This will cause the roots to contract which is damaging to their health and happiness. Turner’s top tip is to fill a few empty bottles up with water and to just leave them close by to your house plants so that they come to room temperature. That way when it’s time to water your plants, they will have a much more pleasant experience.
Some pots already have drainage holes along with a built-in or attached drip pan around the bottom. This can be as simple as a clear plastic one, an old plate, or a nice matching ceramic option. It is best to turn on grow lights for 8-12 hours per day, mirroring the time of natural daylight.
If you are re-using an old pot, make sure to clean it well first with soapy water and even some hydrogen peroxide. This prevents spread of disease or pests to new Kamerplant verzorging Read more about sanitizing garden supplies and pots here. Two examples of “nesting” smaller pots with drainage holes inside larger ones that do not have holes. Each inner pot will sit elevated above the bottom of the other, creating space for moisture to drain away. Also, a cork coaster is being used under the one on the right.
An accumulation of salts from chemically “”softened”” water can cause damage. Over time, salts can build up and leave crusty white deposits on the soil surface or on the pots. But more importantly, excess salts can create toxic conditions in the soil, damaging roots, causing the leaf tips to turn brown, or even causing the plant to die. If your plants start drying out faster than usual, or you see roots poking out of the drainage holes, it’s time to repot. Step up one pot size at a time, and always use fresh potting soil, since the nutrients in the old soil are probably depleted. They originate from dry, desert locations where they don’t tend to get watered by local gardeners!
All houseplants have slightly different watering requirements, depending on how they’re grown and changes in plant growth through the seasons. It’s best to water on an as-needed basis rather than by a set calendar schedule. In general, plants grown in well-drained soil in an appropriate-size container should be watered when the top 1/2 to 1 inch of soil feels dry. Cacti and succulents need less water; flowering plants usually need slightly more. Overwatering is one of the most common causes of houseplant death.
What I can tell you is water less often in winter than in the warm months. I’ve done lots of guides on the care of specific houseplants for your reference. Most cacti and succulents also offer fantastic shapes and variety of foliage and are easy to grow as well. If your soil is either too dry or overwatered, it can damage the plant’s roots and prevent the plant from growing. In some cases under or over watering your plant can also kill it. In general, most houseplants need to be thoroughly watered and then allowed to nearly dry before the next irrigation.
Splashing dirt or water on the leaves can encourage fungal growth. Hello Tracy, we usually buy houseplants at a local nursery but Home Depot also has quite an assortment of houseplants if you live near one. There are probably many reputable online retailers for houseplants or you can check out Etsy as well, good luck on your houseplant search. If you follow these tips, your plants will be in good hands.
Simply insert the spike to aerate the soil, add the fertilizer stick and water. If you’ve got a large potted plant, wipe the leaves with a moist sponge or a dry dust cloth. Gently clean fuzzy-leaved plants, like African violets, with a soft paintbrush or toothbrush. Turn small potted plants upside down and swish them around in lukewarm water to clean them, using your fingers to hold them in place.
The leaves of the rubber plant enjoy a good misting. The most accurate assessment of a plant’s need for water is accomplished by testing its weight. Pick up the container of the plant and see how much it weighs; the lighter it is, the more it needs a drink. Unless noted otherwise, most houseplants would prefer being slightly dry than soaking wet. Most of the time, people are concerned they aren’t watering enough, when in fact they are watering far too much!
Good liquid fertilizers include Espoma Organic Indoor! (8 oz,, $11) and Agrothrive Organic (32 oz., $22). Dry pellet fertilizers release food every time you water, and a good organic one is Osmocote Plus (1 lb., $11). Adding more food won’t make your plant grow more, but might actually burn the plant with too much nitrogen. People love to spritz their plants, but not all plants need, or even like, being spritzed daily. Do not spritz aeroids like pothos, monsteras, or peace lilies — anything with a waxy leafy look, says Satch.
Enough water needs to be poured over the potting medium to allow water to drain freely through the drain hole at every watering. If water does not drain out the bottom, rewater until it drains freely. Never leave a houseplant standing in water, as this will cause the roots to rot. Most houseplants require the light that would be found within four to eight feet of a bright south window. Some will tolerate a spot very near the window, while others will prefer less light some distance away. Too little light can result in tall, lanky, small-leafed plants.