How to keep any plant alive
Houseplants had a real moment last year. At a time when we were all stuck in our homes with nowhere to go, lots of the nation turned to plants. Online plant store Patch even reported a 500% increase in sales during lockdown. And it’s easy to understand why. They’re an inexpensive way to freshen up your living space, they look great, and for many, they can be a mental health boost too. For those of us without gardens or outdoor space, they were also a vital connection with nature during a time when we all had to spend lots more time indoors.
But where to start? With so many options out there, it can be hard to figure out what your plants need! We’ve got you covered with guidance and troubleshooting tips that you can apply to any plant in your care, from solid cactuses to tropical divas.
If you’re looking to start your plant collection, we’ve also got a list of super-easy plants to take care of! Even if you have a track record of murdering everything green that enters your house, you won’t go far wrong with these tips.
Watering
When it comes to watering, every plant is different. Cactuses and succulents are quite happy sitting in dry soil and will only need watering once every three or four weeks. Plants like Calathea and Peace lilies will need a little more attention.
The easiest way to tell is to use the finger test. Take your finger and stick it down into the soil as far as you can, or until you reach your knuckle, and see how the soil feels. If there’s soil sticking to your finger when you remove it, that’s a good indication that there’s still some moisture in there. Check again in a couple of days. If your finger comes back clean, or the soil brushes off easily, then it’s probably time for a water!
Golden rule:
If you’re not sure, remember – it’s better to underwater than overwater. Make sure all your plants have drainage holes in the bottom of their pots so that excess water can escape easily.
If a plant is overwatered, the roots can start to rot, which is hard to fix, and will slowly kill the plant. If a plant is underwatered, then that can usually be easily remedied by giving it a drink. Most plants will survive a drought far better than a flooding.
Some plants might need watering more than once a week, especially in summer! It’s usually easy to tell when a plant is thirsty – look out for limp, drooping or curling leaves. To water your plant, you can either leave it in a sink filled with a few centimeters of water for a couple of hours to soak up from the bottom, or water from the top until water is flowing through all the drainage holes.
Light and location
Location in your home is one of the most important factors for the survival of your plant! Every plant has different light requirements. Most plants will need to be close to a window to thrive. You’ll need to figure out which windows in your home get the most sun and light, and make a judgement based on your plant’s needs.
North-facing windows don’t get any direct sun and are only suitable for plants who do well in the shade, such as ferns, spider plants and snake plants. South-facing windows will normally get much more direct sun, which will be preferable for most cactuses and some tropical plants. Many plants do well in east or west-facing windows, where they get a nice mix of sun and shade.
The internet is your friend when it comes to figuring out a plant’s light requirements, but you’ll also be able to spot some signs yourself. A plant that isn’t getting enough light will have slow or patchy growth – it might be growing in new leaves with lots of spaces along the stems. A plant that’s getting too much sun might have scorched or crispy leaves.
Fertilising
Because house plants only have a limited amount of soil to get their nutrients from, you’ll need to fertilise them every now and again if you want to see new growth.
This is something you only need to do in spring and summer, when the plant is starting to grow. How often you need to do it will depend on the kind of fertiliser you use – most will have recommendations on how to apply it and when.
Golden rule:
Always follow the instructions on the back of the fertiliser you buy! Different types are applied in different ways.
A good rule of thumb is to fertilise once a month through spring and summer. Make sure you don’t over-do it!
Signs of over-fertilising can include yellowing or wilting leaves, brown leaf tips, black or rotting roots, or leaf drop. If any of these things happen soon after you fertilised the plant, flush out the soil with some clean water, and decrease the amount of fertiliser you’re using.
Repotting
Most plants will only need repotting once every 12-18 months. Spring is a good time to do it, before the plant gets into its new growth phase, but you can do it any time you think your plant might need it. A plant that needs to be repotted might have lots of roots growing through the drainage holes or have so many roots it’s lifting out of the pot completely. It might also be needing water much more frequently.
Golden rule:
When repotting into a new pot only want to go one or two sizes up from the pot you're already using.
When you go to repot, put a big handful of fresh compost in the new pot. Some plants, such as orchids, require a different kind of soil, but most plants will be happy with general purpose potting mix. You can find mixes for houseplants online.
Turn your plant upside down, and gently tap it to dislodge it from its current pot. If the roots are overgrown, you may have to detangle them a little to get it loose. Place your plant into the new pot – make sure all the roots are below the rim.
Fill in any gaps with compost around and over the plant’s roots, so it’s snug, but not too tight – you want to leave it room to grow! Resume watering as normal.
Now that you know the basics, try out your green fingers on these hard-to-kill plants!
Snake plant
Snake plants are famous for being tough and will readily forgive you if you forget to water them!
Watering: Low, every 3-4 weeks or less Light: Part sun, part shade, but tolerates shadier spots too Pet friendly: No
Burro's tail
Burro’s Tail, or Donkey’s Tail, is a very popular succulent, meaning it stores water in its little leaves. It’s tolerant of drought and grows long, trailing stems, but the leaves can be a little delicate! Expect to lose a few when you water it.
Watering: Low, every 3-4 weeks or less. Light: Full or part sun – perfect for a sunny windowsill. Pet friendly: Yes
Golden pothos
The pothos is a trailing vine that grows quickly! They look great trailed over bookcases or along walls. There are lots of different types with beautifully patterned leaves.
Watering: Medium, every 1-2 weeks or less. Likes to dry out completely between waterings. Light: Part sun, part shade. Pet friendly: No
Spider plant
Spider plants are incredibly popular! They look great in hanging baskets, as they grow long stems that cascade.
Watering: Medium-high, once a week or less. Likes to dry out completely between waterings. Light: Part sun, part shade. They’re tolerant of shade, but too much direct sun will scorch their leaves. Pet friendly: Yes
Illustrations: Leanne Collier/agencyrush.com
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