Indoor plants are a great way to add color, texture, and a peaceful ambiance to your living space. But how do you keep them happy and thriving?
Luckily, houseplant care is pretty straightforward, and with guidance, you’ll be able to grow just about any indoor plant with ease.
The experts at Rich Mar Florist in Allentown, PA, are here to give you some of the most important things to know about caring for houseplants.
What To Keep in Mind When Watering
There is no hard and fast rule about watering your plants, and sticking to a schedule can do more harm than good. Instead, watch each plant for signs that it needs to be watered.
Overwatering can lead to root rot, so always err on the side of underwatering.
Stick your finger into the first two inches of soil. If it’s wet or sticks to your finger, skip the water. If the soil is dry, your plant is thirsty.
Water plants by pouring the water over the soil around the base of your plant or by adding it to a saucer underneath your plant. This “bottom watering” method allows liquid to be slowly absorbed through holes at the base of your pot.
Pruning Your Plants
Pruning can be done anytime, but it’s best to trim your plants in the fall when the growing process slows down.
Proper pruning is a great way to control the growth of your plant and manage its shape.
Carefully cut above a set of buds on the stem so new growth can begin. Remove any diseased leaves, dead foliage, and stems to keep your plant healthy and looking its best.
Get More From Your Plants By Propagating
Propagating your plants is a form of houseplant care that results in more plants. Most plants can be propagated as long as you know how to do it correctly. The process encourages growth in your current plant, controls its shape and size, and provides new baby plants to add to your houseplant collection. Vining plants are easy to propagate.
Cut your pothos or philodendron’s stem above the buds and place the cutting in the soil to grow.
Other plants, like spider plants, produce runners with new plant babies at the end that can be removed and grown separately.
Remember to Fertilize
Fertilizers, like water, can be damaging if applied too frequently. Too much fertilizer can burn the roots and injure your plant. As a general rule, fertilize in the spring and summer months when plants grow the most. Use the right fertilizer for your specific plant’s needs.
This can vary based on whether your plant produces flowers, leaves, or both.
The right fertilizer will have the correct amount of nutrients for your specific plant’s needs, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Keep Humidity in Mind
Consider your plant’s native environment. Tropical plants, for example, thrive in places with high humidity levels.
You can achieve this by arranging tropical plants together so they create a more humid place in your home or placing a humidifier nearby.
Other desert plants, like cacti and succulents, thrive in dry air that’s void of moisture.
Trust The Experts For Your Plant Needs
Houseplant care really isn’t complex as long as you do a little research. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, our experts at Rich Mar Florist are here to help. We’re a second-generation florist with years of experience keeping plants happy, healthy, and thriving.
Visit one of our three shops in Allentown, or Bethlehem, PA or check our online inventory of products.
We’d be happy to answer your questions about indoor houseplants or help you pick the perfect arrangement to celebrate your next big event.
Contact us today!
Image credit: promcreate & johan kusuma / Shutterstock
