la plaga
La plaga is a pest problem, often an outbreak of insects or disease that harms plants.
Common Phrases
- una plaga de pulgones — an aphid infestation
- combatir la plaga — to fight the pest problem
Example
La plaga dano varias hojas en dos dias.
The pest problem damaged several leaves in two days.
Common Mistake
Do not mix gender: la plaga, not el plaga.
la sombra
La sombra means shade, the cooler or darker area away from direct sun.
Common Phrases
- buscar sombra — to look for shade
- a la sombra — in the shade
Example
Puse la planta a la sombra para que no se queme.
I put the plant in the shade so it does not burn.
Common Mistake
Do not confuse it with a person shadow: la sombra is fine, but avoid the literal English idea in phrases like mi sombra me sigue unless you really mean a shadow.
el agua
El agua means water; it uses el in the singular even though it is feminine in many agreements.
Common Phrases
- regar con agua — to water with water
- cambiar el agua — to change the water
Example
El agua estaba fria en la regadera.
The water was cold in the watering can.
Common Mistake
Say el agua (singular), but in plural use las aguas; do not say la agua.
el vivero
El vivero is a plant nursery, a place where plants are grown and sold, and where you can get care advice.
Common Phrases
- ir al vivero — to go to the plant nursery
- en el vivero — at the plant nursery
Example
En el vivero me recomendaron una maceta mas grande.
At the plant nursery they recommended a bigger pot to me.
Common Mistake
Do not confuse it with a greenhouse: el vivero is a nursery/shop, while el invernadero is a greenhouse.
el jardin
El jardin is a garden, the outdoor (or planned) area with plants.
Common Phrases
- trabajar en el jardin — to work in the garden
- el jardin botanico — the botanical garden
Example
El jardin parecia tranquilo despues de la lluvia.
The garden seemed calm after the rain.
Common Mistake
Remember the accent in writing: jardin is often written as jardin in plain text, but the correct spelling is jardin; avoid mixing it with jardinera, which can mean a planter box or a gardener (in some regions).
la tierra
La tierra means soil or earth; in gardening it usually refers to the soil you plant in.
Common Phrases
- tierra seca — dry soil
- cambiar la tierra — to change the soil
Example
Cambie la tierra porque olia mal.
I changed the soil because it smelled bad.
Common Mistake
Do not confuse planet Earth with soil: la tierra can be both, so use context; avoid overly literal translations like la tierra del planeta when you just mean soil.
la maceta
La maceta is a flowerpot or plant pot, the container a plant grows in.
Common Phrases
- una maceta de barro — a clay pot
- cambiar de maceta — to repot (change pots)
Example
La maceta era pequena para las raices.
The pot was small for the roots.
Common Mistake
Do not say el maceta; it is la maceta.
el brote
El brote is a sprout or new shoot, the fresh growth that appears when conditions improve.
Common Phrases
- un brote nuevo — a new sprout
- salir el brote — for the sprout to come out
Example
El brote aparecio en una semana.
The sprout appeared in a week.
Common Mistake
Do not confuse it with an outbreak: un brote can also mean an outbreak (of illness), so in plant care make it clear with context like brote nuevo.