Received a living gift for Christmas and want to know how to care for it? Read our top houseplant care tips below to keep your plants alive and thriving!
Watering
It’s important to minimise stress for your indoor plant, and this means regular watering. Most plants like having their roots consistently moist, but not wet. Check the care label on your plant to help determine the right watering routine. You can also purchase self-watering systems that keep your plant watered while you are away on holiday or are great if you’re a forgetful gardener!
Feeding
Houseplants like a good, slow-release fertiliser to support their energy levels over the first three months, to give them a burst of growth, with fresh, new leaves for you to admire. To maintain this growth and extend the flowering period of your plants, as well as the vibrancy of their colours, give them a regular treat of liquid fertiliser such as Yates Thrive Houseplant Fertiliser.
Pests and Diseases
When a houseplant gets attacked by an insect pest, the problem can quickly spread to other indoor plants. Preventing insects from entering your home is key to indoor insect control.
If a houseplant is showing signs of disease of insect infestation, isolate them for a couple weeks, just to make sure there are no problems. Each time you water your plants, inspect both sides of the leaves for signs of pests or disease and keep the leaves clean to minimise the risk. For more information on houseplant problems, check out our ‘Common Houseplant Problems’ article here.
Environment
Some houseplants require sun, while others prefer a shady spot. Do some research on your specific houseplant and check which environment it will be most happy in. Some houseplants will struggle to thrive in drafty areas or in air conditioned spaces. Try to place your plant in a sheltered space where it is not receiving direct sunlight for a long period of time, and not being constantly hit with a draft.
Maintenance
Like most things indoors, houseplants can get dusty. Don’t be afraid to polish the leaves, as a glossy leaf looks just awesome. We recommend a damp cloth to wipe the dust off their leaves or a can of leafshine also does wonders.
Over time your houseplant may outgrow its current pot and will need to be re-potted. You can find out everything you need to know about re-potting houseplants in our article here.