Houseplants are living beings, and they don’t like it when you mistreat them. Since many of the plant’s problems are caused by their owners’ actions, there is no reason to be afraid of your houseplant, just that if you kill it, then it will be all your fault.
Contents
- 1 1. Water the plants regularly and correctly
- 2 2. Watering frequency:
- 3 3. Watering methods:
- 4 4. Watering frequency for specific plants:
- 5 5. Don’t over water:
- 6 6. Give your plants the right amount of sun:
- 7 7. Fertilize your plants:
- 8 8. Repot your plants when they get too big:
- 9 9. Get rid of pests:
- 10 10. Prune your plants when needed:
1. Water the plants regularly and correctly
When to water:
If your plant is identified as needing moist soil, then water it once the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil feels dry to the touch. Those who don’t know which type of soil their specific plants need can just use the “finger test” - just push your index finger into the soil up to the second knuckle. If it feels moist then don’t water, if it’s dry then water until the top half-inch of soil is damp.
2. Watering frequency:
- How often you should water your houseplant depends on many factors, such as the size of the pot, type of soil used, exposure to sun, etc. A good rule of thumb would be that if it’s identified as needing moist soil then water once a week or every other week.
3. Watering methods:
- There are many watering methods you can use but here’s three of the most common:
watering can, water hose with a spray nozzle, or watering wand.
- When using a watering can pour enough water so that it flows out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
4. Watering frequency for specific plants:
- Some plants like cactus and succulents need to dry out between waterings, so you should try to give them only small amounts of water every third or fourth week. These types of plants are best kept in an area with bright light but little direct sun.
5. Don’t over water:
6. Give your plants the right amount of sun:
- If you’re having trouble keeping your plants in direct sunlight, then you can try using a plant stand or placing them near a window.
7. Fertilize your plants:
- Houseplants need to be fertilized occasionally in order to stay healthy. You can buy houseplant fertilizer at most garden stores or online.
- Follow the instructions on the fertilizer container, but generally you’ll want to fertilize your plants every other month.
8. Repot your plants when they get too big:
- When a plant has outgrown its pot, it’s time to repot it into a pot that’s one size bigger. You can either use the same pot with a new soil mixture, or you can transfer it to a new pot.
9. Get rid of pests:
- Another way is to use an insecticidal soap, which can be bought at most garden stores.
10. Prune your plants when needed:
- Pruning is a necessary part of plant care, and it’s something that should be done regularly for most plants. You can either prune to maintain the shape of the plant, or you can prune to encourage new growth.
- When pruning a plant, always use clean, sharp scissors or clippers. Cut branches off just above a leaf node, which is where the leaf joins the stem.
- Pruning roots is only necessary for plants that do very well with their roots exposed. You can either prune them or take pieces of root off to use in propagating new plants.