While it's true that plants add a dash of life to our households, maintaining them for a long time is not everyone's cup of tea. Constricted modern house designs, limited gardening know-hows coupled with general unavailability of time in our day-to-day lives, lead to a point where we struggle to keep our plants alive for long.
It is no secret that gardening is a learned skill, and it gets better with experimentation. There will be a few hits and misses in the early stages of your gardening experience, but the effort will positively bear fruit with time.
Here are a few important tips to help you get started with the planters inside your house:
Tip 1: Have the right tools by your side
A lot of hard work to set up your household garden becomes more manageable with the right gardening tools.
Start with a kit consisting of essential tools such as -
- Garden gloves – Not everyone likes to get their hands dirty in soil. Gloves prevent your hands from getting dirty while also protecting you from getting injured by plant protrusions.
- Hand trowel/spade – Use it to dig and turn up the soil or transfer seedlings and bulbs into pots.
- Pruners – Cutting and trimming a plant becomes a lot more convenient with pruners while also protecting the plant from unwarranted damage.
- Rakes – Used for levelling the soil or clearing the gardening dirt and leaves.
- Spraying hose/watering cans – Depending on your garden's coverage, you can choose a hose or a watering can for watering your plants in a measured manner.
Tip 2: Select the correct pots which have drainage holes
Household plants are mostly kept in containers where they grow for the rest of their lives. Selecting the right pot is, therefore, of utmost importance.
Earthen or ceramic containers are usually preferred for their nurturing properties. Make sure that there is a drainage hole at the bottom of the pot to allow drainage of excess water.
Tip 3: Ensure proper nourishment
Fertilizers are food for plants. They contain the right quantity of essential N-P-K nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium), which aid in plant growth.
For household plants, organic fertilizers consisting of vermicompost can be used. These natural fertilizers are mild and easy for the plants to absorb.
Tip 4: Check whether your plant prefers shade or the sun
Not all plants require bright sunlight throughout the day. Certain varieties thrive in indoor lighting, where there is no direct contact with the sun.
If you are planning to keep the plants in darker areas such as bedrooms or bathrooms, select low light plants accordingly.
Tip 5: Give the plants a stable place in your house
Plants adjust according to their environment, i.e., indoor/outdoor positioning, and exposure to light. Try to avoid moving the plants from their place frequently to make them comfortable.
Tip 6: Water the plants deeply but not very frequently
One of the most typical reasons why plants die is over-watering. Although each plant variety has its own water requirement, there are certain things that you should remember.
Check for the top layer of the soil. If it appears dry and crusty, it means the plant needs water. Water it enough so that it seeps through the upper layers, and excess water drains out from the bottom of the pot.
Do not water again till the topsoil becomes dry again. Frequent watering may lead to yellowing of leaves and subsequently wilting.
Tip 7: Prune your plants regularly
Just like the trimming of dry and dead ends of your hair stimulates new growth, the same logic holds true for plants.
Use a pruner intermittently to trim the dry ends of leaves to promote new foliage growth. Getting rid of the old-growth helps the plant stay fresh and alive for a longer time.
Tip 8: Keep insects and pests away from the plants
Plants, especially the ones which flower, are prone to attracting a variety of insects and pests. These insects feed off of the nutrients present within the flower bulbs, stems, and sometimes roots. If not removed quickly, they will make your plant weak, eventually, leading to its death.
Although commercial insecticides and pesticides are easily available, most of the time, a milder homemade concoction is enough to flush out these unwanted guests.
Mix one portion of pure soap (such as a dishwashing liquid) with cooking oil and dilute it enough with tap water. Voila! Your homemade insecticide is ready to use.
Use targeted spraying techniques, such that the insecticide gets sprayed on each affected leaf, flower, or stem.
Tip 9: Do not pull out the plants for repotting
Once you gain enough experience with plants, you may be tempted to increase the plant population by transferring existing shoots to another pot. However, remember that plants are bonded to the soil by their roots.
In case of some plants, there is a strong network of roots that hold the various shoots together. So, if one fine day you decide to pluck out one stalk without due precaution, the root structure may break off and thus, damage the whole plant permanently.
Identify the root structure of the plant you want to re-pot and act accordingly. Better still, take the help of a professional gardener if you are unsure of the required technique.
Tip 10: Learn to take care of the plants even in your absence