Why Your Plant Leaves Are Turning Brown at the Tips (And How to Stop It)
Brown leaf tips are one of the most common houseplant symptoms - and one of the most misdiagnosed. Here are the five…
The Journal
All Guides
Every guide on LeafyStart, in one place. 116 beginner-friendly articles for the windowsill, balcony, and first patch of soil. Filter by topic, or scroll the lot.
Why Your Seedlings Are Tall and Leggy (And How to Fix Them)
Pale, stretched-out seedlings reaching for the window are not a mystery. Here is exactly what went wrong and how to rescue them.
Overwatering vs Underwatering: How to Tell the Difference (Because the Symptoms Look Similar)
Both make leaves droop. Both make them yellow. Here is how to read the actual signs and fix the right problem.
15 Beginner Gardening Mistakes (and Exactly How to Fix Them)
A complete troubleshooting checklist for the small, common mistakes that quietly kill more beginner plants than anything else - and the simple…
How to Grow Lettuce in Containers: The Easiest Fresh Salad of Your Life
Lettuce is fast, productive, and one of the few crops that genuinely tastes better than the supermarket version. Here is how to…
How to Care for a Succulent (Without Killing It Like Everybody Else Does)
Succulents have a reputation for being easy. They are - until you water them like a houseplant. Here is how to actually…
How to Grow Mint (and Stop It Taking Over Everything)
Mint is the most beginner-proof herb on earth. Also the most invasive. Here is how to grow it well, and contain it…
How to Repot a Plant Without Killing It: A Step-by-Step Guide
Repotting is one of the most stress-inducing tasks for new gardeners. Here is the step-by-step that makes it boringly simple.
How to Grow Basil at Home: A Beginner’s Guide (From a Person Who Killed Three Pots First)
A no-fluff walkthrough on growing basil from a windowsill or balcony - covering the four mistakes that ruin most beginner basil and…
Do Pots Need Drainage Holes? (Yes – and Here Is How to Fix the Pretty Ones That Don’t)
Drainage holes are the single most important feature of any pot. Here is why - and what to do when the perfect…
What Size Pot Does Your Plant Need? A Simple, Plant-by-Plant Guide
Too small and the roots strangle. Too big and the roots drown. Here is how to pick the right pot for whatever…
The 8 Most Common Repotting Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Repotting kills more plants than people realize. Here are the eight mistakes that turn a routine task into a setback.