By Christine March, Master Gardener, SCMG
It’s the dead of winter. The sparkle and twinkle of the holidays is now put away and we are left to stare into the grey void. A void made more grey by the ongoing COVID crisis and its stresses and restrictions.
Could there be a better time to renew your love of houseplants?
Plants have been nurtured inside the home by humans for centuries, but they are enjoying a resurgent boom thanks to enthusiastic millennial “plant parents” and a new wave of houseplant care experts sharing their images and advice across the many social media platforms.
Sadly too many people, including experienced gardeners, claim to have a “brown thumb” when it comes to houseplants. Everyone can enjoy beautiful houseplants by following a few tips and tricks.
The key factors to houseplant success are:
1. Light
2. Watering
3. Fertilizing
4. Buy quality
Light
Acclaimed houseplant expert, Darryl Cheng, says understanding a plant’s light requirements is the foundation of plant care. Light is arguably the most important yet least understood factor in houseplant care. It doesn’t help that most houseplant care tags use murky language like “bright, indirect light.” Does anyone truly understand exactly what that means? Nope, me neither.
As with outdoor gardening situating the right plant in the right place can make the difference between success and failure. Watering and fertilizing are contingent on a plant’s light requirements. A plant exposed to full south sun in July will require more frequent watering and fertilizing than a plant exposed to north light in January.
But how many of us see a beautiful houseplant, buy it and then try to figure out where it should go? My advice is simple: determine where you want to put a plant, understand the light situation, and then make your purchase. As Darryl says, a plant that isn’t receiving enough light might do well for a year or two. It will just take more time to die.
(Grow lights will guarantee your plant will receive the right amount of light throughout the year, however, most of us rely on the natural light that comes through our windows. Grow lights have their place, but can be expensive and take up important space in your home. For this article I am assuming we are all relying on natural light.)
Watering
Ah, watering. Everyone wants to know when to water plants. The short, smartypants answer is this: water when they need it.
The fact is watering needs will vary amongst various plants and throughout the season. Many factors determine a plant’s water requirements:
– soil type
– pot size and material
– time of year
– the amount of light a plant receives
– room temperature
However, most plants generally fall into one of three watering categories:
– dry between waterings (succulents and cactii fall into this category)
– consistently moist (very few common houseplants require consistently moist soil)
– semi-dry
Most common houseplants fall into this last category. Monitor your plants regularly and only water when they need it. And, no, you don’t need a moisture meter. Use the free tool that everyone has: your index finger.
Fertilizing
True Confession: until last year I never fertilized my houseplants. It was while doing research on a presentation on houseplants that I realised how barren the potting media are that house my houseplants. Most planting soil loses all its nutritional benefits after about two months. Beyond that point the soil needs to be enriched with fertilizer.
Most quality, balanced fertilizers will provide both the macro (NPK) and micronutrients that houseplants need. And, for the record, your plants don’t care if the fertilizer you’re using is organic or not. Plants simply take what they need from the soil.
Fertilizers come in many forms but the ones best suited for indoor use are liquid and slow- release fertilizers.
Purchasing Plants
Starting with healthy plants is a major step to plant success. Great sources for houseplants include reputable nurseries and botanical gardens. High end retail florists often carry an excellent range of gorgeous and unusual houseplants. Look for good growth and inspect closely for signs of pests or disease.
Yes, you can buy houseplants online but doing so eliminates your opportunity to thoroughly inspect a plant before pulling out your wallet. Not a recommended option.
Summary
Don’t deny yourself the great joy that beautiful, lush houseplants will bring to your home. Follow these few tips and you will soon forget you ever had a brown thumb:
1) Determine your light situation and purchase plants that will thrive in that light
2) Buy the healthiest plants you can
3) Water based on your plant’s needs, not according to a schedule
4) Fertilize regularly during the growing season (March – Oct). Fertilize less during the darker months of winter (Nov – March)
