How to Care for Your Houseplants
Keep your indoor houseplants alive and thriving!
Ok, I have a confession to make…even as a landscape designer who works with thousands of plants a year, I still kill plants! Yup, even those of us with our hands in the dirt all week long still find a plant or two that end up dead. Sometimes there isn’t much you can do, but most of the time a little preventative medicine will keep your plant alive and perky. Houseplants can be a great addition to your home and with the below tips you can help keep them in tip-top shape!
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Watering Your Plants
Watering houseplants is such a simple task but can be so complicated! When do you water? How much water? A good rule of thumb is to water houseplants when the soil is completely dry. Most houseplants abhor wet feet so make sure the soil dries completely between watering. To ensure even watering and to not flood your roots, use ice cubes to water! Overwatering can kill your plants, so I recommend 4-8 ice cubes every 3-4 weeks on most houseplants depending on its size.
Eggshell Tea
I love making eggshell tea for my plants! It gives them much needed calcium needed for plant growth. Some people crush up eggshells and put them directly into the soil but making a “tea” out of it for your plants helps the plant absorb the calcium much faster. Use crushed eggshells and boil in a large pot of water and let it boil for five minutes. Then let the water steep overnight. You can save and water periodically, or you can freeze the tea and save to use over several months! This healthy tea will give your plants the boost they need!
Epsom Salt Bath
Epsom salts are wonderful for your plants, to help improve blooming florals and to keep your plants bright and green! However, too much salt can be fatal for your plants. Keep the dosage low, and mix 1-2 tablespoons of Epsom salts per gallon of water. You can then water your plants every couple of weeks when needed. Some plants, like my favorite maiden hair fern, like to absorb water through their leaves. I like to add the Epsom salt water to a spray bottle, and periodically mist my ferns! Another great fertilization technique is through food plant spikes. You can find these at your local hardware store or online, and one spike added to your soil can last a couple of months!
Giving your plants a little extra attention can really go a long way. A calcium boost periodically or the proper amount of water can give your plants exactly what they need to really thrive! And if you just never found your green thumb, these tips and tricks might be what your plants need! My last recommendation is to invest in good potting soil. The right potting soil will make a world of difference, so invest in potting soil specific to your plant’s needs. Most soil has qualifications on the bag or an associate at your local gardening center should be able to point you in the right direction. What tips do you use to keep your plants alive and well? Message me on any of my social media platforms! Happy Gardening!
