Watering: Most plants indoors need watering ABOUT once a week. Every plant will differ, depending on a number of factors, such as the maturity of the plant's root system, what kind of pot holds the plant, where the plant is placed in relation to sunlight/heat/circulating air and exactly what kind of plant it is. Plants in windows will obviously dry out faster than those exposed to little direct sunlight. Check by looking to see if the soil looks dry; then put your finger into the soil about an inch (to the first joint) to see if it's moist. Plants should become slightly dry between watering. To water correctly, pour enough water into the pot so that some comes out of the drainage hole. If the plant was very dry, water it again in about fifteen minutes. Don't let any plant stay constantly wet from standing water in the saucer. And keep in mind that more plants die indoors from too much watering than from too little.
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Repotting: If your plant is drying out every few days or stops growing, it may need repotting. Check the roots by gently removing the pot. Roots that are crowded, growing together, or circling the pot need repotting. Choose a pot 2-4 inches larger in diameter than the original. Loosen the plant roots thoroughly but carefully. Set the plant into the new pot so that the base of the plant (where plant meets soil) is at least one inch below the rim, and then add soil all around it. Make sure the soil line doesn’t go above the base of the plant. Water thoroughly.
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Cleaning: Taking off dead and dying leaves and cutting brown tips off of leaves will help you plant stay nice looking, it's perfectly normal for plants to occasionally lose a leaf. A vining plant such as ivy needs to be cut back for neatness. The farther back you cut your plant, the fuller it will become. In fact, we've seen great results with over grown, scraggly, plants that were cut back almost to the soil line: new growth is lush, shapely, healthy, and generally prettier. Plants breathe through their leaves, so keep them dust-free. This means wiping the leaves off with a damp rag.
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Humidity: Most plants thrive in high humidity; plants like ferns demand it. Unfortunately, our homes are usually very dry compared to outside air. To combat this problem, place a tray or saucer under your houseplants and fill it with pebbles. Add water until it’s just below the top of the pebbles. As the water evaporates, it will increase the humidity level around the plant. Misting your plants daily is also very good (although droplets of water on plant leaves exposed to direct sunlight can act like a magnifying glass and burn the leaves).
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Fertilizing: Houseplants need fertilizing with an all-purpose plant food about once a month in spring and summer. Follow directions on the package. Flowering plants need fertilizing more often, using a special fertilizer to keep blooms coming. Some people also have great success with a diluted solution of fertilizer added to the weekly watering. Obviously, how much food your plant needs will depend on its size, the size of its root ball, and other factors.
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Sunlight: Plants, of course need light. A plant that is not getting enough light will become yellowish and won't grow. No amount of fertilizer will change this. Try moving the plant gradually into a brighter area, or consider adding fluorescent or plant lighting. One thing to remember is that new research is showing that the same kind of full-spectrum light that is necessary for plant health can also have a tremendous impact on our own personal sense of wellness, especially in the less-sunny winter months. You may find that you can add some full-spectrum incandescent bulbs to your regular lighting fixtures and make everyone happier. On the other side of the scale, plants exposed to too much direct sunlight can show leaf burns. To remedy this, simply move the plant slightly away from the window or add sheer curtains to filter the sunlight.
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Placement: Houseplants do not like rapid changes in their environment! If you want to put your houseplants outdoors in the summer, move them out gradually from a very sheltered non-sunny location to a progressively brighter and more exposed area. When fall rolls back around, follow the same step-by- step routine in reverse to acclimate your plants to indoor conditions. Also be sure to check for any insects that may have got in your plants outdoors, and treat with insecticidal soap if necessary before they come inside. If your plant touches that cold glass, they can be damaged as surely as if they were outside. Just give them a few inches clearance, and they should be fine.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Repotting: If your plant is drying out every few days or stops growing, it may need repotting. Check the roots by gently removing the pot. Roots that are crowded, growing together, or circling the pot need repotting. Choose a pot 2-4 inches larger in diameter than the original. Loosen the plant roots thoroughly but carefully. Set the plant into the new pot so that the base of the plant (where plant meets soil) is at least one inch below the rim, and then add soil all around it. Make sure the soil line doesn’t go above the base of the plant. Water thoroughly.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Cleaning: Taking off dead and dying leaves and cutting brown tips off of leaves will help you plant stay nice looking, it's perfectly normal for plants to occasionally lose a leaf. A vining plant such as ivy needs to be cut back for neatness. The farther back you cut your plant, the fuller it will become. In fact, we've seen great results with over grown, scraggly, plants that were cut back almost to the soil line: new growth is lush, shapely, healthy, and generally prettier. Plants breathe through their leaves, so keep them dust-free. This means wiping the leaves off with a damp rag.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Humidity: Most plants thrive in high humidity; plants like ferns demand it. Unfortunately, our homes are usually very dry compared to outside air. To combat this problem, place a tray or saucer under your houseplants and fill it with pebbles. Add water until it’s just below the top of the pebbles. As the water evaporates, it will increase the humidity level around the plant. Misting your plants daily is also very good (although droplets of water on plant leaves exposed to direct sunlight can act like a magnifying glass and burn the leaves).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fertilizing: Houseplants need fertilizing with an all-purpose plant food about once a month in spring and summer. Follow directions on the package. Flowering plants need fertilizing more often, using a special fertilizer to keep blooms coming. Some people also have great success with a diluted solution of fertilizer added to the weekly watering. Obviously, how much food your plant needs will depend on its size, the size of its root ball, and other factors.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sunlight: Plants, of course need light. A plant that is not getting enough light will become yellowish and won't grow. No amount of fertilizer will change this. Try moving the plant gradually into a brighter area, or consider adding fluorescent or plant lighting. One thing to remember is that new research is showing that the same kind of full-spectrum light that is necessary for plant health can also have a tremendous impact on our own personal sense of wellness, especially in the less-sunny winter months. You may find that you can add some full-spectrum incandescent bulbs to your regular lighting fixtures and make everyone happier. On the other side of the scale, plants exposed to too much direct sunlight can show leaf burns. To remedy this, simply move the plant slightly away from the window or add sheer curtains to filter the sunlight.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Placement: Houseplants do not like rapid changes in their environment! If you want to put your houseplants outdoors in the summer, move them out gradually from a very sheltered non-sunny location to a progressively brighter and more exposed area. When fall rolls back around, follow the same step-by- step routine in reverse to acclimate your plants to indoor conditions. Also be sure to check for any insects that may have got in your plants outdoors, and treat with insecticidal soap if necessary before they come inside. If your plant touches that cold glass, they can be damaged as surely as if they were outside. Just give them a few inches clearance, and they should be fine.
Succulent Creations is a brand owned and licensed by Theut's Flower Barn