How To Care For Your Plants The Right Way
Once you start caring for plants, you may assume there’s little more to caretaking beyond watering and giving your plants plenty of sunlight. However, depending on the type of plant you get and where you put it, you’ll need to invest a bit more time and energy than you might expect.
So, to help you succeed as much as possible, let’s go over the basics of plant maintenance. This list isn’t exhaustive but will should give you a solid foundation to care for your greenery.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Plants
Generally speaking, outdoor plants require less maintenance because they get sunlight, nutrients, and water from the environment. While you may have to add fertilizer and water these plants during long dry spells, they should more or less take care of themselves. That said, if you plant plants that aren’t native to your climate, you’ll have to put a lot more work in to keep them alive.
Indoor plants require more effort because you’re in control of the environment, meaning you must do things like fertilize the soil, add water whenever necessary, and move plants to give them sufficient sun.
Ensuring Proper Lighting
As you may remember from biology class, plants turn sunlight into food through photosynthesis. So, your indoor plants must get as much sunlight as they need to thrive. Pay attention to where the sun comes into your home the most and position your plants accordingly.
Also, keep in mind that some plants prefer direct sunlight while others prefer indirect light. If a plant gets too much sun, it can wither and die.
Fertilizing: When and How
If you’re using high-quality soil, you shouldn’t have to fertilize that often. However, if you do want to use fertilizer, you may want to use a water-soluble product. This way, you can water and fertilize your plants simultaneously for convenience. If you decide to use granules, don’t over-fertilize since this can shock and damage your plants.
As far as how often to fertilize, that depends on the plant. Some flowering plants may need extra nutrients weekly or twice a month, while others may only need fertilizing occasionally.
Watering Your Plants
As a general rule, if the top inch or two of soil is bone dry, it’s time to water your plants. You can either add water to the base of the plant or use a spray bottle to wet the leaves. Typically, plants with larger leaves do better with a spritz as they’re designed to capture moisture and deliver it to the stem.
Temperature and Humidity
Your home may be comfortable for you, but how does it feel for your plants? Some plants require extra humidity and higher temperatures to thrive, while other plants may wither in such conditions. Researching the native climate of your plants can help you determine whether they’ll work in your home.
Pruning and Plant Maintenance
Over time, your plant will develop dead branches and leaves. Although dead, they’re still drawing nutrients from the base stem. So, you must prune and trim these sections to help your plant thrive, as well as, remove any dead leaves and look for signs of pest damage regularly.
Get Your Plants From One Plant Shop
Once you’re ready to start your plant journey, let One Plant Shop help you find what you need. Whether you already know what plants you want or need some recommendations, we’re here for you. Contact us today!
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