Caring for your houseplants

With the arrival of The Glasshouse here at the Plant Market, we thought we would share some tips on how to best care for your house plants.

The benefits of having houseplants can’t be underestimated. They’ve been proven to improve the quality of the air you breathe and reduce stress levels. Houseplants don’t need a huge amount of care and attention but it’s important keep them healthy and happy.

Wondering about watering?

It sounds simple but it’s so important to keep your plants hydrated. Most houseplants die from overwatering as the water clogs the compost and the roots then can’t absorb any oxygen.

There are a couple of ways to water your green friends. One way is by using a watering-can soak the compost from above.   Here at the Plant Market, we tend to fill a saucer that sits under the pot, so the water is gradually absorbed up through the compost. All our plants come with a care label, so you know how much water they need and how often. If you’re unsure, then let the leaves wilt a little then water it. It’s better to let it become a bit too dry than too saturated. Watch our video on ‘How to water houseplants’, it’ll show you how we do it.

Misting for moistness

Regularly misting the leaves of your house plants as well as arranging them in groups increases humidity. This is beneficial as the increased humidity around them mimics their natural growing conditions.

Feed me!

Many people think that watering their plants regularly is enough but if you really want them to thrive then you need to feed them. You should use a (diluted) liquid feed – just make sure to check the instructions on the feed and that it’s one that suits the plants you have. It’s best to start feeding them after about 3 months as that’s when the nutrients in the compost will start to deplete. Then if you feed them, every 1-3 months after that, they’ll thank you for it.

Keep it clean

There are a couple of reasons we suggest dusting your house plants. Yes, it makes them look better but did you know it also helps with photosynthesis? A layer of dust on the foliage will block sunlight and reduce the plant’s ability to photosynthesize, which is ultimately how the plant feeds itself. A clean plant that’s photosynthesizing at optimal levels will be a healthy plant, and in-turn more resistant to diseases and pest infestations.

Give the leaves a gentle rub with a damp cloth or you can always put them in the shower and spray with lukewarm water. You can also use a leaf shine spray for a quick fix.

Deadheading

It’s not just from an aesthetic perspective that deadheading is important, the brown leaves can play home to pests and disease.  Use secateurs to cut off dead or damaged leaves just above a leaf point. You can also usually remove them by gently pulling them with your fingers.

If you need any help with your houseplants, please do get in touch.