In this blog post, I am sharing my experiences of taking care of houseplants over last couple of years. I started with about a dozen houseplants and now I have over 100 houseplants in my 2000 sq ft flat.
I have come a long way in terms of learning how to take care of various houseplants and since some of my friends and close family members asked me about the issues with their houseplants (wilting, not growing fast enough, brown leaves etc.), I have decided to write this blog.
The information provided in this blog has been gathered by me from various local gardeners, houseplant owners and horticulturists.
So without further adieu let me begin with the top five common mistakes which I had made initially, and which typically happen with other houseplant owners too:
1. Over-watering
This is by far the most typical error when it comes to houseplants. Based on what we have seen in gardens, we tend to think that houseplants too need water daily. But the truth is that potted plants cannot absorb the extra water and their roots begin to rot slowly, resulting in killing the plants. Typical water clogging signs that your plant shows are brown tips, lighter shade of leaves, drooping leaves and ultimately, complete wilting.
We need to water potted plants when the soil feels dry. Before watering the plant, check the soil with the finger, if the soil seems cool or moist, you need to wait before watering it again.
Typically succulents like Aloe Vera and cactus need less water whereas tropical plants like Arrowhead and Pothos (money-plant) need more frequent watering.
This pic demonstrates the signs and effects of over-watering and under-watering:
During Indian summer months, some houseplants can need water daily but do not flood the pot, preferably use a watering can or a small cup to water.
This pic demonstrates the signs and effects of over-watering and under-watering:
During Indian summer months, some houseplants can need water daily but do not flood the pot, preferably use a watering can or a small cup to water.
If you want to learn more about how to check the soil and whether it is ready for watering or not, please watch this video by a horticulturist who has been taking care of indoor potted plants for over 30 years:
2. High salinity in water
Another common error which houseplant owners make is that they use tap water for watering the plants. The high salt content in the water gets deposited in the soil over a period of time and most plants cannot grow well in such high saline conditions.
They begin to show signs of salt stress such as brown tips or spots on the leaves, as shown in the picture below:
In my personal experience using filtered drinking water from RO or Aquaguard has worked quite well.
They begin to show signs of salt stress such as brown tips or spots on the leaves, as shown in the picture below:
In my personal experience using filtered drinking water from RO or Aquaguard has worked quite well.
3. Wrong light
Horticulturists have divided the houseplants into 3 categories based on the kind of light/shade they need - bright, medium and low light plants.
Bright light area is considered that part of the house where the light is good enough to read. Medium light areas are the ones where we can read but not without straining the eyes, Lastly, low light area is that part of the house where it is extremely difficult to read (for example bathrooms). It stands to reason that bright light areas are suitable for bright light plants and so on and so forth.
Therefore, when buying plants, do a background research about the light requirement of the plant and keep it at a spot where it can thrive under the appropriate light.
For example, Pothos (money plant) and snake plant can thrive in low to medium light whereas Areca Palm and Song of India plant need bright light to thrive.
The plants which have been exposed to wrong light begin to show signs as a cry of help. Scorched or burnt (brown) leaf tips is the most common sign of a plant being kept in too bright light/direct sunlight. Conversely, some plants' variegated leaves (green, golden, white) may turn completely green as they need more chlorophyll to compensate the less light. Therefore if you notice your Golden Pothos' leaves loosing their variegation, it means it needs to be kept in a brighter spot.
The following picture shows the leaves loosing their variegation:
The plants which have been exposed to wrong light begin to show signs as a cry of help. Scorched or burnt (brown) leaf tips is the most common sign of a plant being kept in too bright light/direct sunlight. Conversely, some plants' variegated leaves (green, golden, white) may turn completely green as they need more chlorophyll to compensate the less light. Therefore if you notice your Golden Pothos' leaves loosing their variegation, it means it needs to be kept in a brighter spot.
The following picture shows the leaves loosing their variegation:
4. Not removing dead leaves
When we let the dead leaves fall in the pot soil thinking that it will ultimately end up being used by the plant, we give invitation to infection. The dead leaves rot in the soil and the frequent watering gives the fungus and various bacteria a chance to make it a host and consequently it effects the plant root and branches.
To avert this vicious cycle, it is necessary to remove all the dead/fallen leaves from the pot.
Following two pictures demonstrate the signs which the leaves might show if the plants has a fungal or bacterial infection:
To avert this vicious cycle, it is necessary to remove all the dead/fallen leaves from the pot.
Following two pictures demonstrate the signs which the leaves might show if the plants has a fungal or bacterial infection:
5. Fertilizer
Providing too much or too less fertilizer to a plant also results in plant issues, ultimately causing dead plants. When we use too much fertilizer, the plant cannot absorb water as well as they can, and begin to have brown tips, yellowing of leaves, wilting and stunted growth.
Each plant has it's own requirement for fertilizers, hence it is best to check about the same with the gardener at the nursery from where you are buying your plants. There is also a season when some plants need more fertilizer, specially the flowering plants or kitchen garden plants.
Following are two examples of fertilizer burn on the leaves:
Each plant has it's own requirement for fertilizers, hence it is best to check about the same with the gardener at the nursery from where you are buying your plants. There is also a season when some plants need more fertilizer, specially the flowering plants or kitchen garden plants.
Following are two examples of fertilizer burn on the leaves:
Thus, while we need to understand that the potted plants/houseplants need extra care than the plants in the garden/earth, but that extra care does not necessarily mean watering daily, it means getting in tune with the specific light/water requirement of that particular plant.
So the next time you go to buy a plant, do a little research regarding what kind of soil, watering, fertilizer is best suited for that plant.
It is more about common sense and right information than having the proverbial green thumb when it comes to nurturing the houseplants. It might take a bit of getting used to, but let me assure you, it will be completely worth the time and effort you will invest.
As the famous historian Jenny Uglow had said,
"We may think we are nurturing our garden, but of course, it's our garden that is really nurturing us."
Every new leaf, every new bud - brings great satisfaction and delight to one's heart.
I will end this blog post by sharing some of the pictures of my houseplants for you to feast your eyes!
Happy gardening :)
Areca Palm
Areca Palm and Spider Plant
Pothos (Moneyplant)
Arrowhead Plant
Aloe Vera
Lemongrass
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