Looking after your indoor plants

with Charlie Lawler and Wona Bae, owners of Loose Leaf

1. Observe light conditions in the space you wish to place a plant. Is there direct or indirect sunlight? Is it a bright or shaded position? These conditions can change in your space during the year. At home, we have specific winter and summer locations for our plants based on light availability. In summer, we tend to move plants off window ledges and away from the harsh sun, whereas in winter, we keep them close to light sources. 2. Just like us, plants get thirsty. As a general rule in summer, they enjoy more water and in winter, less. Rather than keep an exact watering routine throughout the year, look for signs that a plant is thirsty, such as wilting leaves and dry soil – these are a pretty good indication that your plant needs a drink. 3. Consider how you care for an indoor plant. Much like a pet, it needs regular care. A plant is a living thing and can still be affected by external influences like weather, plant predators and disease. Consider every plant individually and monitor how they are doing daily. This doesn’t require much time, but if anything untoward arises, this means you can quickly care for the plant. A quick daily visual once- over is enough to ensure your plants are always happy. For info, check out Charlie and Wona’s book Loose Leaf ($ 45, Hardie Grant Books). Visit looseleafstore.com.au. .