This is how you take care of your green friends the right way
Let's face it... Not everyone has a green thumb, but many of us still like to have some green in the house. For all plant lovers without green fingers, don't panic, we have a solution. Looking after a plant sometimes seems more difficult than it is. Plants are a bit like us, they need a little bit of everything to stay healthy. In order to enjoy your houseplants even longer, we have put together a few handy tips for you.
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Good question! The most important thing is to make sure your plants do get enough light. If they don’t, they won’t produce enough glucose to stay alive. Flowering plants often need more light than green houseplants. It is best to place your flowering plants near a window avoiding direct sunlight and your green houseplants are best to keep a little deeper in the room. Light is good but darkness is also needed to get healthy plants. Indeed, they need at least 6 hours of total darkness each day to remain in good shape.
Flowering plants need water almost every day, especially since they are often in the sun. A small amount of water at a time is of course sufficient. You will automatically feel how much the plant needs by touching the potting soil regularly. Make sure not to leave too much water in the saucer under the pot to prevent molding. Unlink flowering plants, green houseplants usually do not need water more than once or twice a week, depending on the species. Houseplants with large leaves, such as the Monstera, love to be sprayed with water. If your plant is used to humid conditions, mist it regularly to mimic those conditions. It also helps to keep the leaves free of dust!
Fertilising flowering plants is best done twice a year. Once in summer and once in winter are preferable. Green plants need extra fertilisation every week in summer, and once a month in winter.
Yes, you should! The most common problem is the Red Spider Mite that causes the leaves to turn yellow and produces fine, white cobwebs on the underside. If your plants are infested with this mite, it is important to eradicate them. Move the plants away from any window and wash the window frame and pot before introducing new plants.
In case of aphids, you can mix skimmed milk with water and spray the leaves with this mixture. Rinse the plants with warm water the day after impregnation. You can also go to your florist and buy a pesticide. Do not water your plants more than necessary. Too much water makes your plants less resistant to germs.
It is a good idea to keep the temperature of your houseplant constant, especially during the day. At night, it may cool down a little, but be careful: large temperature fluctuations are disastrous for houseplants! The ideal temperature for houseplants is between 15 and 25 degrees. Store it in a place where it is not cold in winter and not in direct sunlight in summer.