As another week goes by and the majority of the world is still at home, we’re here to bring some life to your space. Indoor plants have become a trending staple in many people’s homes. There are many benefits to becoming a plant parent. They brighten your home, freshen the air and go nicely with all types of decor!
Just like us, plants need care too! Observing your plants' overtime will tell you a number of things, like when to water and when to not, if it’s getting too much or too little sun, and when to put in that extra dusting and pruning care. We’d like to share our top 3 plant care tips. Of course, every plant is different and requires specific accommodations, these are just general rules of thumb.
- Watering- Watering is one of the most common mistakes a plant parent can make. It’s better to underwater your plants than to overwater. A plant can recover faster from being deprived of water than one given excess. Too much water can lead to root rot. Check the soil first to make sure it’s dry at least 2 inches deep below the surface. If your soil looks dark in color, feels moist, and sticks to your finger, your plant has enough water to do its thing for now. How often you water will also change throughout the year. During dry, cold winter months, you can get away with watering less, as your plants are growing much slower. Warmer months, however, require generous amounts of watering as the heat will dry soil quicker. Again, just be sure to check the soil! When watering, it is important to water the soil, not the leaves and flowers. Water your plants until the water comes out of the drainage holes. That way you know the soil is getting moisture all the way to the bottom. Toss any water that’s left on the saucer. If no water is left over, give the soil another soak. We recommend using warm water because it absorbs into the roots better.
- Lighting- As with watering, every plant has different light requirements. The available light in your space will play an important role when choosing the right plants for you. The basics of providing plants with lighting indoors is understanding which ones like full sun, shade, bright - without direct sun and others that survive in low light conditions. Most indoor plants cannot take in direct sunlight (apart from cacti) and like a brightly lit spot without direct sun. You don’t want to overexpose or underexpose any plant. They need the right amount of light to live. If the sun is intense through your windows, add a sheer curtain to diffuse the light.
- TLC- While water and light are the main sources for growth, giving your plants that extra amount of attention can help how big and how fast they grow. Indoor plants collect dust on the surface of the leaves that can block sunlight and affect photosynthesis. Dust can also clog the plant’s pores and affect its ability to breathe. Use a wet cloth and lightly wipe down the leaves of your plants on both sides. Getting rid of old-growth (aka dead leaves) on your plants will help your plants grow again. Like trimming the dead ends of your hair will help your hair grow again. We recommend trimming when the dead leaf is completely shriveled and dried. That way your plant can absorb the rest of the nutrients of the dead leaf.
We hope these tips will help you care for your plants so that they can grow beautifully in your home year after year.
If there is anything you’d like to see more or less of, please let us know by sending us an email at info@caravanhomedecor.com. From all of us at Caravan, we hope you stay safe, comfortable, and healthy.
