Taking care of house plants is both challenging and rewarding at the same time. The former can be attributed to the fact that you have to consider various aspects such as lighting and water. Nevertheless, you will feel that your efforts are all worth it as soon as you see your house plants thriving. To ensure the latter, this article lists down some of the most useful tips that you need to keep in mind when it comes to properly taking care of your houseplants.
Be selective of the plants viable for you to grow.
One of the primary things that you need to do to properly take care of your houseplants is to be selective of the plants that you can grow based on numerous factors. The plant and gardening enthusiasts behind Urban Organic Yield suggest that you first need to consider the light in your space. For instance, you may want to look into the direction that your windows are facing because more often than not, south-facing windows provide bright light while north-facing ones only give low light. As much as possible, you would not want to overexpose or underexpose your houseplants to light.
Raise the humidity level of your home.
Another thing that you can do to properly take care of your houseplants is to raise the humidity level of your home. The reason behind this is that most ferns, orchids, or tropical plants, which are the usual houseplants, thrive in high humidity. In this case, if you deem that a humidifier provides various benefits for humans, then it follows that it can do the same for your houseplants. The key is in keeping the environment of your home as stable as possible because excessive changes in the surroundings of your home can stress your plants.
Skip on the fertilizer.
It is also a good idea to skip on the fertilizer for your houseplants. After all, too much fertilizer can do more harm than good to your houseplants. The truth is houseplants don’t need fertilizer as much as outdoor plants do. Nevertheless, in case your houseplant is already a year old, then you can consider giving it an all-purpose fertilizer for the first time. But if you have just changed its soil, then applying some fertilizer won’t be necessary because fresh soil is already jam-packed with nutrients for your plant.
Be brave in re-potting.
When you bring a new plant home, the first thing that you need to do is to re-pot it. As much as possible, you have to go for a pot that is a couple of inches larger than the pot it came with. For instance, a 6-inch plant should be repotted in an 8-inch container to provide it with some room to grow. You should also take the time to quarantine a new plant you bring home for a couple of days before you mix it with other houseplants.
Familiarize yourself with signs of trouble.
Make sure to familiarize yourself with any early signs of trouble for you to be able to address these issues promptly. In this way, you will be able to properly take care of your houseplants. Some of the issues that you need to be keen on are rotting roots as well as edges that are turning black. In terms of the former, if the roots at the base are climbing out of the pot, then this is a sign that you are overwatering your houseplant. On the other hand, edges turning black can be an indication that a fungus is feasting on your houseplant.
Show lots of TLC.
Finally, make sure to shower your houseplants with lots and lots of tender, loving care (TLC). Like with your friends, you and your plant may need to adjust to each other’s company which is why when you are starting, you need to take the time to show extra care and attention to it. This means that you have to be observant of your plant, watching out for signs of whether you are watering it sufficiently or otherwise.
To be able to properly take care of your houseplants, you need to be selective of the plants that you can grow based on your space. There is also the option for you to raise the humidity level of your home or skip on the fertilizer. Be brave in re-potting but make sure to familiarize yourself with any early signs of trouble. Finally, make sure to shower your houseplants with lots of tender, loving care because all these will prove in the end that all your efforts are worth it in keeping your houseplants healthy and thriving.
