Houseplant Care Guide
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Do you love the aesthetic of having real plants in your home but aren’t sure how to keep them alive? Whether you’re a natural born plant mom or a novice who may or may not have killed a few succulents over the years, this guide will help you achieve all of your house plant dreams.
Adequate Lighting
Regardless of what type of plant you have in your home, you need to make sure you are giving it the right amount of light.
If your plant isn’t getting enough light it won’t flower, will have little to no new growth, or its lower leaves will start to fall off. However, if your plant gets too much light the edges of the leaves will start to look scorched, faded or bleached.
Depending on how much light your plant needs, you can determine the best place to put it. Here are some tips for picking a spot for your new plant depending on the light it requires:
Full sun and bright light plants will do best by south-facing windows when inside.
Partial shade or medium light plants will grow better by east- or west-facing windows.
Low light plants will thrive by north-facing windows.
You can still grow plants that require moderate to high light even if you don’t have bright windows in your home. Using the brightest window you have and an artificial light source, you can provide enough light to keep your plants happy and healthy.
How to Water Your Plant Properly
One of the most important things to remember when caring for your indoor plant is not to overwater it. The majority of house plants are happiest when they don’t have to sit in wet soil.
You can gauge when to water your plant on the time of year and the soil. As the amount of daylight shortens in the colder months, water your plant sparingly, checking the soil to see when it needs water.
To check the soil, push your finger 1-2 inches into the soil. If you feel moist soil, you don’t need to water it. Check your plant on a regular basis to see when it needs to be watered.
When watering, make sure to use room temperature water unless otherwise specified. Pour water gently at the base of the plant on top of the soil; try to avoid watering the leaves or crown. To help prevent overwatering, make sure your plant is in a pot with drainage holes.
Setting the Humidity
Most common house plants originate from tropical regions where the humidity is higher. Because indoor spaces don’t always have consistent humidities, especially during a Wisconsin winter, here are a few ways you can help your plant live its best life.
Put your plant where humidity is naturally higher in your home like in a bathroom or the kitchen.
To help raise humidity, place it in a shallow dish with moistened gravel.
Place your potted plant in a larger pot and fill the gaps between the pots with damp moss for extra moisture.
During the bitter cold of winter, you can try turning on a humidifier occasionally by your plant.
Remember, every plant is different and requires a certain amount of care. However, as long as you do your research before you bring it home, you too can live your best plant life all year long.
Source: https://www.almanac.com/content/houseplant-care-guide