With summer here, many people will be breaking out their cordless lawn mowers, electric grass trimmers, and other fancy tools in an effort to get their lawn in tip-top shape. But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also pay attention to the plants inside your house.
Houseplants have always added a sense of comfortability and appeal to any home. Along with adding some beauty to key rooms, research indicates that houseplants can actually boost your mental health.
Taking advantage of these benefits requires knowing what you can do to keep your plants healthy throughout the year. In winter, when cold temperatures, dry air, and shorter days may deprive them of nutrients, this is particularly important.
The following tips will help your plants reach their fullest potential. Keep them in mind to ensure your houseplants thrive in all seasons.
Water Them Less Frequently
Plants are far less active during the winter months, which means they don’t need as much water as they do in summer.
Routinely check your houseplants’ soil to confirm it’s dry two-inches beneath the surface. If it’s not, water them less often. Also, make sure the water can drain into a bucket or similar container. You don’t want anything to overflow.
Don’t Add Any Fertilizer
Plants go dormant during winter. Thus, there’s no need to add fertilizer. Doing so is simply a waste of money and resources.
Expose Them to Natural Light
Again, days are shorter in winter than in summer. That means you need to be vigilant about making sure your houseplants are exposed to a sufficient degree of natural sunlight.
That doesn’t simply involve placing them near windows. While that’s an important step, it’s also necessary to keep them clean, otherwise dust can prevent light from completely reaching them. To clean houseplants, rinse them down in the shower, or for smaller ones, clean them with a rag and warm water. You should also keep your windows clean, and move your plants throughout the day to ensure they’re exposed to the most sunlight based on the sun’s position in the sky.
Boost Humidity
Dry winter air isn’t good for houseplants. Luckily, a humidifier can guard against its harmful impact. You should also group your houseplants together when possible. This is another simple way to boost humidity.
Get Ready for Spring
February is often a good time to begin watering your plants more often. As always, check the soil to ensure it’s dry two inches down. During this time of year, when new growth begins, start to fertilize at half-strength, steadily increasing the amount of fertilizer and water you provide as spring approaches.
Prune
Old growth and dead areas on your plant can prevent new growth from thriving. Thus, late winter is a good time of year to start pruning your houseplants.
When most people think of pruning they often imagine a big tree outside with dilapidated branches that need to be removed. However, pruning is very different for houseplants. Depending on the size of the plants, or area(s) you need to remove, use oscillating tool blades to make the swift, fine cuts. These will not only help new growth develop, but it will make your plant look brand new, too.
Change the Soil
When seasons change, it’s important to change your houseplants’ soil. All you have to do is remove the plant from its pot, trim back the root ball, and transplant it to a new pot with new soil.
Remember these tips as winter approaches. Your houseplants’ needs will change during this time of year. If you tend to them properly, they’ll be ready to grow and thrive again when spring returns.
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