Last Updated on October 26, 2022 by Jason Nguyen
Taking care of your indoor plants requires attention to detail. It may only be a hobby to some, but the practice requires you to invest time and effort.
When gardening indoors, mistakes can happen along the way. To prevent this, here are the things you need to avoid when doing indoor plant care.
1. Paying More Attention to Aesthetics
It’s best if you don’t prioritize aesthetics over quality. Yes, making your plant look good is necessary, but indoor gardening is more than aesthetics.
Buying the wrong kinds of houseplants for your indoor setting endangers the plants. Before buying, you must research the plants suitable for your home. The environmental conditions of your home are critical to how your houseplants will grow and thrive.
Always buy indoor plants from expert growers in houseplant shops or garden centers. There, professional gardeners specialize in looking out for plants. They may also provide you with tips on what types of houseplants are suitable for your needs.
2. Buying the Wrong Soil
You should also look up different soil types for indoor plants. Don’t use outdoor soil on your indoor plants. Outdoor soils could be detrimental to the plants since their air is constrained. It’s best to keep in mind that houseplants have unique soil needs.
3. Overwatering or Underwatering
Once you notice your houseplants turn yellowish, it indicates too much or lack of moisture. They may also show signs of dehydration after discoloration.
Knowing how and when to water your houseplants is significant for the plants’ health. Keep in mind that you have to water your plants only when it’s needed.
4. Not Giving the Houseplants Enough Sunlight
Sunlight requirement varies for different houseplants. When your houseplants do not get enough sunlight, their leaves may drop. If it’s too exposed, it’ll burn.
You have to check whether your home’s light conditions are either low light, medium light, or high light. That way, you can assess how much is enough for your indoor plants’ needs.
5. Letting Salt Accumulate
Those icky white stuff on your indoor plants are salts that cause harm. You can get rid of this accumulated salt by watering the pot.
Getting rid of the salt build-up is a must. Excess salts can hinder plant growth by limiting their ability to absorb water.
6. Leaving Dirty Leaves
Your indoor plants will not thrive when you don’t clean their leaves. Cleaning the leaves not only keeps the plant shiny but boosts its ability to produce oxygen.
7. Forgetting to Change the Pots
Changing pots as your plants grow is essential to ensure continued growth. When they grow and remain on small ones, they may get overcrowded.
Your houseplants could suffocate because of constrained space and area. Adequate space helps them thrive. If you do not have a big house, you will need to learn the proper ways of gardening in small spaces.
8. Not Checking the Roots’ Health
Although your houseplants seem healthy based on surface appearance, it’s also vital to check their roots. Roots function as the plants’ life support. Checking their health may give you an idea if you need to move them or change their pot.
9. Putting Plants in Risky Locations
Putting your houseplants in the wrong locations puts them at risk of dying early. These locations are places where your plants are vulnerable to falling and breaking. If you have little kids at home, they may unconsciously knock it off if they are not secure.
Designate spacious and open areas appropriate for your houseplants. These must also be unreachable to children and wide enough to prevent breakages.
10. Moving Plants Constantly
You must remember that stability is essential for the growth of your houseplants.
Indoor plants adapt to the environment you give them. Therefore, constantly moving them disturbs their balance, affecting their growth.
If you move a potted plant around, it can affect the amount of light it gets. It can have a significant impact on plant health.
If the plant was resting in a low-light area and you moved it somewhere to get more light, the leaves might get burned. Moving a plant from a room with good lighting to somewhere with low lighting can stunt growth.
Whenever you check your houseplants, don’t move them if they don’t need moving.
11. Failing to Take Note of Scheduling
Indoor plant care means you have a schedule for when to water or move your plants. It’s always better to write it down. Create a calendar or have a bulletin board with notes that will remind you if you forget.
Your houseplants are your best friends. You have to take care of them like you take care of yourself. Learning these common mistakes prevents you from committing the same.
Remember that plants are living organisms that need proper care to thrive. Give them the attention they need, and you’ll have vibrant plants at home.