There are Bible teachers who say that Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 are two different accounts of creation.  Some even say that there is a long period of time between these chapters which allows for the standard evolutionary time frame. 

However, there is a much simpler explanation which fits better with the text.  Genesis 1 is a sequential, step-by-step account of creation.  Genesis 2 is a complementary summary account, which also gives additional details. 

Genesis 2:4-6  These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.  6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

The word “generations” in verse 4 could be translated “results” or “proceedings”, and that is the idea.  God is providing us with some more information which goes along with the creation account of chapter 1.

Verses 5 and 6 explain how the plants were initially watered.  There was no rain in Eden.  As a matter of fact, there was no rain until the flood of Noah in Genesis 7!  Rather, there was a “mist” that “went up … from the earth” which “watered the whole face of the ground”.  The Hebrew word is also translated “vapor”.  The idea I’m picturing is that of a fog which provided ample humidity for the plant life. 

The end of verse 5 states that “there was not a man to till the ground”.  Plants were made on Day 3, but man was not made until Day 6.  So there were a few days where there literally was not a man to cultivate the ground for the plants.  But perhaps there is another meaning.  Maybe this is also a reference to the fact that man had not yet received the command to “dress and keep” the garden (Gen. 2:15).  Or maybe God means that it was not necessary for man to do anything at that point.  Regardless, we can be assured that God had provided everything necessary for the plants to grow and flourish.