How to care for house plants – 6 steps to perfect plants

Royal Horticultural Society on 'hard to kill' houseplants

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House plants can make an indoor space into a real homely looking space. But now that the spring is in full blast and summer is just around the corner, it’s a great time to show your houseplants some love since plants tend to grow more in the spring and summer. As the seasons change, it’s essential to address any developing needs they may have (like more water and less shade). Here are six steps to the perfect plants.

Clean and mist the leaves

Just like any other surface in the house, plants need a good clean as they can collect dust as well.

Give them a gentle wipe with a damp paper towel or microfibre cloth to clean them up and get rid of the dust before giving them a good spritz with a mister.

Use fertiliser

Fertiliser is one of the best ways to stimulate growth, and your plants will absolutely love it.

There’s no shortage of fertilisers to use, and you can even opt for a natural one that you may already have at home.

Banana peels, for example, can be soaked in water for at least one hour to create a nutrient-rich fertiliser you can use to water your plants.

Aerate the soil

Over time, soil can become compact and won’t absorb water as well as it has done in the past.

If you’ve got a pair of chopsticks lying around, though, this is where they finally get to come in handy.

Simply take your chopsticks and poke through the soil a few inches into your pot and twirl it around.

You only have to do this two or three times to give your pot enough fresh air to go on.

Repot if you need to

If your plant is looking a bit cramped and crowded in its pot, or the soil has become super compact, then it’s time to report.

Even if you’re just taking it out, removing old soil from the roots and popping it back into the same pot with fresh soil, this can do wonders for your plants.

And if it’s your green pal has outgrown its current pot, you will want to swap it for a slightly bigger one.

Repotting when needed will encourage growth in your plants and see them live their best lives. 

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Location, location, location

Depending on your plant’s individual needs, it could be worth moving them to a different spot.

With the brunt of the summer sunshine just a few weeks away at this point, some plants may prefer a shadier area.

On top of that, if you notice your plant is leaning to one side, give it a spin and rotate it a quarter way.

It’s likely leaning toward the sun, so it should balance out as you get into the habit of rotating it on a regular basis.

Watering

This is one of the most important steps and if your plants need water then make sure to do it.

If the soil feels completely dry to the touch, it’s probably time to give it a drink.

But be careful as overwatering can be just as fatal to the plant as under watering.

You’re advised to water the plants in the morning when it’s hot so they can absorb the liquid before it gets too hot and the water evaporates.

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