Houseplants are a great addition to any home. They add a bit of vibrancy and life to an indoor space. These houseplants can also reduce stress and improve your mood, especially when you follow a comprehensive houseplants water and feeding guide.
They aren’t just aesthetically pleasing, but these houseplants can also purify the air.
Yet, it’s essential to properly care for your houseplants. If these houseplants are incorrectly fed and watered, they could rapidly die. To ensure that your houseplants are as healthy as possible, follow this simple guide to watering and feeding.
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How To Water And Feed Houseplants?
Watering Houseplants
It is important to water your houseplants at the right frequency. Overwatering will drown the plants, causing them to rot and lose color.
Meanwhile, houseplants that have not been given enough water will grow slowly and will start to develop brown tips.
It’s important to bear in mind that the frequency with which you have to water the plant will depend on its species. Certain plants will require more water than others. This is usually based on the natural habitat of the plant.
If it originates from a dry environment, the plant will likely require less water. For instance, cacti will need very little water.
The majority of houseplants will only need to be watered approximately once a week. Some plants may be watered twice a week. However, many houseplants will require less water during the autumn or winter seasons.
Winter will mean less light for your plants, thus causing them to grow less. Consequently, they may only need to be watered once per fortnight.
It can be a good idea to use your fingers to feel the soil of your houseplants. That way, you can determine whether or not the soil feels moist. If the soil is dry, this is usually a sign that you need to increase the frequency of watering.
Generally, it is fine to use tap water on your houseplants. However, this will vary depending on the quality of the tap water.
If it contains various chemicals, this tap water could be detrimental to the health of your houseplant. In these circumstances, rainwater or distilled water will be the superior option.
Tepid or room temperature water is best suited to your houseplants. Namely, the water should be in the region of 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Feeding Houseplants
Feeding is the process of using fertilizer to ensure that a plant gets the nutrients that it requires. By properly feeding your plant, it will grow quickly and healthily.
If a houseplant has developed an unhealthy appearance, such as a yellowish hue, this is a strong sign that you must feed it.
You will need to ensure that your houseplants are well-fed during the growing process. Between spring and autumn is the lengthy period in which houseplants primarily grow.
In the later months of autumn and throughout the winter period, a houseplant will not need to be frequently fed. You should aim to feed your houseplants every 10 to 14 days.
There are 3 main nutrients that you will need to feed your plant, namely:
- Phosphorus (P): this is needed for strong and healthy roots.
- Nitrogen (N): nitrogen is necessary for plants to conduct essential processes, such as photosynthesis.
- Potassium (K): this will make your houseplant more tolerant and resistant to disease.
It’s important to invest in the right fertilizer for your houseplant. For instance, if you have a houseplant with weak roots, you may want to pick a fertilizer that is rich in phosphorus.
Many fertilizers are available in liquid form, which will allow you to deliver the fertilizer through a watering can. Other common varieties of fertilizers include granular and slow-release fertilizers.
No matter what type of fertilizer you use, it’s imperative that you follow the instructions to experience the benefits of the fertilizer.
What Are The Best Houseplants For Beginners?
If you are new to the world of houseplants, it’s important to pick the right varieties. Beginners should avoid high-maintenance houseplants. These houseplants are ideal for beginners:
- Snake plant
- Chinese evergreens
- Spider plant
- Aloe vera
- Dragon tree
- Holiday Cactus
- Cast iron plant
- ZZ plant
Often, beginners should opt for fast-growing houseplants, as they give beginners a sense of achievement.
How Can You Revive A Dying Houseplant?
If your houseplant is starting to look a little unwell, your first instinct may be to panic. The good news is that it can be possible to reverse the symptoms of a dying houseplant.
Detection is the key to reviving your houseplants, as this will ensure that you receive the plant before it dies.
When your houseplant starts to turn yellow, this is a key sign that you are overwatering it. Thankfully, this symptom is super simple to solve, as you can simply stop giving the plant too much water.
You should also trim any parts of the plant that have died.
Meanwhile, if the pants have started to develop a brown hue, you may not be giving them enough water. Alternatively, this could be a symptom of poor humidity.
To prevent underwatering, give your houseplant a little more water and remove the dead elements of the plant.
Another common issue is that the houseplant has started to turn colorless and pale. When this happens, the usual cause of this problem is that the houseplant is not receiving sufficient sunlight.
A simple solution to this problem is to move the houseplant so that it can receive more sunlight.
On the other end of the spectrum, you can place the houseplant in a spot where it is getting less harsh sunlight. If a plant acquires too much sunlight, it can start to appear blotchy.
Final Thoughts
Houseplants are a wonderful addition to your home, as they can add a bit of color and life to this environment. Many houseplants are quite durable and so will not need specific care. However, other plants can be more challenging to care for.
As a result, you must take steps to properly water and feed your houseplants to keep them as healthy as possible.
