Houseplants can be a beautiful addition to any home, but they can also be a challenge to care for. Many plant owners struggle to keep their plants healthy and thriving, while others seem to have a natural green thumb. The difference between the two may come down to the seven things that plant experts do to their houseplants that others may not be aware of.
One of the first things that plant experts do is pay close attention to the soil composition of their plants. Changing the soil of a plant at least yearly can boost its health in two key ways. Additionally, plant experts know everything there is to know about their plants, including their sunlight requirements, pruning practices, and pest control strategies. By following these expert tips, anyone can have a thriving houseplant collection.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding soil composition is crucial for a happy plant
- Knowing your plant’s specific needs, such as sunlight requirements and pruning practices, is essential for success
- Avoiding over-fussing and paying close attention to pest control can also help keep plants healthy.
Understanding Soil Composition
Changing the soil of a plant is crucial for its health. Plant experts change the soil of their plants at least yearly to boost their health in two key ways. First, changing the soil and upbotting into a bigger pot prevents the plant from becoming root-bound. A root-bound plant will not have enough soil in the pot to draw up water and nutrients, which will cause the plant to look tired with yellow or brown leaves. Second, changing the soil regularly gives the plant a boost in nutrients that allows it to push out lots of fresh new growth. Plant soil degrades over time and loses vital beneficial bacteria and nutrients for the plant. Therefore, it’s important to change the soil periodically to keep it fresh and alive for the roots of the plant.
If a plant isn’t growing as vigorously or is starting to develop yellow leaves, it’s important to check the soil and consider changing it if it hasn’t been done in a while. Plant experts only water their house plants when they need it. Inexperienced plant owners often struggle with this or are ignorant about it, but plants need less water than one might think. It’s always important to check the level of moisture in the soil of the plant before watering it. Before watering the plant, just stick your finger two inches into the soil of the plant, and if the soil feels wet, leave it another few days and check again. Repeatedly watering a plant when it already has enough water will lead to overwatering and root rot on the plant, which will probably lead to plant death.
Plant experts know everything there is to know about their plants. Researching the plant will tell one whether it needs full sun, be kept out of direct light, constantly moist soil, or be kept on the dry side. Without this research, beginner plant owners make mistakes like putting peace lilies on a south-facing window where it gets blasted by direct sun all day. It’s important to use Google Lens to identify the plant through pictures to get a full understanding of the care requirements for the plant.
Pests can be a real houseplant killer. Plant experts monitor pests regularly to keep their plants healthy. Bugs can get into plants in various ways, for example, spider mites are often on the plants bought from the nursery and unknowingly brought into homes. Spider mites and other sap-sucking insects damage the leaves of the plants and if left unchecked, can kill a plant as the population continues to grow and take over the plant. Therefore, it’s important to check plants over periodically for bugs and act straight away if something suspicious is seen.
Plant experts avoid putting their plants in full afternoon sun. Tropical plants are surprisingly sensitive and will burn when put in the sun. Most of our plants do hail from the tropics, but the key thing here is that most of them live near the forest floor, tropical rainforests where they get dappled sun throughout the day because they’re overcrowded by much larger trees around them. This means they are not used to having hours of direct sun beaming on them and will become very unhappy unless they are a succulent. The rule of thumb is to keep plants only in indirect sunlight.
Pruning is necessary for plants to get rid of damaged leaves and stems and keep the plant free of mold and pests. Air circulation is important for plants to prevent rot and mold on the stems and leaves of the plant. An overgrown plant with damaged leaves will be far more likely to develop problems than a plant that is trimmed and looking neat and tidy. Pruning also encourages stronger growth from the plants.
Importance of Watering
Plant experts know that watering is crucial for the health and growth of houseplants. However, inexperienced plant owners may struggle with this aspect of plant care. Overwatering can lead to root rot and plant death, while underwatering can cause prolonged periods of drought and stress for the plant.
To avoid these issues, plant experts only water their houseplants when necessary. Before watering, they check the level of moisture in the soil by sticking their finger two inches into the soil of the plant. If the soil feels wet, they leave it another few days and check again.
Investing in a moisture meter can also be helpful in determining the moisture level of the soil. This device tells the plant owner exactly how wet or dry the plant soil is, allowing for more precise watering.
Overall, proper watering techniques are essential for maintaining healthy and thriving houseplants. Plant experts understand the importance of watering and take the necessary steps to ensure their plants receive the proper amount of water to thrive.
Knowing Your Plants
Plant experts know that taking care of houseplants requires more than just watering them regularly. There are several things that they do that most inexperienced plant owners may not be aware of. Here are some tips to help you keep your plants healthy and thriving:
- Soil composition: Changing the soil of your plant at least once a year is crucial for a happy plant. It prevents the plant from becoming root bound and boosts the plant’s health in two key ways. First, it gives the plant a boost in nutrients that allows it to push out fresh new growth. Second, it keeps the soil fresh and alive for the roots of the plant. If you have a plant that isn’t growing vigorously or is developing yellow leaves, check the soil and consider changing it if you haven’t done so in a while.
- Watering: Plant experts only water their houseplants when their plants need it. Before watering your plant, check the level of moisture in the soil by sticking your finger two inches into the soil. If the soil feels wet, leave it for a few more days and check again. Overwatering can lead to root rot and plant death, while prolonged periods of drought can stress the plant out. A moisture meter is a cheap and easy-to-use device that can help you determine how wet or dry your plant soil is.
- Researching your plant: Knowing everything there is to know about your plants is essential to their care. Research your plant to determine whether it needs full sun, indirect light, constantly moist soil, or dry soil. Beginner plant owners often make mistakes like putting plants on a south-facing window where they get blasted by direct sun all day. Google Lens can help you identify your plant through pictures to get a full understanding of its care requirements.
- Pest control: Pests can be a real houseplant killer. Spider mites and other sap-sucking insects damage the leaves of plants and can kill a plant if left unchecked. Check your plants periodically for bugs and act straight away if you see something suspicious.
- Avoid fussing over your plants: Plants just want to be left alone. Fussing over them by moving them around your home, watering them when not needed, constantly pruning stems, and fertilizing too often can stress them out. Leave them to do their thing.
- Avoid full afternoon sun: Tropical plants are surprisingly sensitive and will burn when put in full afternoon sun. Keep your plants only in indirect sunlight to prevent foliage burning from the sun.
- Pruning: Pruning helps to get rid of damaged leaves and stems, keeps the plant free of mold and pests, and encourages stronger growth from the plant. Air circulation is also essential to prevent rot and mold on the stems and leaves of the plant.
Pest Control
Plant experts know that pests can be a real houseplant killer. Bugs can get into our plants in various ways, and spider mites are often on the plants we buy from the nursery and unknowingly bring them into our homes. Spider mites and other sap-sucking insects damage the leaves of the plants and, if left unchecked, can kill a plant as the population continues to grow and take over the plant.
To keep their plants healthy, plant experts monitor their plants regularly for bugs and act straight away if they see something suspicious. They also avoid putting their plants in full afternoon sun. Tropical plants are surprisingly sensitive and will burn when put in the sun. The rule of thumb is to keep plants only in indirect sunlight.
It’s important to note that plant experts do not fuss over their plants. Constantly moving them around, watering when not needed, constantly pruning stems, and fertilizing too often can stress the plant out. Pruning is beneficial, but it’s important not to prune more than half of the plant’s foliage over a short period of time. Air circulation is also important for plants to prevent rot and mold on the stems and leaves of the plant.
Avoiding Over-Fussing
Plant experts know that over-fussing can be detrimental to the health of their houseplants. Over-fussing includes constantly moving plants around the house, over-watering, over-pruning, and over-fertilizing. Inexperienced plant owners may think that constantly caring for their plants is the best way to keep them healthy, but plants actually prefer to be left alone.
Moving plants around too often can lead to stress and dropping of leaves. Over-watering can cause root rot and under-watering can cause prolonged periods of drought, both of which can stress the plant. Plant experts only water their houseplants when they need it and check the level of moisture in the soil before watering.
Over-pruning can also stress the plant out, so it’s important to only prune damaged leaves and stems. Pruning encourages stronger growth and helps prevent mold and pests.
Lastly, over-fertilizing can lead to nutrient burn and other problems. It’s important to research the specific care requirements for each plant and only fertilize as needed.
By avoiding over-fussing, plant owners can help their plants thrive and stay healthy.
Sunlight Requirements
Plant experts know that the amount of sunlight a plant receives is crucial for its growth and overall health. Most houseplants require indirect sunlight, which means that they should not be placed in full afternoon sun. Tropical plants, in particular, are sensitive to direct sunlight and will burn when exposed to it for extended periods.
Plants that are not receiving enough sunlight may become weak and spindly, with leaves that are smaller than usual. On the other hand, plants that are receiving too much sunlight may develop burnt or yellow leaves.
It’s important to research the specific sunlight requirements of each plant to ensure that they are receiving the appropriate amount of light. Some plants may require full sun, while others may need to be kept out of direct light. Using Google Lens to identify your plant through pictures can help you get a full understanding of its care requirements.
In summary, it’s important to provide your houseplants with the appropriate amount of sunlight to ensure their growth and overall health. Researching your plant’s sunlight requirements and monitoring its exposure to sunlight can help you keep your plants happy and healthy.
Pruning Practices
Plant experts know that pruning is an important practice to keep their house plants healthy and looking their best. Pruning allows the plant to get rid of damaged leaves and stems, and keep the plant free of mold and pests. It also encourages stronger growth from the plants.
When pruning, it’s important to not prune more than half of the plant’s foliage over a short period of time as it can stress the plant out. Instead, pruning should be done periodically to tidy up the plant and get rid of damaged leaves and stems.
For most houseplants, when a stem is cut, two new shoots will sprout where the cut was made, resulting in a bushier plant with a thicker trunk. This is especially true for j-plants, which can benefit from this pruning trick.
Good air circulation is also important for plants to prevent rot and mold on the stems and leaves of the plant. An overgrown plant with damaged leaves will be far more likely to develop problems than a plant that is trimmed and looking neat and tidy.
Overall, pruning is an important practice that should be done periodically to keep house plants healthy and looking their best.
Bonus Tip: Boosting Plant Growth
Plant experts know that changing the soil of your plant at least yearly is crucial for a happy and healthy plant. This practice provides two main benefits: preventing the plant from becoming root bound and giving the plant a boost in nutrients. A root bound plant will not have enough soil in the pot to draw up water and nutrients, leading to tired-looking plants with yellow or brown leaves. Changing the soil of your plant regularly allows the plant to push out lots of fresh new growth.
Soil composition is also important for plant growth. As the soil degrades over time, it loses vital beneficial bacteria and nutrients for the plant. Therefore, it’s important to periodically change the soil to keep it fresh and alive for the roots of the plant. If you have a plant that isn’t growing vigorously or is starting to develop yellow leaves, check the soil and consider changing it if you haven’t done so in a while.
In addition, plant experts only water their house plants when they need it. Overwatering can lead to root rot and plant death, while underwatering can stress the plant out. Before watering your plant, check the level of moisture in the soil by sticking your finger two inches into the soil. If the soil feels wet, leave it another few days and check again. A moisture meter can also be helpful in determining the moisture level of the soil.
Researching your plant’s care requirements is also crucial for success. Plants have different needs for sunlight, water, and nutrients. Beginner plant owners may make mistakes like putting plants in direct sunlight or constantly fussing over them, which can lead to stress and damage to the plant. Pruning is important for getting rid of damaged leaves and stems and keeping the plant free of mold and pests. Air circulation is also important for preventing rot and mold on the stems and leaves of the plant.
Overall, following these tips can help boost the growth and health of your plants and lead to a happy and thriving indoor garden.