5 tips for healthy and thriving indoor plants

Indoor plants are extremely popular today and should be a key component of your interior design. However, keeping your plants happy is not always an easy task, especially if you live in a small crowded flat.

Here are a few easy tips to make sure your plants can live a long and healthy life.

1. Do your research

Before buying your favourite indoor plant, get to know it. No two plants are the same: some prefer direct sunlight, other favour shade or indirect light; some are keen on a higher degree of humidity, other need fresh and dry air to survive. 

It is very important to go for a type of indoor plant that can fit your lifestyle. Some are needy and require a lot of attention, other just need water and a bit of sun to thrive.

2. Pick the right spot

When you buy a plant, carry out a mini audit of your house to identify the right areas. As we said earlier, not all plants want the same and it is very important to pick an area of your house that can fit their lifestyle. In most cases, bright, airy windows, not exposed to direct sunlight should be your preferred spots.

Do also make sure that your plant has enough room to grow and avoid putting in on a crammed bookshelf.

3. Choose the right plant pot

Choosing the right plant pot is often overlooked, but this is a fundamental step to make sure your plant can live a healthy life. Make sure that your plant pot is big enough, but not too big, otherwise your greenery will suffer. A good rule of thumb is that you should re-pot your plant in a planter that is maximum 20% bigger than the previous one. 

Make sure that you also choose ceramic plant pots with a hole carved at the bottom to ensure proper drainage, unless you want to use a ugly plastic pot. No one likes plastic pots, right?

Check out my latest plant pots, which have already been carved for proper drainage.

Finally, remember that you will have to accommodate the growth of your plant by replacing the planter with a bigger one when needed. To see if the plant needs a bigger pot you need to take it out from the planter (make sure that the soil is dry) and check the roots: if they are very visible and screaming for some space you will need to re-pot your plant. 

4. Read the signs

As all living things, your plant will send you signals that you should read and act upon. In some cases these signals are obvious: if the leaves are down, the plant probably needs some water.

In other cases, these signals can be complex and easy to misunderstand: if the leaves of your Pilea turn yellow, it can be because of overwatering, improper light or even pests. When unsure, speak with your florist or a specialist.

 

 5. Take them outside

During a breezy summer day, most indoor plants can thrive if you move them outside. A bit of fresh air and proper sun will remove the accumulated dust and help them grow healthier. Remember however that it's best to keep tender tropical plants, such as orchids, indoor.

When moving your plants outside, do that between May and September and keep an eye on the temperatures, especially if your garden or balcony is heavily exposed to the sun. Remember that high summer temperatures or too much direct sunlight can severely damage your plants.

Whenever you move your greenery outside or back inside, acclimatise it first and keep an eye on pests, which tends to thrive more in outdoor environment. As always, if in doubt speak with your florist or to a specialist who should be able to advise you.