Houseplants and greenery warm up a room, making your home more inviting and sophisticated. Maintaining healthy houseplants doesn’t have to be difficult, but you do need to take the time to take care of them. Although different plants require different care, there are some general tips that you can use if you don’t know exactly what type of plant you have.
Watering Your Plants
Overwatering is actually one of the most common reasons houseplants don’t flourish. During the cooler months, your indoor plants may not be as active as they are during the spring and summer. Cacti and succulents may not need watering more than once a month, but most plants only require a once a week watering. The soil should be nearly dry before you water. If your plant isn’t thriving, Google it. Find out exactly what it needs and how much water you should be giving it.
Sunlight and Shade
Some plants, like ferns, prefer shade while others like direct sunlight. Even if they are close to a window in the summer, if you are energy conscious and keep your drapes closed, they may not be getting enough sunlight. When the leaves yellow, this indicates that your houseplant needs more light. Brown leaves are a sign of overwatering or too much sun. The light should be bright enough to read a book to provide enough sunlight for your plant.
Humid or Arid Conditions
The orchid or bromeliad that grows well in humid conditions does not appreciate air conditioning – you need to increase the humidity around them to encourage growth. Misting the plant with water, much like dew, will accomplish this, but make sure you do it in the morning so that the leaves can dry off before night. Additionally, watch that your plants aren’t in a draft in the winter. Maintain their environment so that they stay healthy.
Prune Your Plants
About once a month, snip off the brown or damaged leaves and check for insects. Remove dying flowers to encourage more blooms. Dust the leaves so that the dirt doesn’t discourage the plants from growing. If the plant is facing the sun, turn it one-quarter of a turn so that all the leaves flourish in the natural light. They prefer a permanent home, so don’t move them around each week. When you change pots, make sure that your plant has lots of drainage; holes in the bottom of the pot are not enough. Place some gravel in the bottom of the container to help with drainage. The best time to replant a houseplant is generally the spring, but you can also do this over the winter before the growing season begins.