5 Tips For Looking After Indoor Plants

Posted on July 1, 2020

Household plants are the perfect way to brighten up any room, adding pops of colour and natural light to dark corners and dim hallways. Some people find looking after indoor plants difficult, which is why we’ve put together our top five tips to help make the experience easy for you.

Light

Everyone knows plants need sunlight in order to thrive. However, for household plants that really go the extra mile, you’ll need to think more carefully about where to place your plant rather than just in front of a window. Windows that face the south are going to get more sun than those facing the north. With east or west-facing windows, the amount of sun will vary depending on the time of day. By turning your plant 180 degrees every couple of days, you’ll find it grows evenly, since plants tend to grow towards the light.

Water

Though water is one of the most important aspects to keeping indoor plants alive, overwatering is the most common reason as to why they can die. Some plants like to have continuously moist soil, though most prefer it when the soil is left to dry out in between feedings. This is all dependant on the plant, so do your research first! If you keep a saucer beneath your plants in order to catch excess water, try to dispose of it after around 30 minutes to an hour. It’s not good for plants to be sitting in water for long periods of time.

Dehydration

Though overwatering plants can be detrimental to their health, looking out for signs of dehydration is also vital to ensure they are not being starved. Plants that are wilting or have soil pulling away from the edge of the pot are likely to be severely distressed, meaning the roots may be damaged. Look out for translucent, slow growing leaves, premature dropping and brown or yellow curled leaf edges. These signs are able to help you detect a dehydration issue within your houseplant.

Repotting

How often do you re-pot your plants? Even though your plant may seem to be healthy and growing, there are multiple signs to look out for that indicate your plant is ready for re-potting. Most houseplants begin growing in the spring, which is a great time to consider moving your plant over to a new pot. If your plant is starting to grow new leaves which are much smaller compared to older ones, or if the soil is drying out quicker than usual, re-potting is a good idea for the health of your plant.

Plant Feed

Plant food is extremely important to keep your indoor plant healthy. Though it’s not essential, the plant will slowly begin to shrink and be prone to diseases. Feeding should be conducted when the plant begins to grow, however if you have just moved your plant into a new pot, the soil will have its own nutrients and you won’t need to feed it for a few months. Most plants benefit from feeding once every two-four weeks, though it’s important not to overfeed as this can also cause wilting and twisted leaves. Slow release fertiliser, pellets and sticks or liquid feeds are ideal products you can use in order to give your plant the nutrients it needs.

Here at Ruxley Manor we have an entire department dedicated to indoor plants and how to keep them healthy. Our expert staff can offer fantastic advice on caring for your plants, whether they need some extra TLC or you’re unsure on the best place to keep them. For more information, visit us in the store today or get in touch via our contact page or by giving us a call on 020 8300 0084.

For more specific House Plant Care Guides please see our guides here.

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