It's time to learn how to care for indoor plants. As summer slowly transitions into fall, it's time to start thinking about the upcoming season. This also applies to our indoor plants, which need special care and preparation in order to successfully survive the colder months.
How to take care of indoor plants? At the end of summer, with proper care, you can ensure the vitality and well-being of your houseplants, and at the same time prepare them for transition to a period of rest.
As the temperature gradually drops and the days get shorter, it's time to focus on some important tasks that will allow your houseplants to survive the winter months. How can you extend the flowering period of your plants and provide them with optimal conditions for a successful winter period?
How to make them yours plants feel comfortable and safe in your environment even when the temperatures drop?
How to take care of indoor plants?
1. Plant fertilization
When you notice that your indoor plants such as violets, geraniums, hemantuses, orchids, spathiphyllum and others, have reached flowering or opened their buds, it is recommended to feed them. Use fertilizers that are intended for houseplants and are available in specialized stores.
Such fertilizers provide a balanced composition of nutrients that promotes longer flowering and overall plant health. Among the options are universal concentrates, powders and also special fertilizers for specific types of plants, such as violets, orchids and geraniums.
2. Transplanting into larger pots
Check at regular intervals that the pots for your plants such as ficus, hibiscus and dieffenbachia are still the correct size. If in doubt, opt for transplanting in a larger pot. Be careful not to damage the root system.
Choose a pot that is slightly larger than the existing one and prepare a quality substrate. For example, for ficus, you can prepare a mixture of peat, humus, sand and grass soil in equal proportions.
3. Restoration of the topsoil
Sometimes the pot is still big enough, but the soil in it is already worn out. Instead of a complete transplant, you can simply refresh the top layer of the soil. Remove about 3-5 cm of old soil, add fresh substrate and water the plant abundantly. This will ensure a new supply of nutrients, which will enable the plants to have a sufficient supply in the coming months.
4. Preparation for the winter period
While some plants need warm winter conditions, others require cooler temperatures for dormancy. For example, amaryllis, drupes and other bulbs overwinter best at a temperature between 10-15°C.
Therefore, it is recommended to move them to a conservatory, a heated balcony or another suitable location that offers suitable conditions at the end of August, when their leaves fall off.
5. Removal of wilted buds and yellowed leaves
The end of summer is the optimal time to inspect plants and remove dry branches, yellow leaves and faded flowers. This practice has a double effect: the plant directs its energy to the vital parts and improves the aesthetic appearance of the plant. With this measure, you will ensure the optimal growth and appearance of your indoor plants.
