Healthy houseplants are an excellent way to fill your space with life, especially when you spend most of your time indoors now. But, as exciting as it sounds, making plants thrive can be difficult; more so when you have a tiny space, and you don’t have experience caring for plants.
Fortunately, there are indoor plants. And not every indoor plant requires the skills and experience of a gardener or green thumb. Some hardy plants can survive indoors despite severe neglect (but this is not to say you should neglect them). To inspire you and help you get started on your indoor garden, here are three fundamental tips.
Water Your Plants Moderately
In most cases, it’s better to be worried about overwatering your plants than underwatering them. Most indoor plants prefer slightly dry soil to very wet ones. An article published about the gardening MasterClass of Ron Finley says that your primary goal should be to provide just enough water to keep the soil’s moisture. You’re not supposed to make the soil soggy.
The best way to make sure you don’t overwater your plant is to pour water gradually directly into the potting soil until the water trickles out of the pot’s drain holes. Most plants need to be watered at least once a week, or less during winter.
If you want to know if your plant needs water, stick your finger at least two inches deep. If you feel that the soil is somehow dry, then it’s time to give it something to drink. There’s no need to filter the water when watering your plants, but make sure that the water will sit out overnight to distill the plants’ minerals.
Position and Fertilize Your Plants Strategically
Many experts believe that apart from air duct cleaning, having indoor plants keeps your indoor air clean. Making sure that your plants live and thrive inside your home benefits you and other residents of your household.
Place your plants in a spot where they will receive a balance of sunshine and shade. For instance, indoor plants don’t need full sunlight every day, but being near a window gives them enough rays for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which the plant leaves manufacture their food using sunlight as energy.
Also, Architectural Digest advises not to fertilize your plants during winter since most plants remain dormant at this time of the year. Instead, do it during the plants’ growing season, like spring and summer.
Set the Right Humidity, Temperature, and Ventilation
Gardening experts say indoor plants grow well in temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and at least 10 degrees cooler at nighttime. You need to ensure that your plants get the right moisture, depending on their needs.
Some houseplants tend to prefer regular misting, while others prefer it dry. That’s why it’s crucial to learn everything your plants need to prevent them from withering.
Managing houseplants can be a challenge if you have barely any experience with it. With these tips, you can learn the basic techniques to take care of indoor plants, and you can learn others along the way. Before you go find those plants, one last thing to remember: the indoor plants that will best thrive in your care are likely the ones that you love looking at and pampering. Choose what catches your eye.