4 Simple Tips How to Care for Indoor Pot Plants
Source:Pexels
Indoor potted plants make a great addition to any home. They add a sprinkle of warmth and color. They also help clean the air inside the house. Some indoor plants can even protect you and your family from different kinds of insects.
Caring for indoor pot plants is not that difficult. In fact, you can do it even if you don't have any gardening experience. Here are five tips on how to care for indoor pot plants that will make you look like a pro.
-
Choose your plants carefully.
Plants need a right amount of sunlight. This can be quite tricky because your living space must be able to replicate the right conditions these plants would usually get outdoors.
Even if you got a lot of windows and areas in your home where sunlight pours in, this usually lasts only for a few hours. That's why it's best to choose indoor potted plants that can only require a few hours of direct sunlight to thrive or those that can grow very well with indirect sunlight.
You'll also need to take into consideration how much time will you be able to devote to caring for your indoor plant consistently. If you don't work from home, best to choose an indoor pot plant that requires minimal care and maintenance.
-
Water your plants in moderation.
Yes, your indoor plants need water to grow healthy. But too much water "drown" and kill your indoor plants.
Here are some tell-tale signs to know if you've gone overboard with watering your plants:
- Fungus or mold begins to grow on the soil's surface
- Yellow-colored and wilted leaves, even those that are young
- Brown patches appearing on the leaves of your indoor plant
If this happens, stop watering your indoor plants for a few days. This will give the water in the soil to evaporate, and your plants will start coming back to life. You may also have to treat your soil with some fungicide to get rid of the mold and fungus thriving on your potting soil. Ask a professional gardener in your area for recommendations.
To avoid this from happening again, make only to give your indoor plants just enough water to make the soil moist. Also, be sure that you use a pot or container that's got sufficient drainage underneath. Finally, make it a habit of draining the tray underneath your plant's pot. Not only will this damage your plants, but also will be a breeding ground for unwanted mosquitoes.
-
Use a potting mix.
A common mistake people have when it comes to how to care for outdoor pot plants is that it's perfectly okay to use the soil from their garden. This is a huge mistake!
The reason is that there's a good chance that the soil in your garden may be riddled with weed seeds, insects, and even fungus. All of these will affect the overall health of your potted plants.
Instead, go to your local garden store and get yourself a fresh batch of potting soil. It may cost a bit, but at least you can be sure that it's packed with all the nourishment and none of the pests that can harm them.
-
Keep the humidity at the right level.
Most indoor pot plants prefer to grow best in a relatively humid environment. If you live in a dry region in the country, you can quickly increase the humidity level in your area by buying a humidifier. The amount of humidity it releases is just enough to mimic the ideal surroundings for your indoor plants.
-
Don't forget to fertilize your indoor plant.
Last but certainly not the least in our tips on how to care for indoor pot plants is to fertilize them regularly.
Unlike plants that grow in your backyard, indoor pot plants only have a limited amount of nourishment they can get from the soil. Fertilizing your plants once a month will replenish the nutrients in the soil, so they continue to grow healthy.
