Nothing makes a home more beautiful than a foliage of indoor plants. Besides adding comfort and beauty to your home, indoor plants also improve air quality by releasing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. Some studies have shown that improved air quality in a home also helps to improve your energy, mood, and mental focus.
The good thing about houseplants is that they can grow and thrive anywhere, including in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom, and much more. All they need is water and light. So, do you want to grow houseplants and you are looking for some indoor gardening tips? If yes, then you have come to the right place. In this article, we will give you tested and proven indoor gardening tips for growing healthy houseplants.
Know when your houseplants need water
If you want your houseplants to thrive, then you need to know when they need water. Watering your houseplants is crucial for their health and growth. Without sufficient water, then it will just be a matter of time before your indoor plant leaves wither and the plant eventually dies. In fact, if you are not planning to water your indoor plants, then there is no point in having an indoor garden.
Just like humans, a large percentage of a plant’s body is made of water. Indoor plants need water for cooling, photosynthesis, and transporting nutrients and minerals from the soil.
Generally, houseplant soil should be kept moist, not wet. This means that you should not overwater your houseplants. In fact, overwatering your indoor plants is more damaging to the plant than underwatering them. Houseplants thrive when the soil is moist rather than sopping wet.
Only provide your indoor plant with water that will keep the soil moist but not wet. Most houseplants need to be watered twice during the summer season and only once or even less during the winter season. So, ensure that you provide enough water for your indoor plants and don’t overwater them.
Ensure your houseplants get sufficient light
Just like water light plays a vital role in the health of indoor plants. All plants, including houseplants, need light for photosynthesis (a process where the plant converts light, water, and oxygen into energy). Your indoor plant needs this energy to grow and thrive.
Different indoor plants require different amounts of light. Most indoor plants require indirect light as opposed to direct light. Place houseplants that thrive on low indirect light on the west-facing windows and those that thrive under a bright light on south-facing windows. During the winter season when there are fewer hours of sunlight, you may be required to provide artificial light to your indoor plants. If that is the case, then you should use LED or fluorescent bulbs as opposed to normal bulbs because they are more effective in providing natural warm and cool light that is nearly the same as natural light.
Use the right fertilizer
Just like any other plant, houseplants also need fertilizer to get the much-needed nutrients. If you want your houseplants to grow healthy, you need to add fertilizer regularly in order to provide them with crucial minerals and nutrients. According to experts, indoor plants should be fertilized once per month when they are growing. In the winter season, most indoor plants stagnate in terms of growth. During that time you should pause or decrease the amount of fertilizer that you apply.
Remember that these are just general guidelines. Some houseplants may require more or less fertilizer. So, ensure that you understand the individual requirement of your indoor plants and apply fertilizer as required.
Choose the right pots for your houseplants
Another indoor gardening tip is choosing the right pots for your houseplants. In fact, the pots that you choose for your indoor plants will determine whether they will thrive or not. Important factors to consider when choosing pots for your houseplant include the pot’s size, drainage, and the material that it is made of.
A general rule of thumb when it comes to pot is that its size should be proportional to the size of the plant. Once the plant outgrows the pot, you should transfer it to a larger pot that matches its current size. If you choose a pot that is too large then the plant size, the soil will dry slowly making it vulnerable to root rot. On the other hand, if the pot is too small, the soil will dry quickly, meaning you will have to water the plant frequently. To avoid this, you need to ensure that the pot size is proportional to the size of the plant.
The material that the pot is made of also matters a lot. Plastic ports are highly recommended for indoor plants because of their ability to retain water for a long time. They are also lightweight and long-lasting. Pots made of materials such as terra cotta are beautiful but not recommended for houseplants because they are not good at holding water.
Drainage is also very important because it ensures that the potting soil does not stay too wet after watering the plant. Drainage also makes it easy for oxygen to find its way into your plant’s roots. So when buying pots for your houseplant, ensure that they have good drainage.
Use the correct potting soil
The quality of potting soil that you choose for your houseplants will determine whether they will thrive or not. Good potting soil is one that has the right balance of water absorption and retention, aeration, and nutrition. Choose a potting soil that is specific to your indoor plant. For instance, if you are growing bromeliads, then you should choose fast-draining soil. You can get the right soil for your houseplant when you visit the nearest garden center.
Humidity, temperature, and ventilation
It is also important to understand the humidity, temperature, and ventilation needs of your houseplants. Most indoor plants require a temperature of between 65 degrees F and 75 degrees F during the day and 55 degrees F and 65 degrees F during the night.
Houseplants also require a lot of moisture. So if the air in your home is dry, ensure that you boost moisture by misting the plant regularly using a spray bottle. Proper ventilation is also crucial for the health of the plant. To ensure proper circulation of air, place your plants near windows or doors to ensure that they get good ventilation throughout the day.
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