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The amount of maintenance required to keep your houseplants happy can initially seem a little intimidating if you're a new plant parent. For the most part, though, your plants won't require ongoing care to be healthy.
You could think you don't have a green thumb or aren't suited for gardening if you've ever had an indoor plant that rapidly withered and wilted. That's not the case, though! The truth is that caring for plants doesn't have to be difficult for anyone.
Many low-maintenance houseplants require little attention, only sometimes throughout the year, aside from remembering to water them. These instructions will equip you with the knowledge you need to confidently take care of your plants when it comes time to prune or cut off a few yellowing leaves and more.
Indoor Planting Tips To Know
Watering
The majority of houseplants prefer to be slightly dry rather than completely wet, so you should generally be more concerned about over-watering than underwatering. Ideally, you should water your plants just enough to keep the soil damp but not soggy—succulents are a prominent exception to this rule since they need to be periodically soaked.
Water should be gradually added to the potting soil until it begins to seep out of the pot's bottom drainage holes. The majority of plants only require one or two weekly waterings and even less in the winter.
Ventilation, Humidity, And Temperature
The majority of houseplants prefer daytime temperatures of 65 to 75°F and nighttime temperatures of roughly 10°F. Generally, houseplants need a humidity level that is comparable to what they would grow in naturally. They need to be sprayed with a spray bottle on a regular basis.
Enough airflow is essential for healthy plants because condensation that remains on leaves for an extended period can be detrimental to other houseplants. You can prevent dust buildup on leaves and evaporate excess moisture from your houseplants by placing a fan close by to circulate air.
Light
Make sure the proper quantity of light reaches your houseplants. For photosynthesis to occur, all plants need light energy, but the amount of light needed varies depending on the type of houseplant. Apart from desert cacti and other succulents, the majority of houseplants require indirect light instead of direct light.
Indirect light-loving houseplants do best close to windows that face west or, if they need bright light but not direct sunlight, a few feet away from windows that face south. Plants such as the ZZ plant, snake plant, pothos, and philodendron can grow in windows facing north and east, and they also thrive indoors in particularly shady, low-light environments.
Artificial light is necessary for certain houseplants to thrive indoors, particularly in the winter and in areas with shorter daylight hours. Normal household light bulbs are not effective in providing light to houseplants, so you'll need to purchase fluorescent or LED grow lights, which have full-spectrum bulbs that provide a balance of cool and warm light to mimic the natural solar spectrum.
Soil
Use the right potting soil. A high-quality potting soil will help plant roots grow by providing the ideal balance of nutrition, aeration, and water absorption. Potting soil mixes typically include peat moss, shredded pine bark, perlite, and vermiculite. Garden centres sell generic potting soils, but whenever possible, you should choose a potting soil specific to your houseplant. For example, orchids and bromeliads require fast-draining soil, but succulents grow best in porous, sandy soils.
Pots
When choosing a pot, make sure to consider its material, size, and drainage capability. Use a pot that's proportional to your plant's current size—not more than a few inches wider in diameter than your plant's root mass. Once the plant outgrows its home, you can transplant it into a larger pot. If you instead start a plant in a larger pot than necessary, its roots won't be able to absorb moisture fast enough as it drains through the soil.
Plastic pots are lightweight, making them ideal for use in hanging baskets or on wall shelves. Terra cotta pots are heavier, and their porous nature means they don't hold water as well as plastic pots. Make sure your pot has a drainage hole at the bottom.
Fertilisers
To achieve sustained, healthy indoor plant growth, regularly replenish the nutrients in the potting soil. In general, fertilise your houseplants once a month when they're growing or flowering.
During the winter months, when plants typically stay stagnant, it's acceptable to decrease or pause your fertiliser regimen. Remember that these are general standards, and certain plants may require their unique fertilisation schedule or specific fertiliser kind.
Repotting
A common misconception is that "repotting" does not necessarily mean putting your plant in a new planter but rather changing out your plant's soil with fresh potting mix to provide new nutrients. Plants typically need to be repotted every 12 to 18 months, depending on how actively they are growing. If your plant has outgrown its current planter, you can also use this as a time to size up.
Choose a planter that is only 1 to 3 inches larger than its current container. The idea is that your plant is not swimming in soil, which may lead you to overwater, but has a little extra space to grow.
Drainage
If you tend to have a heavy hand when watering your plants, keep drainage in mind. You can opt for a planter with a drainage hole and saucer, keep your plant in a grow pot nestled inside a planter, or add lava rocks to the bottom of a planter without a hole. Do what works best for you! Don't be afraid to try different methods for different plants.
No matter what plants you have in your collection, they all have similar basic needs. There's no such thing as a green thumb or a black thumb; it's more about how much you pay attention to your plant.
