How to Take Care of your Indoor Garden
Searching for a way to harmonise your house and garden? How about an Indoor Garden? By decorating your home with a selection of house plants you can liven up any room and exercise your green fingered talents regardless of the weather outside. Irrespective of whether you are a keen gardener or if you are simply looking to spruce up your interior design, listed below are some helpful hints on how to care for your house plants throughout the year:
Let there be light
Every house plant will have different lighting needs. For this reason it is recommended that you research each of the plants you buy so that you can give them the ideal conditions they need to grow. For instance, there are several house plants, such as silk and tropical plants, that prefer shaded areas whereas blooming plants will require significantly greater sun exposure or even additional lighting facilities. By choosing the right plants for your home’s lighting conditions and placing them in their preferred lighting spots you can enable your house plants to grow to their full potential.
Water with care
Similarly to lighting conditions every house plant will have its individual watering needs. You should read the tag on each house plant you buy and make a note of how much water it is stated they need. Moreover, you should also place each of your house plants in a container with drainage holes and place a tray or saucer underneath. By doing so you can enable excess water to drip through; thereby preventing water from accumulating around the roots which, if left untreated, would cause rot to develop.
Clean as a whistle
Throughout the year house plants can attract dust and dirt which compiles on their leaves. If left unwashed this debris can block your house plants from efficiently taking in sunlight. Fortunately this problem can be remedied simply by rinsing your plants with a gentle spray of warm water. Wipe your plants with a wet sponge or dry dust cloth on a regular basis and leave them to air dry in a warm spot that is not exposed to the sun.
Replace your pots
If your plants seem to be drying out more than usual, if you notice a white crust on your plant pots, or if you can see the roots of your house plants growing out of the draining holes of your pots, then it is highly likely that you will need to change the pots in which they are situated. When changing pots, go up one size at a time and always use fresh potting soil to ensure your plants receive sufficient nutrients from their growing space.
Avoid cold or warm drafts
There’s nothing worse than a cold draft from an open door or window, and your house plants agree! If left near an open window, door or air conditioning vent for a prolonged period of time your house plants can dry out and wither. Warm drafts can also be detrimental to house plants so it is advised that you do not place them in close proximity to heating vents, fireplaces or radiators. If you position your house plants on a windowsill, it is advisable that you close your curtains or blinds at night so that there is a protective buffer between your plants and the cold.