Here are 7 care tips for healthier houseplants!
Mimic Natural Habitats:
Understand your plant’s native environment and try to mimic it. Tropical plants love humidity and indirect light (put in your bathroom or mist with water), while succulents need bright, direct sunlight (south-facing windows) and dry conditions.
Rotate Your Plants:
Rotate your plants 90 degrees weekly to ensure even growth. This simple step prevents lopsidedness and keeps your plants looking great.
Avoid Overwatering:
Check soil moisture before watering. Insert your finger an inch into the soil; if it’s dry, water it, but don’t overwater. We use a moisture meter at home, which helps tremendously.
Water From the Bottom:
This keeps plants healthy and lowers the risk of mold, fungus, and fungus knats. For closed flower pots, use a short 3/4” irrigation tube to fit your pot height (@eldershardware) and fill the dirt in around it when planting. When you water your plant, pour the water directly into the tube, which will allow the water to go straight to the roots. For small pots or plants that don’t like a lot of water, fill the tube half way with landscape sand, which will keep you from overwatering. (See below image)
Clean the Leaves:
Dust on leaves blocks sunlight and hinders photosynthesis. Gently wipe leaves with a damp cloth to keep them clean.
Use the Right Potting Mix:
Different plants need different soils. Succulents require well-draining soil, while ferns prefer moisture-retaining soil.
Natural Fertilizer:
Opt for natural fertilizers whenever possible. Here are some homemade fertilizers.
• Coffee grounds & spent tea leaves
• Ground egg shells
• Soak banana peels and pour the liquid on your plants
• Cooled cooking water from boiled or steamed vegetables
• If you have a freshwater fish tank at home, you can use the dirty water on your houseplants and they’ll be the healthiest you’ve ever seen them!
Happy planting!
OUR FAVORITE LOCAL PLANT SHOPS
Joli Jardin Flower Farm & Shop
(Located on Market Street on the Southside)
Verre Noir
(Located on Frazier Avenue on the North Shore)
The Barn Nursery
(Located 8 minutes from downtown Chattanooga)
Looking for a specific type of plant?
We found this helpful article with lots of great options and information about each plant.
Visit ElleDecor.com to read the article.