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6 Green Geniuses share their green insight into plant care
Getting your own greens can help you enliven both your space and your mood on a daily basis. While daunting at first, growing greens can be a joyous activity on its own. Therefore TIHG is pleased and elated to present 6 plant lovers and experts, who are sharing their invaluable tips to help you along your personal green journey.
My Indoor Greens Tips: Jon (@daydreambeleafers ) Light:
Your plants need lots of light to photosynthesize effectively. Remember that even the brightest parts of our homes are usually darker than a place outdoors. If a plant isn’t receiving enough light, it won’t take in water and it becomes more likely that overwatering will become an issue.
Drainage:
Keep all of your houseplants in plastic nursery pots with excellent drainage. Place those inside decorative planters. It makes it easier to move your plants to larger pots when you need to and helps keep your plants safe from root rot.
Repotting:
Be sure to move your plants into a larger pot if they start to lose a lot of their older leaves. It’s likely not getting the nutrients it requires to thrive in that small pot.
Document your plant’s progress:
Even if you don’t have an Instagram account dedicated to you plants, make sure you take regular images of your plants. Seeing their progress over time will remind you that you’re doing a great job as a plant parent.
Sunlight:
Plants need light to grow, always make sure to place indoor plants near a spot where they can get sunlight. If you don’t have a light source for plants rotate your plants by moving them outside for a day or two and then bringing them back in.
Watering:
When plants are placed indoors they don’t get lots of sunlight due to this they use water very slowly, this is the reason you must always check the soil of your plants before watering. Check the soil with your finger if it sticks to your finger don’t water the plant, if it doesn’t stick to your finger water the plant.
Pests:
If you are giving your plants adequate sunlight, watering regularly, then only reason for plant death is insects on the plants or in the soil where the plant is growing. Keep an eye on your plants and especially check underside of the leaves for pests, and if you find any, spray the plant with a mixture of neem oil and water.
These are few easy to take care of indoor plants for beginners: Zz plant, Money plant, Sansevieria, Aglaoenema, Syngonium.
Right place:
You can be successful with houseplants and enjoy your gardening experience if you buy the right plant for the right space. This also eliminates the problem you would face if you found a plant you loved and put it in a room where it isn’t getting the right amount of sunlight or place to grow and it eventually dies.
Spa sunday:
Plants need sufficient sunlight to grow and when placed in the right place where they can absorb sunlight is key for a healthy plant. Clean the leaves regularly by wiping with a moist cloth, since the dust that accumulates on the leaves of houseplants can block light and damage the leaves.
Artificial light helps:
The sunlight is food for plants and contains the perfect balance of wavelengths necessary for plants to grow and stay healthy. But one can also use artificial lights to help plants grow too.
Balanced and proper nutrition:
It’s very important to feed your plants the right food in the right quantity, and you too can see them thrive, and grow into the high-value performers you want them to be
Always research the plants natural habitat before purchasing your plants to assess whether you can replicate these conditions in your home.
Use a good organic fertiliser once a month during growing season and do not fertilise your plants at all in the colder months.
Wipe your leaves with a damp cloth at least once a month to clear them of dust. Plants need as much sun to hit their leaves as possible in order to photosynthesize. Wiping them monthly also reduces the chance of getting a pest/bug problem.
Most tropical houseplants love moisture in the air. If your environment is too dry, I’d recommend investing in a humidifier. I try to keep humidity between 55-65%. You can also place some pebbles in a saucer and fill with water and place your humidity loving plant on top. Be sure the bottom of the pot does not touch the water. Grouping plants together also increases humidity naturally.
Start with plants that are native to your region or are from similar climates.
Give your plants the best possible light and they’ll thrive rather than just survive!
Research the needs of your plant but experience is the best teacher.
Don’t fret if you see a yellow leaf or two as long you’ve done your best. Also one can never have too many plants!
Plants you sometimes see on Instagram or other platforms are added to a frame as a decor element. That doesn’t mean you can keep your plant in a room with no light. All plants need light to survive. Study the light in your space and see if you can provide the best possible condition to your plant. Move plants around to decorate but get them back to a place they enjoy.
Do not hesitate to prune your plant. It will come back stronger and better.
Propagate whenever you can! You’ll have new plants and in case one doesn’t do well, you’ll have a free plants ready to take its place.
Plants in low light tend to grow slower and smaller than plants in bright indirect/direct light. So it’s okay if your plant in low light is growing slowly.
Buy that plant, sow those seeds, take the cutting and research whenever possible. There are only experiments in gardening. You’ll be better equipped to care for the ones you have and the ones to come.