8 Essentials to Keeping Your Indoor Plants Alive and Thriving
The benefits of indoor plants make them a much-loved addition to our homes. Here is how to keep them alive and not love them to death
Nothing gives me more pleasure than having my indoor plants refreshed, re-potted and re-positioned ready for a new year ahead. All too often we either love them or neglect them to death, but with some common sense, a little love and a dash of courage, your indoor plants can live and thrive this year. Here are some tips to get them shipshape and squeaky clean.
2. Be water wise
If anything was likely to be killed with kindness, it would be an indoor plant. Knowing how much and how often to water is the key to not only keeping it alive but allowing it to thrive. A great indicator that a plant needs watering is when its leaves start to droop. Oddly, this is also an indication that a plant has been overwatered. Once a plant has root rot from overwatering, it can be very difficult for it to recover. For most plants, the soil should be kept moist but not saturated – use your finger as a guide; if it feels dry an inch or so down, give it a drink.
Knowing where and how your plants grows in the wild is a great indicator of how much watering you need to give them. The pots shown here are a great example as the dry, hot climate plants on the left are grouped together and need much less water than the rain forest tree fern on the right.
If anything was likely to be killed with kindness, it would be an indoor plant. Knowing how much and how often to water is the key to not only keeping it alive but allowing it to thrive. A great indicator that a plant needs watering is when its leaves start to droop. Oddly, this is also an indication that a plant has been overwatered. Once a plant has root rot from overwatering, it can be very difficult for it to recover. For most plants, the soil should be kept moist but not saturated – use your finger as a guide; if it feels dry an inch or so down, give it a drink.
Knowing where and how your plants grows in the wild is a great indicator of how much watering you need to give them. The pots shown here are a great example as the dry, hot climate plants on the left are grouped together and need much less water than the rain forest tree fern on the right.
3. Remember that sizes matters
While a large, striking feature pot looks outstanding in a home, don’t discount smaller pots. With smaller sizes comes less worry as they can be easily swapped with a different one, given a spell outside to recover or moved around the home depending on your mood or season. A collection of succulents like this is a low maintenance but high impact way to get plants inside.
While a large, striking feature pot looks outstanding in a home, don’t discount smaller pots. With smaller sizes comes less worry as they can be easily swapped with a different one, given a spell outside to recover or moved around the home depending on your mood or season. A collection of succulents like this is a low maintenance but high impact way to get plants inside.
4. Give plants room to move
If you do have the room for a large feature plant like this gorgeous Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata), then you need to have a regular maintenance plan. While smaller plants are easy to replace or move, larger ones are an expensive investment that need good care. Make sure the pot you choose allows room for the plant to grow into over many years. This Ponytail Palm is well suited to this instance as it is a slow growing species that requires little watering.
If you do have the room for a large feature plant like this gorgeous Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata), then you need to have a regular maintenance plan. While smaller plants are easy to replace or move, larger ones are an expensive investment that need good care. Make sure the pot you choose allows room for the plant to grow into over many years. This Ponytail Palm is well suited to this instance as it is a slow growing species that requires little watering.
5. Keep them spick and span
Plants rely on their leaves to make their food via photosynthesis. The surface of their leaves are covered with tiny little vents that open and close during the day and can become clogged with dust. Outside the leaves get washed clean with rain, but inside a wipe down with a clean damp cloth once a month is all you need to keep the leaves looking shiny and healthy.
Plants rely on their leaves to make their food via photosynthesis. The surface of their leaves are covered with tiny little vents that open and close during the day and can become clogged with dust. Outside the leaves get washed clean with rain, but inside a wipe down with a clean damp cloth once a month is all you need to keep the leaves looking shiny and healthy.
For plants with more intricate leaves like this palm, taking them outside and giving them a hose to clean the leaves will do them wonders. Better still, leave them out on a rainy day and get all the added benefits that only rainwater can give.
6. Feed them!
All plants benefit from a little extra fertiliser, but for potted plants it is even more important as they are limited to the nutrition that is available to them in the potting mix they are planted in. Always choose the best potting mix you can find, one that contains a slow release fertiliser and water crystals. If you are potting a specific species like orchids, cacti, citrus, or even in a terracotta pot, then get a mix specifically for these plants and conditions. You will save yourself a lot of time and worry. However, even the best potting mixes go stale over time, so you should re-pot your plants every one to two years. Most slow release fertilisers last between six to nine months, so if the mix you chose has one included, remember to top it up once it has worn out. You could also use a liquid form like blood and bone with seaweed extra included that can be added to your watering can once or twice a month.
All plants benefit from a little extra fertiliser, but for potted plants it is even more important as they are limited to the nutrition that is available to them in the potting mix they are planted in. Always choose the best potting mix you can find, one that contains a slow release fertiliser and water crystals. If you are potting a specific species like orchids, cacti, citrus, or even in a terracotta pot, then get a mix specifically for these plants and conditions. You will save yourself a lot of time and worry. However, even the best potting mixes go stale over time, so you should re-pot your plants every one to two years. Most slow release fertilisers last between six to nine months, so if the mix you chose has one included, remember to top it up once it has worn out. You could also use a liquid form like blood and bone with seaweed extra included that can be added to your watering can once or twice a month.
7. Give them some R&R
Indoor plants benefit from a spell outside once in a while. For small to medium size pots, it is a good idea to have a rotation system. By leaving plants in black plastic pots (the type they come from the nursery in), you can slot them into your more decorative pots and change them as often as you like. Make sure the outside position is similar to the inside one. If a plant is not use to direct sunlight, its leaves will burn and, in some cases, the plant will die.
Read more: 8 Ways House Plants Can Improve Your Health
Indoor plants benefit from a spell outside once in a while. For small to medium size pots, it is a good idea to have a rotation system. By leaving plants in black plastic pots (the type they come from the nursery in), you can slot them into your more decorative pots and change them as often as you like. Make sure the outside position is similar to the inside one. If a plant is not use to direct sunlight, its leaves will burn and, in some cases, the plant will die.
Read more: 8 Ways House Plants Can Improve Your Health
8. Choose the right plant pot
Of course, a plant is nothing without the pot, so it is important to get it right. Some pots can be very heavy even before you fill it with soil and a plant. By sliding plants in their plastic pots into feature pots, you will reduce the risk of overwatering and make maintenance like re-potting much easier. Pots with holes in the bottom and nowhere for excess water to go can cause problems. Having a pot within a pot allows you to have a tray underneath to catch excess water before it spills onto the carpet and stops your plants getting wet feet. Self watering pots are also great, as they give an even, consistent water supply to the plant.
Of course, a plant is nothing without the pot, so it is important to get it right. Some pots can be very heavy even before you fill it with soil and a plant. By sliding plants in their plastic pots into feature pots, you will reduce the risk of overwatering and make maintenance like re-potting much easier. Pots with holes in the bottom and nowhere for excess water to go can cause problems. Having a pot within a pot allows you to have a tray underneath to catch excess water before it spills onto the carpet and stops your plants getting wet feet. Self watering pots are also great, as they give an even, consistent water supply to the plant.
And if in doubt, go low-maintenance…
There are some plants that will look good no matter how much or how little you love them. Impossible to overwater are these Money Plants (Epipremnum aureum) that are perfectly happy growing in nothing but water in your favourite vase or hanging from the ceiling.
There are some plants that will look good no matter how much or how little you love them. Impossible to overwater are these Money Plants (Epipremnum aureum) that are perfectly happy growing in nothing but water in your favourite vase or hanging from the ceiling.
If under-watering is your downfall, tough succulents like this Jade (Crassula ovata) will be very forgiving. All in all, there is an indoor plant suitable for everyone. By doing a little research and getting into a good routine, you too will have happy plants and a happy house.
TELL US
Are you up for the good plant parenting award? Or are you killing them with kindness? Share in the Comments.
MORE PLANT TIPS
Top 10 Plants for Minimum Effort and Maximum Impact
How to Choose the Best Plants for a Small Garden
10 Ways to Plant Outside the Box
TELL US
Are you up for the good plant parenting award? Or are you killing them with kindness? Share in the Comments.
MORE PLANT TIPS
Top 10 Plants for Minimum Effort and Maximum Impact
How to Choose the Best Plants for a Small Garden
10 Ways to Plant Outside the Box
It’s true, where you live makes a difference to your health. And for a plant, nothing is more true. When placing plants in your home, make sure they get good ventilation, natural light, and are away from direct sunlight. Keeping your plants away from the extremes of direct light gives them a more even growing environment. It reduces the radical ups and downs that would come from being near a hot window, which reduces stress on the plant and water loss.
Read more: Our 10 Hottest Indoor Plants