Plant Care: Tips for Thriving Indoor and Outdoor Plants
Did you know houseplants can clean up to 87% of air toxins in just one day? Taking care of these plants does more than just freshen your home’s air. It also feeds your need to nurture and lifts your mood. This guide is packed with tips to help your indoor and outdoor plants flourish, whether you’re a pro or just starting.
Key Takeaways
- Houseplants can significantly improve indoor air quality by removing toxins.
- Caring for plants provides a sense of nurturing and can improve your mental wellbeing.
- This guide offers comprehensive tips to help both indoor and outdoor plants flourish.
- Understanding the unique light, watering, and humidity requirements of your plants is crucial for their health.
- Proper temperature regulation and fertilisation are essential for optimal plant growth.
Understand Light Requirements
Plants need sunlight to grow well. It’s key to know their light needs. Putting a houseplant on a windowsill for lots of sun isn’t always best. Some plants can’t handle direct, strong light and may get damaged.
To find the best light for your plant, check the label or look online. Plants need bright, low, or indirect light. Bright light plants like Birds of Paradise and Fishtail Palms love direct sunlight. Low light plants, such as Lady Palm and Parlor Palm, prefer soft, gentle light. Indirect light plants, like Fiddle Leaf Fig and Monstera Deliciosa, do well with bright, filtered sunlight.
The direction of your windows affects the light your plants get. South-facing windows give the most light, while north-facing windows offer soft, even light. If there’s little natural light, think about using artificial grow lights to help your plants.
Watch for signs that your plants aren’t getting enough light. Look for yellow or falling leaves, long, thin stems, or leaves that are pale and dry. Move the plant or try different light sources to find the right amount of light for it.
Schedule Your Watering Routine
Keeping a regular watering schedule is key for your indoor and outdoor plants’ health. Check if your houseplant needs water by feeling the soil’s moisture. Stick your finger into the soil up to your first knuckle. If it feels dry, it’s time to water.
Another way to check is by lifting the plant. If it feels much lighter, the soil is dry and needs water. You could also use a moisture meter to make watering easier. Using rainwater is best as it lacks the minerals and chemicals in tap water.
How often you need to water depends on the plant type, soil, and environment. Generally, most plants need water every 5-10 days. Succulents, though, only need water every three or more weeks. For succulents, use the bottom-watering method. Add about ⅓ cup of water for a full-size plant and 1-2 tablespoons for a mini one.
Too much water can cause problems like yellow leaves and root rot. Not enough water can make leaves turn yellow and fall off. Watch your plants closely and adjust your watering as needed. With practice, you’ll find the right watering schedule for your plants.
Maintain Proper Humidity Levels
For your plants to flourish, it’s key to know their humidity needs. Plants like ferns, palms, and prayer plants love high humidity, over 60%. In dry winter, group similar plants to create a humid spot.
If your home’s air is too dry, think about getting a humidifier. Putting plants on trays filled with water can also increase humidity. For plants like Spanish moss, a terrarium or glass container keeps moisture in perfectly.
While plants do well in humidity, it’s important not to overdo it. Levels above 70% can be bad for humans. Aim for 50-60% humidity for your plants and your comfort. Use rainwater to mist your plants and place them in humid spots, like the bathroom, to keep humidity right.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE LEVOIT 3L TOP-FILL SMART CONTROL HUMIDIFIER FOR PLANTS ON AMAZON
Regulate Temperature
Keeping the right temperature is key for your plants’ health and growth, indoors or outdoors. Most house plants, vegetables, and flowers do best in a day temperature of 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep your plants away from radiators, air conditioning units, or forced-air vents. These can cause hot or cold drafts that harm your plants.
Stable temperatures are important. Sudden temperature changes from drafts can hurt your plants. To keep temperatures steady, use floor fans for better air flow. Floor fans are better at pulling air through the plant canopy, helping it grow well.
If it’s going to freeze, use stakes to keep coverings like plastic sheets or bed sheets from damaging your plants. Some plants like tomatoes, geraniums, peppers, impatiens, and begonias are very sensitive to cold. They might need extra protection.
Right temperature and stability help your plants grow well. Always check your plant’s temperature and adjust as needed. This ensures the best conditions for your plants.
Fertilise Wisely
Looking after your indoor and outdoor plants means using plant fertiliser carefully. Houseplants don’t need as much as outdoor ones, so be careful with supplements. Feed them from early spring to early fall, but remember, a little goes a long way.
When fertilising, mix any store-bought fertiliser with water first. Homemade options like nettle or comfrey tea are safer and better for the planet. Mix these with water at a ratio of 1:10 to 1:20.
Don’t fertilise if you’ve recently changed the soil. Fresh soil full of nutrients can feed your plants enough. By being careful with fertiliser, you can help your plants grow well without harming them.
Plant Care: Tips for Thriving Indoor and Outdoor Plants
Looking after plants indoors or outdoors needs a bit of care. A key step is to remove dead or dying leaves or branches. This lets fresh growth take over. If your houseplants grow too big, they might show roots on the soil or through drainage holes. It’s time to move them into a bigger pot then.
Decorative pots can make your indoor plants look great. Just put the plant pot into a bigger, nicer pot for a stylish look. Clean the leaves with a damp cloth or soft brush to keep them healthy. This removes dust and helps your plants get enough air and sunlight.
Remember, some houseplants can be harmful to pets. Always check if a plant is safe before bringing it home. With these tips, you’ll keep your indoor and outdoor plants happy and safe for everyone.
Welcome New Plants Gently
When you bring a new plant home, it’s key to let it settle in. The first few weeks are crucial for the plant to adjust. It will need a bit more care during this time.
Watch your new plant closely as it gets used to its new spot. Keep an eye on how much water and light it needs, and check its health. This way, you can tailor your care to what the plant needs, making sure it settles well.
It’s a good idea to keep a new plant separate from others for about two weeks first. This helps you check its health and stops pests or diseases from spreading. Keep an eye out for any leaves that droop or look stressed, and adjust things as needed during this time.
Every plant is different, so how long it takes to adjust can vary. With care and patience, your new plant will soon feel at home. Enjoy watching it settle in and become a lovely addition to your space.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE AIR PURIFYING EVERGREEN INDOOR HOUSE PLANTS BY THOMPSON & MORGAN ON AMAZON
Repot and Refresh Soil
Looking after your indoor and outdoor plants means giving them regular care. Repotting is a key part of this. Plants usually need a new pot every 12 to 18 months, based on how fast they grow. This helps them get fresh nutrients and enough room to flourish.
When you’re repotting, pick a pot that’s only 1 to 3 inches bigger than the old one. This gives the roots a bit more space to spread out. Watch for signs like roots poking out of the drainage holes, slow growth, or soil drying too fast to know when it’s time.
To repot your plants, carefully take them out of their old pot. Loosen the roots and swap the old soil for a fresh, quality potting mix. Don’t use garden soil as it might not drain well or give the right nutrients. After moving them, water well and wait before adding any fertiliser.
By repotting plants and changing the soil regularly, your plants will stay healthy and happy. Keep up with this important task, and your plants will reward you with beautiful growth.
Ensure Proper Drainage
If you often water your plants too much, making sure they drain well is key. You can use a planter with a drainage hole and a saucer. Or, put your plant in a grow pot inside a bigger planter. Adding lava rocks at the bottom of a planter also helps by creating spaces for water to escape.
Don’t let the soil get too wet, as this can cause root rot. It’s important to think about plant drainage and drainage holes.
Not having enough drainage can cause root rot because roots need oxygen. Good drainage stops excess water from gathering at the pot’s base. This protects roots from harmful bacteria, fungus, and rot.
Water that stays in the pot can drown plants, leading to decay if not fixed. To avoid this, use self-watering planters that draw water from a reservoir. But, these might not work for all plants like succulents or those outside.
For other plants, try using a cachepot, adding a drainage layer, or an internal shelf. These methods help with drainage in planters without holes.
Everyday Folk Lifestyle Magazine participates in the Amazon affiliate network. When you buy products through our links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we truly believe in and use ourselves.
