There are many benefits to adding houseplants to your home. From improved air quality to improved mental health, plants can contribute a range of positivity to a household. Plants add to the ambiance of a home in ways other décor items can’t. Practical, eco-friendly, and adorable, plants are the perfect addition to any home. One tricky thing about plant ownership: plants can be high-maintenance and require care to stay in good health. Check out these tips for healthy houseplants.
Choose the right potting soil for the plant
Choosing the correct potting soil is the first step to fostering healthy plant growth. Succulents and ferns will not thrive in the same soil in the wild, so they won’t in your home either. This means you may have to invest in multiple kinds of soil if you have or plan to have plants from differing regions or climates. Do some research into what minerals are beneficial or harmful to your individual plants.
Bonus Tip: If you’re not sure what kind of plant you have, take it to a local greenhouse or plant shop to get a professional’s opinion. They can also help you pick out a good soil.
Give them the perfect amount of sunlight
Plants need the sun to grow. Place your plants strategically in your house to make sure they’re getting the proper amount of sunlight. This also varies with each plant. Some plants require full sunlight while others are happier in a shady area only receiving sun during certain parts of the day. If your home lacks lighting, plants are a perfect reason why you should add more natural light to your home.
Bonus Tip: Rotate your plants every week to ensure the plant gets even sunlight. Plants tend to lean toward the sun over time, so to keep your plant standing straight turn it every so often to evenly distribute the sun exposure.
Water them according to their individual needs
Some plants require a lot of water while others can’t handle much at all. Look up your specific plant and learn the best watering practices for it. Some plants thrive with small doses of water multiple times a day, while others can go weeks without water. An easy way to tell a plant needs more water is dry soil, brittle leaves, and brown discoloration. If a plant is overwatered the soil may begin to grow other substances, the leaves may begin to wilt, and the plant may start to die.
Read or talk to your plants
Believe it or not, reading and talking to your plants helps them to stay healthy and facilitates growth. The carbon dioxide you breathe out is like food for your plants. Reading to them or talking to them helps them stay healthy.
Bonus Tip: You don’t need to go buy books specifically to read to your plant. If you’re already reading a book for yourself simply sit near the plants and read out loud. If you’re looking for a fun way to add more plants to your home, seed bombs are an exciting way to encourage planting more plants. Each comes with a fun game and grows different plants from tiny seeds.