How to have healthy houseplants
Indoor plants have had a huge resurgence in popularity and as florists, we are really encouraging this. In our shop in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham we offer a range of indoor and outdoor plants in addition to fruit baskets and chocolates. We really are a one-stop-shop for all floral gifts for all occasions. However, we do more than just sell you plants, we can advise you on how to care for them and in today’s post we are sharing 6 tips for healthy houseplants.
Many houseplants are native to tropical regions and need a lot of light and water. In order for your indoor plants to grow well and stay healthy, regular care is required. There are many details to consider when caring for houseplants. Without the right care, their health will be at risk: the plant will begin to lose colour and will eventually dry out and die. And the guilt of that is huge!
How to care for your houseplants
1. Make a hole next to your plant with a large pencil and touch the earth with your finger: if you feel that the soil is rather dry, water immediately, even if the recommended length of time hasn’t passed. Use a small watering can, with a long and thin spout to get the water deep into the centre of the pot.
2. Spritz your plants, which mimics moisture from rainfall and dew, with a plastic or brass atomiser. Spraying once a week at the mimimim, but it’s much better if you can dedicate about 10 minutes to your plants every day: the leaves that are sprayed daily will always remain healthy and shiny, without the dangerous veil of dust that could clog stomata.
3. Irrigation is a very important issue—one of the most common reasons that houseplants wilt is due to excess water. The ground is the best guide – it should be wet, but not wet or muddy. The thermal conditioning of the environment has an impact on the water needs of plants. For example, if the air is drier than normal, the plant will need more moisture. In these cases, it is also advisable to periodically moisten the leaves with a very thin spray. Spritzing a gentle rain on the plant will keep it healthy and happy.
4. Keeping the leaves clean protects the health of the plant. The leaves get dirty, and the dust makes them opaque. To clean them, our advise is to rub them gently with a cloth moistened with a few drops of glycerin. Glycerin prevents dust from adhering to the leaves. Also, they will have a lovely sheen.
5. Fertiliser is essential for plants, particularly when they have spent a long time in the same soil. The substrate is depleted, the reserves are depleted, and the plant continues to need nutrients but doesn’t find them. During the growing and flowering periods, plants need more nutrition and additional fertiliser is needed.
6. Look out for fungi and pests. Indoor plants can pick up pests and then they easily spread. Keep a close eyes out for spots on the leaves or the presence of strange marks. In these cases, quarantine the plant and if you can’t identify the pest and find the treatment online, consult an experienced gardener or your friendly neighbourhood florist to solve the problem.
7. Set aside half an hour a week to remove all dead sections of the plant, whole leaves or portions of them, stems, flowers, etc. After removing the dry sections, the plant instantly looks better, neat and tidy and it will also feel much happier too.
8. Get the whole family involved. Children will enjoy spritzing the plants and it is great for them to have responsibility over something living!
Come to us for healthy houseplants!
We hope these valuable tips will keep your indoor plants in tip top condition and allow you to enjoy them for many years. Pop in to see us anytime at our Make Their Day floristry shop in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham as we have a lovely range of houseplants as well as our enormous range of beautiful bouquets.
Have you read our post about why you should buy yourself flowers yet?
