Although we all love indoor plants immensely, how do we take care of them?
There is so much information available and a lot of it is conflicting ... so what’s the real answer.
I find the best way to treat my indoor plants is how I treat gardening in general ... simplicity is key.
I adore my plants, but I’m a simple girl at heart.
There is always going to be that indoor plant person that makes their own potting mixes and mixes their homemade fertilisers, has humidifiers and growing lamps… and then there is me!
Let’s look at how I treat my indoor plants as the starting point and then you can always work up to grow lamps!
My house is exceptionally dark, apart from one window area. I have learnt that the plant I want isn’t always going to be the plant that thrives.
I’d rather have a house full of thriving plants, instead of the newest release that’s barely surviving. Therefore, I’ve learnt that if I want a certain plant I need a twin. For example, I really love Calatheas, but my house is too dark for them to thrive, so I have two and swap them out fortnightly. This way, I get what I want inside and the plant continues to thrive.
My watering skills are haphazard and I know some plants that can handle this, so I tend to choose these plants over ones that I need to watch the watering. As my house is usually cool and dark, I find watering once a fortnight to once a month is enough for most plants -you just need to find your groove.
I have also learnt that Planters (cover pots) are the best thing for my indoor plants. Planters are pots without holes that literally cover the black plastic pot that your plant comes in. I place my plant inside these (I never usually pot into a planter, there is always an exception) I find planters enable me to swap plants around easily, protect my furniture, as I can give things a good drink without water going everywhere and I can also easily tip out water if the plant gets too much.
Occasionally, I may pot into a planter. If I do, I treat the planter and my potting method the same as I would a terrarium. I use a lot of Sphagnum moss and very little soil, and carefully select what kind of plant I will use.
I treat my plants to a spa day about once every two months. I take all my plants outside to a shady area, I give them some Organic Link slow release fertiliser, wash their foliage and give them a Liquid fertilise with Triple Boost and Neem oil. I usually leave them outside for the evening and bring them back in the next day. The fertiliser I use is same I use in my garden and all my other pots. Remember I keep things simple.
If a plant looks sick, it usually is. Imagine being cooped up inside all day. The best way to tackle a sick plant is to treat it as soon as possible - take it outside to a shady spot for a week or so. Give it a fertilise and a good drink and leave it be. I find most indoor plant deaths come from over love! Also weigh up how much you spent on it vs how much you will need to spend on it to bring it back to vigorous health. Sometimes it is worthwhile to accept a loss and get a new healthy plant, instead of spending months agonising over it.
If I find a plant is always suffering from insect attack inside, I know it’s not meant to be inside. Instead of constantly battling an insect problem, the plant gets treated with neem oil, trimmed and placed in a shady spot outside to live, where I know it’ll be happy.
What works for others may not work for me. This has been the hardest thing to learn. Just because someone is growing a particular plant well, does not mean I will be successful, therefore, I need to make my own rules in my own house.
The best thing I have learned is to not overthink it. Try a new plant, see if you like it, or more importantly, if it likes you. Move it around, buy a pot that suits that particular corner and more often than not, the plant will follow. Just remember to have fun.
Although I don’t always have all the answers, I am happy to help you on your indoor plant journey so pop down to Trevallan today.