Happy house plants
DON’T STRESS: THEIR NEEDS ARE VERY SIMPLE A little bit of ‘TLC’ goes a long way.
House plants are popular because they tick all the boxes: easy to care for, easily replaceable, an instant décor fix and the perfect gift. But there is a dark side. That’s when the ornamental Ficus drops its leaves, mealy bug infests the stems of the indoor palm tree, Anthurium leaf tips turn brown, African violets rot, and the leaves of Dieffenbachia turn yellow.
Fortunately, with the right kind of minimal care, these problems should not arise. The secret is to keep house plants healthy from the start.
“It might feel like an additional expense,” says Cathy Church from EcoBuz, “but putting together a ‘care’ pack, consisting of a nature-friendly plant tonic, soil conditioner and root protector, gives the plants a good start, making it easier to maintain their long-term health.”
Even house plants get stressed
Like people, house plants experience stress when adapting to a
new environment, with changes in light and temperature. To help, Church recommends the following combination that can be applied as a single soil drench:
Start Gro is a micro-nutrient blend of boron, calcium and silica that reduces stress in plants, whether due to transplanting, pruning or repotting. It also encourages root and shoot growth.
HumiGro is a carbon-based soil conditioner that addresses the decline in the quality of the growing mix over time. This shows up in yellowing leaves, poor growth and a general lack of vigour.
Root Pro maintains healthy roots by destroying soil pathogens and boosting the plants’ ability to fight off diseases. It contains a fungal inoculant that activates the plant’s natural defences.
All three can be mixed into a watering can and applied at the rate of one cup (250ml) per plant. Even if more than the recommended dose is given, it will not burn the leaves or the roots.
Lights, water, action
The other basic requirements of indoor plants are the correct light and the correct amount of water.
Plants that don’t receive enough light may stretch, becoming leggy, with yellowish leaves. Flowering house plants, in particular, need bright, even filtered sunlight to keep on blooming.
Rotate them regularly so all sides of the plant receive enough light. Too much light, on the other hand, may result in scorched, pale or whitish leaves.
Over-watering, rather than
under-watering, is usually the killer. Brown-tipped leaves is a sign of irregular or too little water.
Wait until the potting mix feels moderately dry before watering. Succulents should dry out completely.
Wilted plants can be revived by a long soak in a bucket of water, then allowed to drain. Plants don’t like to stand in water, and this often causes root rot.
Get to the root of the problem
Root problems, caused by poor drainage, compact soil or over watering, may result in yellowing leaves and insect infestations.
Scale and mealy bug are attracted to plants with a poor sap flow because the concentrated sap offers them more food. A drench of Root Pro treats the cause, rather than the symptoms, while Pest Pro is a bio-friendly way to treat mealy bug itself.
Most indoor plants benefit from a once-a-month nutrition top-up. The all-in-one tonic MultiGro is a blend that stimulates growth and wellness.
With a little attention, house plants can last for years, giving pleasure and satisfaction, especially for those who didn’t think they had green fingers.