Indoor Plant Care 101

Lighting

This will be your most important criteria with regards to your houseplants. If you do not have the correct lighting the plant will not grow to its fullest potential. Analyzing how much light you have in different areas is key. 

Direct light will be 1-3 ft away from the window. 

Indirect will be 3-5 ft away from the window.

Anything further than that will be low light and anything that is not directly in front of a window is considered low light.

Watering

Watering in the active growing months - March thru till September - these are also the months when you can fertilize- this helps with photosynthesis, growth and health.

In Winter when the light is lower you may need to move some plants closer to the window for additional light. Eg: succulents to avoid stretching/ water-wise plants 

Water by going around each plant in circular motions evenly and slowly. This allows all layers of soil to be evenly moist. Never let your plants go bone dry...that is too long without water.

Choose a smaller watering can for inside houseplants. This ensures that you are not giving too much ‘volume’ of water. 

Drainage

Having holes in the bottom of the containers will allow for excess water to drain thru. As much as possible try to plant in a container with drainage holes with a saucer underneath. If the material allows, drill a hole. 

If you fall in love with a pot that does not have drainage holes add a healthy layer of perlite or small pebbles to the bottom of the pot so the roots do not sit in water. You will have to be more accurate when watering so as to not overwater.

If there is a gap between watering and the soil has become hardened or cakey - take a chopstick or fork and go through the soil to release the condensed soil. Condensed soil will mean the water will run straight thru the edges of the pot and not feed the roots. Loosen soil to create more pore space. 

Planting

Plant your new plant baby in a pot that is a couple of inches larger than the nursery pot. Plants do not like to be swimming in the pot. If the pot is too big the roots get confused as to where to get their water from. This often leads to a failed plant. 

Use good soil!!! My favourite is the Gardenworks indoor potting mix. Never use outdoor soil indoors, it is heavy and not sterilized and a different formulation.

Wipe the leaves of your plants at least once a month. This takes the dust off the plant and puts the shine back into the leaf. It also allows for more photosynthesis which is crucial. Spray your leaves and stems w/ water - this also alleviates the dust and gives tropicals some mist which is what they crave. Tropical plants come from a humid environment so try to replicate what they have in their native sites. 

Add fresh soil or re-pot every other year. The plant will have absorbed all the nutrients from the soil in the first year of planting.