Exercise & Physical activity
01/25/2023

4 Easy Ways to Keep In - Door Houseplants Alive

4 Easy Ways to Keep In - Door Houseplants Alive

Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to spruce up your home for the winter months ahead. There’s no better way to do that than with a houseplant, and right now is the perfect opportunity to do so. According to National Today1, January 10th is National Houseplant Appreciation Day. If you already have a plant, maybe now is the time to relocate it to a different room. It’ll help you appreciate the plant more says National Today2 just make sure the new spot has the same amount of sun.

If you want the plant to grab even more attention (yours and visitors’), National Today3 suggests decorating your plants with beads, ornaments, or even simple ribbons. Of course the plant will need to be sturdy enough to hold the décor. If not, think about putting something in the dirt it sits in, maybe cake decorations or tiny statues, or wrap the outside of the pot in tissue.

Keep Them Healthy All Year Long

You don’t need to be a master gardener to have houseplants. With just a little care and minimal attention you should be able to easily bring greenery into your home. Here are some tips from Better Homes & Gardens4 that anybody can do.

1. Water plants correctly

Each houseplant is going to have its own watering needs. Rather than going on a set schedule, Better Homes & Gardens5 recommends watering on an as-needed basis. Water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry. In fact, too much water is why plants usually die. It’s better to water less than not enough according to Better Homes & Gardens. 6

2. Don’t forget to fertilize

Lots of plants have a spring and summer growth spurt. That’s the best time to fertilize them per Better Homes & Gardens.7 And, as always, be sure to follow the label directions to know how much plant food to use.

 3. Put overgrown plants in new pots

If your favorite plant’s roots are circling the inside of the pot you may want to re-pot it. You can move it into a little bigger pot or, if you’re fond of the pot it’s in, you can just cut back the roots a bit says Better Homes & Gardens8 and then replant with fresh dirt.

4. Prune when needed

You can prune your plants any time. It helps make them look better and keeps them from getting too large. In fact, cutting your plants back to about 6 inches can help rejuvenate them say the experts at Better Homes & Garden.9

If you do all the above and your garden friends still struggle, you may want to use an app to figure out what your plants need. There are several good apps out there but the best overall, according to Mashable10, is Planta. It includes free features that let you log the different plants you have, measure the light intensity in the room where the plant is located and get notifications when they should be watered based on your local weather.

Best place to buy

Want to add some new greenery around the home? NBC News11 suggests going to a reputable garden center or nursery, ideally one that is family owned. It’s not that large chain stores aren’t an option, it’s just that a local plant shop, nursery or even farm can provide advice on which variety is best for you. That can be a big help for beginners.

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Sources

  1. “National Houseplant Appreciation Day – January 10, 2023” National Today, last accessed  November 28,2022,  https://nationaltoday.com/national-houseplant-appreciation-day/
  2. “National Houseplant Appreciation Day – January 10, 2023”
  3. “National Houseplant Appreciation Day – January 10, 2023”
  4. “9 Essential Tips for Keeping Your Houseplants Healthy” Better Homes &  Gardens, last accessed November 28,2022, https://www.bhg.com/gardening/houseplants/care/houseplant-care-guide/
  5. "9 Essential Tips for Keeping Your Houseplants Healthy”
  6. "9 Essential Tips for Keeping Your Houseplants Healthy”
  7. "9 Essential Tips for Keeping Your Houseplants Healthy”
  8. "9 Essential Tips for Keeping Your Houseplants Healthy”
  9. "9 Essential Tips for Keeping Your Houseplants Healthy”
  10. "7 Apps To Keep Your Plants Alive And Well” Mashable, last accessed November 28, 2022, https://mashable.com/article/best-apps-for-taking-care-of-plants
  11. "How To Keep Your Indoor Plants Alive” NBC News, last accessed November 28, 2022, https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/how-keep-your-indoor-plants-alive-ncna1073646