How Not To Kill Your Houseplants
There are so many advantages to having indoor houseplants in your space including benefits to your wellbeing, adding colour and style to your home, regulating humidity levels and adding fresh oxygen to your surroundings. The new year is a fantastic time to think about how we refresh our indoor spaces, especially now things are looking a little bear without the Christmas decorations! So, if you’ve made 2024 your year to become a great plant parent, our team of houseplant experts have pulled together their top five ways on how to help you care for your plants to ensure you keep them looking as beautiful and healthy as the day you bought them!
Drainage is key
Keep your plants in pots that have drainage holes at the base. This is a great way to avoid over watering your plants. There are two ways you can water plants that have drainage holes.
1. Bottom watering. Place your plants in a shallow bowl of water and leave them for around 1-2 hours, allowing the plant to soak up the water it needs.
2. Water from the top. Water your plant as usual and you’ll see how any excess water escapes through the drainage holes at the bottom of your pot.
Once you’ve watered your plant you can keep it in a one of our trendy pot covers to bring style and colour to your indoor space.
Is your plant unhappy?
Are its leaves drooping or changing colour? Are the edges of its leaves dry and browning? Is your plant dropping leaves or have you noticed a significant change in its appearance? All of these issues can be a sign that your plant is unhappy. Watering habits are usually the main cause of most plant issues. Janice, one of our houseplant experts has three top ways you can tell if your plant is underwatered.
1. Stick your finger into the soil up to your first knuckle, is the soil dry or damp?
2. Lift your plant. Is it light or heavy?
3. Is the soil coming away from edges of your pot?
If the soil under the surface is dry, your plant feels light and the soil is coming away from the edges of your post then this is a good indicator that your plant needs more watering and is at risk of drying out.
Know your plant
All plants are different! Though plant care can be a doddle to some, it’s best to check the exact needs of your plant and guarantee you mimic their ideal living conditions to allow them to thrive! A simple way to please your plant is to mimic its natural habitat. For example, plants that originate from tropical locations may prefer humid conditions or plants found in the dessert are often drought tolerant and love bright light levels.
Pot luck
Don’t be tempted to repot your houseplant into a pot 4 or 5 times bigger than needed. It’s easy to think that a larger pot will breed a larger plant, but this isn’t always the case! Most houseplants enjoy a snug fit and prefer to have their roots somewhat constricted. It’s also important to know when to repot. Spring is a great time to repot as it’s a natural growing season but be cautious of repotting in winter when most plants are in a state of dormancy.
Squeaky Clean
Be sure to give your houseplants leaves a good wipe every now and then. Not only will this ensure your plant remains beautiful and dust free, it will also ensure your plant can photosynthesise – which is ultimately how it feeds itself! Don’t forget to be gentle, particularly if your plant has delicate leaves.
We’re rooting for you
We hope our top tips help your indoor jungle flourish! However, if you’re struggling with a specific issue or need some expert guidance be sure to send us a message or speak to one of our houseplant experts who are always on hand to offer top tips and knowledgeable advice.
