How to Keep Your Houseplants Happy
March 3, 2022
Buying houseplants is easy, but keeping them alive is a whole other matter! Rest assured, we’re taking the stress out of houseplant care with our care guide below.
Buying a houseplant is exciting, but now you’re responsible for keeping this little patch of earth alive! Repotting, fertilizing, watering, and keeping up with the seasons changing might seem overwhelming when you’re getting started with houseplants, but we’ve got your back. If you keep these basics in mind, you’ll be a confident plant parent in no time!
How Do I Know If My Houseplant Is Happy?
While plants cannot express happiness per se, they do make it clear when they’re not happy. For example, drama queens such as Peace Lilies and Fittonia will collapse when they need water, but perk back up in no time with a bit of H20 (and maybe a brief pep talk). If your houseplant is pest-free, has firm, bright foliage, and grows steadily from spring to autumn, congratulations! You have a happy plant.
When Do I Need to Repot My Houseplant?
It’s important to make sure your houseplant has room to spread its roots and grow! We recommend checking your houseplants once a year, ideally in the early spring, to see if you need to repot them. A plant that needs a larger home will:
- Have roots growing out of the drainage holes
- Soak up water faster than normal
- Start lifting out of the pot from root over-growth
- Have roots that are circling the root ball
- Grow slower than it should be during the sunny season
Repotting in the spring will give your plant plenty of time to establish itself in its new home while it’s sunny and warm.
How Do I Keep My Houseplant Happy in the Winter?
Your houseplant will naturally go into a dormant state in the winter, so be sure to stop fertilizing after September and wait until spring to resume! Your plant won’t need as much food and water while it’s taking a seasonal rest.
In the meantime, you might want to move your plants closer to the window with the reduced daylight hours in the winter, but be careful not to place them near any cool drafts! Keeping your house between 65-75 degrees will keep your plants warm enough, but be sure to keep your plants clear of heat vents, too; otherwise, they can dry out from the direct heat.
How Do I Make Sure My Houseplant Has the Right Sunlight?
Each houseplant has its own requirements for light. Think of your plant as Goldilocks with sunlight–you don’t want too much or too little, but just the right amount. Too much sunlight for delicate plants will result in brown or bleached spots on their leaves and very dry, hardened soil. Try moving your plant away from the window or light source and see how it does.
If your plant’s leaves turn yellow, this could be a sign of insufficient sunlight. If you have a variegated plant with gorgeous speckled leaves, and the leaves are slowly changing to a solid, dark green, that’s a clear sign that your plant needs more sunlight—it’s producing more chlorophyll to compensate for the lack of sunlight. However, if changing the sunlight doesn’t seem to do the trick, yellow leaves may indicate that your plant needs more nutrients or less water. Try taking it easy on the watering and adding some fertilizer to help your plant out!
How Do I Fertilize My Houseplant?
Each houseplant will have slightly different fertilizer needs, but here are some universal rules that are easy to follow:
- Fertilize every 2-3 weeks from March to September.
- Don’t fertilize in the winter—your plant needs to rest!
- Use the right fertilizer for each plant type. For example, cacti and some tropical plants have special requirements.
- Don’t overdo it! It’s better to under-fertilize than risk burning your plant with too much. Follow the directions carefully for best results.
If your plant is overfertilized or has too many minerals in the soil, you might notice brown, crispy leaf edges or a salty white layer on top of the soil. Try distilled water and easing back on your fertilizer routine if you notice these symptoms.
How Do I Know When to Water My Houseplant?
It is much easier to harm your plant from overwatering than underwatering! In most cases, the top two inches of soil should be completely dry before you water your plants again. If you notice that your plant is drooping or going limp, increase your watering routine slightly. Remember that watering thoroughly less often is better than sparse, frequent watering. Thorough watering helps your plant root deeply, making it sturdier and healthier!
If you’re looking to add more houseplants to your collection, visit us at Primex Garden Center! We have a wide variety of houseplants for purchase and can help you with any further questions you might have.