You love growing plants indoors, but they die soon (or you kill them?). This won’t happen again if you avoid these 9 mistakes!
If you are wondering WHY YOUR INDOOR PLANTS ARE DYING even after taking so much care and extra pampering, then there are some mistakes that you are making. Here are the nine little (or the BIGGEST) mistakes that can kill your houseplants. So avoid doing them!
Having plants in your home is like a baby to care for, and there are many things you do not know when you plan to keep a plant in the house or the garden, especially if you’re a new plant parent.
Keeping the plant in a location that is not suitable
Every plant has its specific needs, do’s and don’t do’s. If you don’t know what they are, acquire the knowledge from a florist, books or the best place, the internet (consider our website)! Some plants are very specific with their placement indoor or outdoor. Placing them in the wrong location is certainly kills them sooner or later, quickly or gradually.
Mostly the plants growing indoors die due to this reason. You must read what a plant needs before you seek a place for it. Some plants require shade, indirect light, or direct sunlight, while some need moisture. If a plant needs more level of moisture, then keep it in a shaded area. If not done so, all the moisture in the soil will dry up, and this will certainly kill the plant.
Changing the location to and fro
Plants adjust to the spot where they are kept for a while, either at home or outdoors. When they are moved often, it becomes difficult for them to adapt quickly to the different conditions of the new environment. Also, moving the plants frequently can hurt the growth of your houseplant.
Wrong soil
We say–Soil is the key! And when it comes to growing plants indoors, you can’t compromise with soil. A soilless potting mix is what we suggest. You can also make your own or get high quality, commercial soil mix.
Make sure that the soil you make or buy is according to your plant’s needs. Some plants do better in rich, moisture-retaining soil, while other plants, such as succulents and cacti, need light, fast-draining soil with high sand and peat content to prevent root rot.
Overwatering
Even experienced gardeners make this mistake, and this is a common problem with container gardening. People who are new to growing plants often do this–They think that giving more water to the plant will keep it healthy and let it grow faster.
However, especially indoors, where the sun is scarce and no wind, the situation is different. Keeping plants on a little bit drier side is a good idea, but if the plant you’re growing is a moisture-loving plant, then keep the soil slightly moist.
It is recommended that you do research about the watering needs of your plant. Also, the most important factor that decides the watering requirements of a plant is the climate in which you’re growing it.
Usually indoors, watering plants only once a week should be enough though some of the low maintenance plants require even less water. It’s a good idea to feel the soil every three days by poking your index finger in the soil, and when you water, water the plants thoroughly.
Keeping plants in too much or too little light
It is true that plants need light, but indoor plants are tender, low sunlight plants, and exceeding their light requirement can kill them. It is always better to know about your plant before placing it anywhere. Some plants require indirect light for healthy growth. If they are supplied with full direct sunlight, then this can kill or debilitate them.
Exposing to extreme temperatures
Indoor plants are indoor plants because they like indoor conditions and unvarying temperatures. There are only a few that like high or low temperature than normal average room temperature.
The safest daytime temperature for indoor plants is 65-75 F (18-24 C) or somewhere around it, whereas, during nighttime, fall in 5-10 F in temperature is optimum. Moderate temperature range works well for houseplants, and having a constant temperature leads to healthier growth.
Keeping the plant rootbound
If you have a houseplant for a long time and you do not re-pot it, then it becomes bound to that pot. In optimum conditions (if the plant is not slow-growing), plants outgrow the pot within a year or two.
When leaves start to turn yellow or if you see the roots popping out, it is the signal to re-pot the plant. This indication is due to less space and freshness to grow healthy. When sending plants for a housewarming or other special day, you tend to gift them in small pots, but later they must be repotted in larger planters.
Don’t select an overly large pot for repotting. A planter that is only one size bigger than the current pot is ideal. Growing a houseplant in a way too large pot is also one of the mistakes why indoor plants die!
Neglecting the plants
Many of us plant the plants and forget about them. Underwatering is one of the consequences of it. Ignoring plants is the reason why most people kill indoor plants. Not looking at plants suffering from pests or diseases, missing to prune, no regular fertilization. All this must be avoided!
Not cleaning the leaves
Is it important to clean the leaves of the houseplants? Well, yes! For two reasons you should clean the leaves of your houseplants. First, it makes them look attractive. Second, it makes them HEALTHY!
Already, the sun is scarce indoors, and the layer of dust accumulated on the foliage of houseplants contributes to blocking the direct or indirect sunlight and reduce the plant’s ability to photosynthesize. As a result, you get a weak and stressful plant. Check out this article to learn how to clean houseplants.