keeping your houseplants healthy
If you are a new plant parent, all the care that keeps your houseplants happy may feel a little overwhelmed at first. However, most of your plants do not require constant attention to stay healthy. Aside from remembering to water, there are plenty of simple maintenance houseplants that only need a little maintenance a few times each year. When you need pruning or pruning some of the leaves that are starting to turn yellow, these tips will give you the knowledge you need to maintain your plants with confidence.
1. Water your houseplants
All houseplants have slightly different irrigation requirements, depending on how they have grown and the changes in plant growth over the seasons. It is better to water on a regular basis than on a specific calendar table. Generally, when 1/2 to 1 inch of soil feels dry, water the plants growing in a container of suitable size in well-drained soil. Cactus and succulent plants need less water; Flowering plants usually require a little more. Excessive watering is one of the most common causes of death in houseplants. If you do not know how much water to pour, it is better to make a mistake on the dry side than to give your plants too much moisture.
2. Fertilize houseplants from time to time
As with irrigation, there is no easy rule for how much fertilizer to apply: it depends on the growth rate of the plant and the age and time of year. Most houseplants enhance growth in spring and summer, so this is the best time to fertilize them. During the short days of autumn and winter, most houseplants do not need much fertilizer. Follow the label instructions to find out how much plant food to use.
As with over-watering, it is important to avoid over-fertilizing your houseplants. Excess fertilizer burns their roots and inhibits their growth. For flowering varieties, use fertilizer in which the three numbers on the label (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, respectively) are relatively equal. If the nitrogen content is high, the plant can grow a lot of leaves, but few flowers.
3. Spread houseplants when needed
Many types of houseplants benefit from being propagated by a single division or another method. This helps to rejuvenate the excess plant and encourage new growth. In addition, it is a cheap way to get more plants from the plants you already have.
Some houseplants, such as bromeliads, send new shoots or offsets to the base of the plant, which you can divide and place in new pots. Climbing houseplants such as Philodendron and Pothos form new roots where their stems interact with the soil, so they are good candidates for starting new plants from cuttings. You can root fresh African violets from a leaf; Soak the tip of the stem in a little water for two weeks.
Other houseplants, such as spider mites and strawberry picnic, eventually reproduce by sending runners with new plants. These are very easy to differentiate to start new plants; Usually, you need to soak the roots of the plants in water for a few days and then you can plant them in the soil.
4. Replace overgrown houseplants
Not sure if you want to replant your houseplants? Check the root settings. If the roots circle around the inside of the container, it is time to replant the plant. If the plant is larger than its pot, you can transplant it into a slightly larger container. If you want to keep it in the same pot, cut some roots with a sharp knife and replant them in the container using fresh potting soil.
When replanting your houseplant, it is a good time to separate the ones with multiple stems to create new plants. Spring and summer are the best seasons to replant your houseplants.
5. Remove dust from plants
Almost all houseplants look good with regular cleaning. Dust collects on the leaves, so wash them with lukewarm water at room temperature or spray them with a soft brush if the plants have hairy leaves (which can catch moisture and cause disease). For plants with smooth leaves, a cloth can be used to gently wipe off the dust that accumulates on the leaves. This will not only improve the appearance of your plant but also help it absorb more light
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