Do you love plants, but you find that gardening stresses you out? Do you cringe when someone gives you a plant to tell you you’re “sure to kill it within a week?” Do you admire the lush green thumbs of your family members, friends, and neighbors and are struggling to maintain even a single houseplant?
Don’t be ashamed if you’re in the same boat. Many are struggling to maintain plants healthy initially; however, with time, effort, and instruction, Anyone can learn how to master it. Even if it’s not natural in your life doesn’t mean you must accept that you’ll never accomplish it.
Maintaining potted plants is a skill learned, and there’s no reason not to learn to master it, too. To assist you and start your journey to plant care, we’ve compiled a guide on all you must know about taking care of your potted plants. When we’re done with this tutorial, you can put these techniques into practice. Get your gardening tools and some potting soil, and let’s begin.
Tips to Keep Potted Houseplants Alive
Although the guidelines applied to every plant are alike, they can differ slightly based on the type of environment the plant will reside in. If you’re looking for ways to care for potted indoor plants, this section is for you. Here are our top tips to ensure that your houseplants are healthy:
Choose the Correct Pot
The drainage is vital to your plant. Ideally, the pot should have a drainage hole in the bottom so any excess water can be drained from the soil and deposited in a tray under the bank. If there’s no hole, the excess water remains in the ground. In most cases, it’s more water than the plant will take in, which can lead to a growing plant “drowning.” If you notice that your plant appears to be wilting and drooping, the soil remains damp, there is likely a drainage issue, and your plant is wet.
The same is valid for plants. The plants require plenty of space for growth. If roots aren’t given plenty of room to grow, they will eventually become top-heavy and unable to support the volume of leaves on your plant. The result is that it will shrink and end up dying.
Although it’s easy to leave your plant in the basket or pot you bought it from, this isn’t the most effective way to ensure that your plant is healthy and robust. To keep your plant fit and healthy, it should be kept in a pot with enough room to expand and grow its roots. It also requires the right bank to allow for sufficient drainage.
Use Good Potting Soil
If you plan to repot your houseplant out of the pot it was in and then put it in a larger pool, you’ll need to determine the soil for your potting. It’s not enough to take dirt from your backyard. Instead, you should purchase the potting soil in a bag. These mixes typically contain extra nutrients or fertilizers to keep your houseplant robust and well-maintained.
Depending on the kind of plant species you’re dealing with, You may be able to locate a potting mix specially designed for the species you’re working with. If you plan to plant the succulent or cactus, you’ll find pots explicitly made with the proper nutrition for these kinds of plants.
Watering: Not Too Much and Not Too Little
The process of watering can be challenging, especially in the case of newbies gardening. Too much water and your plant could easily drown. If you don’t water enough, the plant could dry out and end up dying. If you want healthy and happy plants, You must find an equilibrium between the two extremes. While some plants prefer to be in moist soil, however, the majority of them thrive when you let your soil time to dry between watering.
To determine if your plant requires water, touch the soil, particularly near the edges of the container. If the soil is dry and crumbly, it’s the right time to add water. If it’s still wet, it may not require any more. After several weeks of this routine, you’ll master knowing when your plants need water.
Of course, you’ll be able to determine whether the plants you have are suffering from thirst. If you notice your leaves turning dry and brown, the plant is in dire require of water. You will likely give your plant plenty of water before it reaches this stage.
If you give your plant water and water it, wait until the water starts draining out of the hole at the pot’s base until the soil can no longer absorb any moisture. If the water accumulates over the ground and can’t soak enough, you should stop watering.
Determining the best frequency to feed your plants precisely is challenging because each plant and species is unique. It is possible to research the specific plant you have to get more details, but generally speaking, your plants should inform that it requires water. Learn to discern the soil and leaves of a plant and know the signs that it’s requesting water.
Give Them Plenty of Light
Each plant has its preferences regarding sunlight and shade; however, no plant can thrive in complete darkness. If you place your plant within the cupboard, put it high on a dark wall, or hidden in a dark corner, it’s probably not likely to thrive.
Your plant requires at least some sunshine to thrive. Therefore, windowsills are a great place to plant plants. If you don’t have a window sufficient in size, you have other options. Place your furniture on top of a table or cart in front of an opening or any area that receives ample sunlight.
Keep Your Pet Away
It’s not a surprise. However, you may not have considered it when you’re just beginning to learn about houseplants. Pets might love your plants. However, they can end up adoring them to the point of death. In particular, your pet could devour your plant or tear it apart because of their excitement.
To get rid of this problem, Try placing your house plants in areas your pet can’t access. Perhaps put them up on the counter or the top of cabinets. Make sure you balance keeping the plants from harm’s way and putting them in a place that still gets sunlight.
Another point to be noted is that there are various poisonous plants for animals. There is an additional reason to keep pets and plants distinct.