Green thumb: How to care for indoor plants

Indoor plants bring the outside in; they have the power to make any given room much more colorful and lively. If you care for houseplants properly, they can make your home a peaceful green haven.

Green plants purify the air we breathe, and make our homes more welcoming, taking care of them will make them thrive and flourish and perform these tasks more efficiently.

That is why learning how to care for houseplants is very important; even the simple act of watering plants can do more harm than good if not done properly.

We will try to help you care for your beloved green friends here in this article, and provide a useful guide for indoor plants care.

Watch the water level

Soil should be kept moist at all times; neither wet nor dry. Too dry or overwatered soil can both damage the roots and prevent the plant from growing properly.

There is no particular watering frequency that would work for all indoor plants as each plant is different and needs a different amount of water. So you need to keep an eye on the soil, checking it regularly until you can establish each plant’s perfect routine.

If you want a guide on what to look for when you check the soil, just keep in mind that if mold starts to form on the surface of the soil then you have been over-watering your plant and if cracks start to show then the soil is too dry and you need to water more frequently.

Watch the temperature of the water

Water used for watering houseplants should be room temperature. Hot water can cause root damage and can even kill plants, and cold water causes dormancy and stifles any vegetation and growth options.

If the water comes from the tap too hot or too cold where you live let it sit for an hour or so before watering your plants with it.

Watch the humidity level

Besides water, most plants need humidity to flourish. Keep an eye on your plants, if you find them welting or drying even though the soil is moist then it is because they need more humidity not more water.

You can either install a humidifier if you live in a very dry area, or you can put a plate of water with some candles or pebbles in it near the plants, or you can even buy a spray bottle and sprinkles the plants with a mist of water on a regular basis.

And remember that grouping your plants together keep the humidity level high and gives them a better atmosphere to thrive.

Drainage is essential

When choosing pots for your indoor plants do not focus only on the color and style and forget all about functionality. Drainage is one of the most important elements in pots.

Choose pots with drainage holes for excess water, and make sure to empty the cachepot regularly; sitting water can be very harmful for roots. Plus, sitting water might attract mosquitoes and flies to your house.

And if you happen to have cacti, know that they need better drainage than most other plants as they need a very little amount of water.

Light up the room

Plants need light to survive, this is a known fact. Yes, indoor plants do not need direct sunlight like outdoor plants but they still require either indirect sunlight or some sort of fluorescent light to thrive.

If you notice that your green plants are losing their bright color then they need more light in their lives, try to relocate them to a better-lit area.

No drastic changes

Keeping the last thought in mind remember that plants adjust to their surroundings very slowly, so do not make any sudden changes as they might do more harm than good.

For instance, if you notice that the plant needs more light do change its location, but do not put it under direct light immediately, change the location gradually from a darker to a brighter area.

And if you want to change your watering routine also do it gradually not suddenly, increasing or reducing the amount of water used a little bit each time as needed.

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