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How to Take Care of Indoor Plants

A few interesting facts for you to ponder…

According to a recent Terrapin Bright Green report, customers were willing to pay 15 to 25% more for goods bought from a “green” retail store

The American Society for Horticultural Science found that people with plants in their workspace were less likely to suffer from “sick building syndrome” and took fewer sick days. 

In a recent Orbitz survey, when asked about what hotel amenity they’d most like to see in their hotel rooms, 63% of millennial travelers answered MORE PLANTS.

Clearly, if you want to make a lasting first impression with your clients or have more productive employees, incorporating indoor plants into your landscape is a no-brainer. 

But if you’re someone who’s new to the world of plants and is overwhelmed with how to care for your indoor plants, fret not.

In this guide, we’ll share some of our best indoor plant care tips that’ll keep your plants alive and kicking for years.

1. Know When to Water Your Indoor Plants 

Perplexed about how often you should water indoor plants?

Just remember this rule of thumb: Water your plant only when the top ½ to 1 inch of the soil feels dry.

Don’t try to water your plants on a fixed schedule. All you need to do is poke your finger into the soil and let the plant tell you when it needs water.

Here are a few other things to bear in mind while watering your indoor plants.

Research to Understand Your Plants’ Water Requirements

For instance, flowering plants generally require more water compared to cacti and succulents. 

Plants having thick leaves need more water than those with leathery or waxy leaves.

Check the Soil

Water your plants whenever the soil appears cracked or lighter in color.

Observe the Weight of the Pot

If your pot feels very light, it means the soil is dry and needs to be watered.

Examine Your Plant for Warning Signs

Wilted leaves, brown & dried leaf edges, yellow & curled lower leaves all indicate that your plant isn’t getting enough water.

Leaf loss, no new leaf growth, discolored leaves, and rotting roots mean that your plant is overwatered.

Expert Tips to Water Your Indoor Plants

Use warm water for faster absorption into the soil.

Water only at the base of the plant.

Pour a little water first, wait for it to soak down, then pour some more. 

Ensure that the water is draining well from the pot as stagnant water can kill your plants in no time. 

Plants including Chinese Evergreens, orchids, and ferns do well when you mist them. Do not spritz succulents such as aloe or plants with waxy leaves including Pothos and Peace Lilies, as this could cause a fungus attack.

2. Give Your Plants the Light They Need

All plants require sunlight. That is their food, after all. 

Flowering plants and succulents need around 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. 

So, you could place them either

Within 2 feet of a south- or southwest-facing window or

In sunlight-flooded window sills.

Foliage plants need 8-16 hours of bright, indirect light per day. Place them either

within 4-5 feet of an east- or west-facing window or

within 3-5 feet from a south-facing window.

Low-light plants including Cast Iron plants and Dragon trees can survive even in dim corners and north-facing rooms. 

Signs of a Plant Not Getting Enough Light

Yellowing lower leaves that fall off

Spindly leaf growth

New long shoots growing towards the light

Flowering plants that stop blooming

Signs of a Plant Getting Excess Light

Withered, washed-out leaves

Blotchy white, brown, or yellow burns on leaves

Scaly or wrinkled leaves

3. Fertilize Your Plants Regularly

When to fertilize indoor plants depends on

Season

In the spring season, most plants have a growth spurt and hence this would be the best time to fertilize them.

During the fall and winter months, plants hardly need any fertilizer.

Type of Plant

Flowering plants need more fertilizer than other types, say succulents.

Low light plants need less fertilizing than plants grown in bright light.

So, how to fertilize indoor plants?

There are different types of fertilizer including liquids, tablets, granules, sticks, and slow-release forms. 

All fertilizers contain 3 basic nutrients

1. Nitrogen

2. Phosphorous 

3. Potassium

For your foliage plants, you would want a fertilizer with higher nitrogen content, while a high phosphorus-containing fertilizer would be ideal for flowering plants.

If you’re using a liquid fertilizer, dilute it with water and apply with a watering can.

Warning Signs of Over-Fertilized Plants

Stunted growth

Scorched leaf margins

Yellowing leaves

Wilting and eventually death

Warning Signs of Under-Fertilized Plants

Weak stems

Faded leaves

Decrease in blooms

4. Provide Your Plants with Proper Air Circulation

Air circulation makes your indoor plants stronger and prevents dampness and condensation on plants. 

Here’s how you ensure adequate air circulation for your plants

Place them near windows, whenever possible

Use a fan, but check that it doesn’t blow directly onto your plants

Space out your plants well. Don’t cram them too close to the walls, or in damp, dark corners.

5. Repot Your Plants as Required

Generally, you will need to repot your indoor plants every 1 to 1.5 years, depending on their growth. Spring and summer are the best times to repot.

Sometimes, all you need to do is to change the soil or potting mix; your plants can remain in the same pots.

Repot your plant when

Roots are growing out through the pot’s drainage hole

It has outgrown its planter

Its growth rate has slowed down

6. Protect Your Plants from Feline Trespassers

Here’s how to keep cats out of your indoor plants:

Sprinkle cayenne pepper around your plants.

Place orange or lemon peels in your pots.

Spritz the leaves with diluted orange oil or lemon juice.

Dilute a few spoons of mustard in water and spray over your plants.

How to Arrange Indoor Plants in Your Commercial Space

You could 

Install a live plant wall to create a focal point in your spa lobby

Group plants with varying heights and textures in an unused corner of your office

Use trendy planters that complement your hotel’s architecture

Or better yet, hire a plant design services expert to do the job for you.

Last Words..

With these practical indoor plant care tips, your plants will get all the TLC they need. For expert interior plant services and live plant installation services, feel free to contact us today!