring a new plant home, give it at least a month to settle in before you repot it. When it is time for a new container, make sure it has a drainage hole in the bottom.

合适的花盆也可以帮助排水。当你把一株新植物带回家时，至少要把它放置一个月，然后再换盆。当需要一个新的容器时，确保它的底部有一个排水孔。

3. Ditch that strict watering schedule

放弃严格的浇水计划

Overwatering is one of the most common ways people kill their houseplants. So, how do you know when to give it a drink?

过度浇水是人们杀死室内植物最常见的方式之一。那么，你怎么知道什么时候该给它浇水呢?

One of the simplest ways is the finger test. Stick your index finger (or a wooden chopstick) a couple inches into the soil and feel if it's still moist. Different houseplants have different needs, but a general guideline is to water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. You could also buy a moisture meter online or at a local garden center.

最简单的方法之一是手指测试。把你的食指(或木头筷子)伸进土里几英寸，摸摸它是否还潮湿。不同的室内植物有不同的需求，但一般的指导原则是在顶部2英寸的土壤干燥时浇水。你也可以在网上或当地的园艺中心购买湿度计。

4. Give your plant a name

给你的植物起个名字

It doesn't have to be super original, The point is to feel attached to your plant.

不一定非得是超级原创的。关键是要感受到你对植物的依恋。

You may also notice all that time with your plants — watering, trimming, dusting off their leaves — can feel pretty nice for you, too.

你可能也会注意到，花在植物上的所有时间——浇水、修剪、掸掉叶子——对你来说也很美好。

5. Be a proactive plant parent

做一个积极主动的植物父母

The more you look at your plants, the faster you'll catch any issues.

你对你的植物看得越多，你就会越快地发现问题。

There are a few common pests to watch out for. Spider mites are these tiny arachnids that leave thin webbing on the undersides of leaves. Mealybugs are white, cottony-looking insects. You may also run into scale, thrips or aphids — all of which feed on your plant and can do serious damage if left unchecked.

有一些常见的害虫需要注意。蜘蛛螨是一种微小的蛛形纲动物，能在叶子的底部留下很薄的蹼状物。粉蚧是一种白色的、棉状的昆虫。你也可能遇到鳞片、牧草蓟马或蚜虫——所有这些都以你的植物为食，如果不加以控制，会造成严重的损害。

6. No one has a green thumb
没有人是园艺高手

One last bit of advice: There is no such thing as a green thumb. Taking care of plants isn't some innate talent. It's a skill you learn.

最后一点建议:没有什么是园艺高手。照顾植物并不是天生的才能。这是你需要学习的技能。

"People who consider themselves having green thumbs are people who understand the work that needs to be done to take care of a plant," Carter says.

卡特说:“那些认为自己是园艺高手的人，是懂得照料一株植物需要做哪些工作的人。”