Common mistakes you’re making with your houseplants
While they won’t purify your air, houseplants are a great way to bring life into your spaces, whether it be a single potted plant on your shelf or a room full of foliage. But, when it comes to how to care for indoor plants, it can be easier said than done. Maybe you’re one of those plant parents, no matter what you do, can’t seem to keep your greenery lively and fresh. To help
h you learn how to care for indoor plants, we’ve rounded up common mistakes people make with their houseplants – and what you can do instead.
Overwatering plants
One of the top mistakes people make with their houseplants is overwatering, which can mean giving too much water at one time or watering too frequently. Either type of over-watering can impact a plant’s health and lead to issues like yellowing leaves, root rot, and soggy soil. In some conditions, over-watering may also lead to mold or bug infestations.
It’s in your best interest to only water plants as much as they need, and that amount differs for different plant species. When you buy a plant, ask the seller how often to water it or do some quick research. Typically, once a week or once every other week is often enough for most indoor houseplants.
A soil moisture meter, like one from Alpine, is a handy garden tool that can help you determine whether or not your soil is overly saturated.
Under watering plants
Similar to overwatering plants, many people under-water their plants. This habit can be out of neglect or a lack of understanding what a certain plant needs. Under watering plants leads to brown edges of leaves, wilting, or slow growth.
It can be difficult to notice if you’re under watering, but a telltale sign is if the water runs right through your plant and out the bottom within seconds when you do water; this is showing you that the plant and its roots isn’t absorbing the water and should be watered more often.
If you want to take better care of indoor plants, make a list of plants that need water each week and which ones are biweekly, and get a watering can, like the chic and stainless steel Remiawy Watering Can. This applies to succulents, too!
Make sure to fully water your succulents or even dunk them in a bowl of water when it’s watering day; they’ll dry out over time and you’ll see great growth! Alternatively, a plant mister like the Sinoay Clear Plant Mister can help give plants like succulents the right amount of water.
Repotting plants at the wrong times
Repotting plants is key to helping them grow larger or taller, but it’s important to repot at certain times.
If you notice a plant hasn’t grown in months or you know the roots may be too long or large for the current pot, it’s probably time to refresh the soil, tousle the roots, and move your plant into a larger pot. However, you don’t want to repot more than once or twice a year.
When it’s time to repot, make sure to mix new soil (and compost if you have it) into the existing soil to replenish nutrients.
Choose a pot an inch or two larger in diameter than the current pot to give the plant room to grow without shocking it. If possible, try to do your repotting on a warm day so you don’t have to worry about freezing temperatures shocking any plant, even if you plan to repot indoors.
Not treating bugs or other infestations
It can be tempting to toss a whole plant in the trash if you notice any infestations. Common indoor plant pest problems include aphids, gnats, scales, white mold, and mealybugs.
These problems are generally exacerbated by over-watering and locations with little airflow. If you have a plant that needs some attention in this regard, keep it away from other plants to prevent the pests from spreading.
Treating plant pests is much easier than you think. First, identify the pest you’re facing and research the best type of treatment. You can always cut away a leaf or branch to save the rest of the plant.
Bonide Neem Oil will also be valuable because it can help rid many types of infestations and doesn’t cause harm, so you can spray it liberally without killing the healthy part of your plants.
Not using pots with drainage
Some indoor plant problems are caused by the pot the plant is in, making it difficult to determine the root of the issue. Pots with drainage holes or saucers are superior because they allow water to drain from the pot instead of creating swampy conditions.
They naturally work to prevent root rot and over-watering problems. Clay pots, like the common terra cotta styles, also draw some water out from the plant if there is an excess.
Aim to repot your house plants in pots with drainage when possible. If you’re set on a pot without any holes or saucer, add some small rocks or pebbles at the very bottom of the soil to help create a boundary between the water that descends and the roots of your plant. Consider options like the 8-inch self-watering pot on Amazon and the minimal Hyde Planter from The Sill.