Manage your Indoor Plants with these 6 Care Tips!
Have a black thumb around plants and gardens? Have you killed more plants than you can count, even the ones that are supposedly low maintenance and hardy? Don’t fret! More often than not, unsuccessful gardeners have leaned into myths about proper plant care.
There is no such thing as a natural black thumb for any gardener, as plant care can be tricky, especially when it comes to potted plants. You indoor garden may not be the most lively area in your home at this point, but we’ll present you with some tips and tricks to
1. Clean up your indoor garden
One of the most important aspects of indoor gardening is the cleanliness of your plant area. Remember that soil, even potting soil, carries dirt particles and germs that can make you or your family sick when you inhale or ingest soil. Potting soil is also typically mixed with vermicast, making it not an ideal substance to have around children and pets.
Clean up your indoor garden, and avoid tracking soil around your home. Soil can also cause staining on light-colored surfaces, and get into crevices within your floors and walls. When kept moist, soil is the perfect environment for mold and mildew growth, as well as the preferred location for colonies of soil mites, ticks, fleas, and other pests.
If you’re too busy and overwhelmed to clean up after your indoor garden, don’t worry! There are cleaning services available to get those soil out of the nooks and crannies of your home. Get rid of fungus, pests, and stains through a professional cleaning service from Luce Home, as they can reach deep into crevices to lift up the soil from your tiles, hardwood, and even carpeted floors! Click here for a full list of their cleaning services.
2. Maintain a water schedule
Watering your plants seems like a good routine to do everyday, but plants are actually more likely to succumb to overwatering than underwatering. What’s more, plants that are overwatered are more susceptible to fungi, diseases, and pests, which can be frustrating for any gardener.
Similarly, overwatering can cause excess water to drain from the bottom of the pot, causing water damage to your floors, and can be a reason for mold to grow in your tiled or wooden flooring. When this happens, you’ll need to have mold around your home professionally removed as these may cause allergies for you and your family.
3. Fertilize sparingly, or use slow-release fertilizer
Potted plants don’t get as much nutrients they need from the soil compared to garden plants. The nutrients in potting soil gets depleted over time, and most indoor gardeners know that fertilizing your potted plants is a necessary step in caring for an indoor garden.
However, too much fertilizer can be deadly to plants as well. Liquid fertilizers are often too harsh on plants when used too often, while powdered fertilizers can drain out along with excess water. Choose slow-release fertilizers to mix into your garden, or fertilize sparingly – a monthly basis should be fine.
4. Cover water plants or introduce plant-friendly fish
Water plants bring a unique take on indoor gardens, as these plants need only fresh water to survive. No soil means minimal mess, and the only upkeep you’ll need is to change or top up the water often. However, stagnant water is the breeding ground of choice for mosquitoes, which can carry diseases like malaria and dengue.
Cover your water plants with a transparent netting to keep mosquitoes away, or introduce compatible fish that can help control the mosquito population, and fertilize your plants at the same time. Be sure to get fish that don’t have a penchant for eating water plants! Mosquitoes can also be brought about by a messy environment, so cleanup is a must.
5. Sanitize your soil before planting
Before repotting or planting a new herb, sanitize your soil first by running boiling hot water through the soil and letting it cool. Often, gardeners tend to use the same soil to plant a new herb or succulent after the previous one has died.
Unfortunately, this means that the soil may have soil pests, bacteria, and fungi that went unchecked and killed off the previous plant. To combat this, sanitize your soil first. Take note that sanitizing your soil may remove nutrients, so best to mix a slow-release fertilizer into the potting mix before you continue planting.
6. Repot during cloudy days, or in the early mornings
Plants are susceptible to transplant shock, and to prevent this, plants should be repotted during the times in the day when the plant is least active. Early mornings, late afternoons, and cloudy days are the best times to repot a plant to minimize transplant shock.
Water your plants a few days before you decide to repot them, and make sure you have enough time during the day to focus on your gardening. Get assistance for your daily cleaning chores so you have time to care for your indoor gardening! A scheduled cleaning service or part-time maid can focus on your cleaning chores while you get to concentrate on your hobby!
Growing Cantaloupe Plant Planting, Growing, Harvesting Cantaloupes 2022
Manage your Indoor Plants with these 6 Care Tips!