It’s finally starting to feel like that time of the year again when nature is slowly waking up after winter and days get longer and longer. As the saying goes, spring really is the time for growth and renewal. Besides giving you the opportunity to enjoy nature, waking up after a long sleep and warm temperatures, March-April is also the perfect time to remind yourself to take a closer look at your green friends’ well-being and see how they are feeling.
Taking care of your plants in spring time is in fact the most important guide to so-called “plant care”. After the arrival of the first warm sunny days, nature not only invites you to spend more time outside, but also to awaken the houseplants. In fact, during spring, houseplants are at their most active.
Like humans, houseplants are also easily affected by seasonal change, and longer days and warmer temperatures usually make them consume more water and nutrients. However, the spring sun can sometimes be too strong for the plants when waking up after the dark season. For this reason, it would be important to check what your bio buddies really need.
Here’s a short checklist to help you see what could be the best for your plants to prepare them for the new season:
1) Clean the leaves and cut off the bad bits
The first easy step of plant care is to check how the plant looks. Take off all the dry leaves and clean the ones that are still looking nice and lively with a spray bottle and a cloth.
2) Change the ground and the pot
Some plants require a bit more attention than others, and spring is a perfect time to change the pots for those who need it. You should always make sure before you re-pot your plants if they actually require it. Some signs showing that you should re-pot your plants can be easily seen from the roots: if they are growing out from the pot, if they are coming through the pot or it looks like it is going to burst, there is not enough soil in the pot. When the roots are overgrown inside the pot, they form a circular pattern.
If you don’t need to re-pot your plant, you can also add new soil after taking away some of the old soil from the surface.
3) Add some fertiliser
New soil has lots of fertilising particles, so you should wait about 2-3 weeks before you start fertilising your plants. This is done easily by adding some liquid fertiliser into the pot with the water. Make sure to read carefully the instructions attached, they can vary by brand.
4) Take them outside and give them water regularly
Houseplants love sun and warm temperatures and when spring finally arrives, you should take them outside too to enjoy the atmosphere with the rest of nature. Spring weather can also be a bit misleading sometimes so make sure you do not leave your plants outside during the cold nights or in direct sunlight.
References:
https://www.kotipuutarha.fi/puutarhanhoito/7-vinkkia-huonekasvien-kevath…
https://getbusygardening.com/spring-houseplant-care/
https://www.thesill.com/blogs/plants-101/seasonal-care-spring