If you love houseplants, we definitely have something in common. That is why we know that taking care of a home garden is more than tricky. Unfortunately, most of us may have a knack for the utter destruction of houseplants.
In the worst cases, different mistakes of plant parents can lead to a green pet loss. Below, we`ve gathered for you the top mistakes that should be avoided in order to keep your plants healthy.
Sunlight
Excessive shade or bright light can harm your green pet. The first thing to do is to choose the right place for the plant. To do this, find out how the plant reacts to sunlight. Also, and importantly, a plant that tolerates sunlight well should be accustomed to it gradually. Don’t let your plant have enough sun. You know that you’ve accomplished this when the new leaves are pale green and/or oddly small. Plants with insufficient sunlight will often start to look viney, as they desperately expend energy trying to find some sort of light. This has to do with the way the plant is kept before it is bought - the light regime required for a particular species is rarely observed in stores.
Check below the plants that adore sunlight:
Aloe Vera
Jade plant
Sago/Ponytail/Areca palm
Snake plant
Croton
Hibiscus
Jasmine
String of pearls
Basil
Cacti
Wrong sized pot
The indoor flowers in stores are sold in special transport pots: they are usually thin, small and cheap, and are designed only to grow for sale. If you buy a flower, better replant it as soon as possible. Moving growing plants to larger containers allows the roots to expand, gives the soil more opportunity to hold water and increases the amount of nutrition available to the plant.
Windows
For many plants, drafts are devastating. They cause flowers to get cold and lose their energy. We recommend you taking notes on the general guidelines on how to choose a perfect spot for your houseplant.
South facing windows are good for any plants with variegation or trees like citrus and banana. If a plant needs medium light, just locate it to the side (perfect for orchids) or a few feet away from the window.
West windows get a long period of direct sun, but usually miss the hottest most intense part of the day, which can damage some plants with medium light requirements. Stromanthe thrives in this environment.
East windows are perfect for most low to medium light requirements that smaller, table-top plants prefer. The sun is much less intense in this orientation.
North windows limit wise choices to a small selection of house plants. In general, flowering plants, like african violets or orchids struggle to survive in any north facing window.
No drains
Different plants tolerate different soil conditions. After buying your pet, check its individual nutrition needs. Repot the plant, inspecting the roots carefully - are there any pests? Does soil feel ok, maybe, it is too dry or too sour?
Neglecting fertilization
The plant receives the useful elements for growth and development from the air, water and soil. The reserves of necessary substances in the flowerpot are quickly depleted, so they need to be gained from outside.
Basically, plants need three elements for growth and flowering: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. All these substances are included in special fertilizers, which you can buy in any gardening store. They are diluted in water according to the instructions on the package: you need to use the solution to water and spray the plants. Be careful when feeding the plant: do not overdo it either, because an excess of nutrients is no less harmful than their deficiency. It is important to understand how much nutrients are needed for the plant. Mistakes in nutrition can lead to disease or loss.
We recommend fertilizing the houseplants during the growth season (spring to summer). Why need fertilization? It promotes healthy foliage, strong roots, or flowers. Soil usually does not provide the essential nutrients that plants require for proper growth. Nowadays, you can buy either organic or synthetic fertilizers. While the first are made of naturally occurring mineral deposits, the others are produced by chemically processing raw materials. Be careful with synthetic fertilizers - they give plants a quick boost but do little to improve soil texture.
Hard watering
Hard water is water that contains high levels of calcium and magnesium salts, as well as chlorine and iron. Such a composition has a bad effect on plant growth. The tap water to be irrigated should be allowed to stand - this will help reduce the amount of iron in the water, which will precipitate. Overwatering is a sure way to root-rot and death of a plant. By following a set watering schedule and not testing the moisture content of the soil with your finger every now and again you may find your plant just sitting in a bowl of rotten water. You can achieve the same result if you avoid putting a layer of gravel in the bottom of the pot to allow the excess water to drain away from the roots or just avoid buying a container with drainage holes in the bottom.
You can also use additives (supplements) for house flowers that contain nitrogen and phosphorus. These elements are vital for proper growth and flowering, and their content in tap water is insufficient. Ideally, it is better to use rainwater for watering.
Note that succulents and cacti were indeed designed to store moisture in their lush green pulp, which they must draw from deep layers of soil. If they are watered as often as plants with ordinary leaves, they will wilt.
The most popular signs that you overwater your plant: the tips of leaves or entire leaves turn yellow/brown, the leaves feel soft and limp in hands, the plant is wilting.
