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After the winter and the period of vegetative rest of indoor plants, they just need to be pampered in order to regain their strength, beautiful green leaves, and for some, abundant flowering. You will need to take some care to encourage their vegetative recovery from spring. Prune, water, transplant, feed… Here are 9 essential actions to take to restore your houseplants as soon as spring arrives.
Finding the right exposure for indoor plants
In winter, green plants are exposed to weaker light for a shorter time. From spring, expose them near a light source, window, bay window or skylight, to encourage photosynthesis. However, beware of direct sunlight which can burn, even at this time of year. Dimmed light behind the curtains will be perfect. Also avoid places with drafts that can damage the leaves.
Feeding indoor plants
Flower plants or green plants will need nutrients and trace elements to start this new year and encourage their growth. Add a special organic supplement for “green plants” or “flower beds”. There are liquid fertilizers that are added to the water for watering, nutrient sticks for planting on the surface or fertilizer cubes. Fast or slow diffusion, adjust your fertilizer supply by asking your garden center for advice. Fertilize only those plants that remain in the pots and do not enrich the newly removed or transplanted plants because the soil used is mostly enriched.
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Water your indoor plants regularly
After winter rest, houseplants will enter a period of growth in which water supplies will be significant. Continue with the rhythm and adjust the amounts according to the plants grown. Always check soil moisture by touching the surface with your finger. If the land is dry, bring water; if the soil is wet, stop watering. Get into the habit of keeping the soil slightly moist and not waiting for it to dry out completely before adding water. Over time, this irregular water supply can stress plants (and thus cause disease). Get into the habit of always watering houseplants at the bottom, not at the leaves. Also remember to spray smooth leaves with lime-free water at room temperature to ensure proper humidity levels.
Also read: 8 tips for a zero-waste garden
Transplanting indoor plants
All plants that have bad soil that no longer provides any food must be transplanted in the spring. Soil restoration must be complete. For this, choose an increasingly large container, equipped with a drainage hole. Adjust the size of the saucer. Choose a special substrate for “house plants” enriched with compost and peat. This type of potting soil is suitable for all plants, flowering or green. Ficuses, areca, saintpaulias, spathiphyllum and scindapsus will appreciate this new substrate. On average, plants are transplanted every 2 to 3 years, depending on their growth and nutrient requirements.
ELLE.fr tip: watch your plants and if you see roots coming out of the pot, this is a sign of urgent transplanting.
Prune indoor plants
After a long winter break, stimulate your plants by cleaning them. Cut off dry leaves with spots, yellowed or diseased leaves. Remove dried flowers and remove dry stems. If you notice diseased parts, cut them off too and learn the symptoms so you know what treatment to apply.
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Surface indoor plants
Some plants that have too poor and dry soil that resembles hay require feeding and not transplanting, partial soil change, only the surface layer. This will help revive the plant. To do this, scrape the surface with a mini shovel to remove 2 to 3 cm of soil. Add new potting soil, tamp lightly and then water thoroughly. As soon as your plant shows signs of weakness, do not hesitate to dig up the container.
Care of indoor plants
Like a spring-cleaning house, plants also have their own cleaning time to prolong their well-being. To do this, take a cloth and wet it with lukewarm water and wipe the dust from smooth leaves like ficus, calathea, croton or sheffler. For hairy leaves such as Saintpaulias, Echeveria, Miseries or Gynuras, use a dusting brush. By dusting indoor plants, you stimulate photosynthesis. Do not use water that is too cold as this could cause thermal shock to the plant. If you see small white clumps, remove them with the laundry as they may be mealybugs, sap-sucking parasites.
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Take out the most resistant plants
Citrus trees (orange, lemon, clementine trees), exotic plants (orchids, guzmania, zantédeschia), cacti and other succulents are happy to go outside to spend the whole summer on the balcony or terrace. Place them protected from bad weather and wind. Adjust the exposure and watering according to the plants.
Cutting certain indoor plants
Take cuttings from your houseplants to regenerate them, exchange them with friends or give them as gifts. There are several techniques including the cuttings in a glass of water technique which is still the easiest to perform with a 100% chance of success. Spring remains the ideal time to take cuttings from growing plants. Test cuttings of Saintpaulia, begonia, pileus, chlorophytum, dracaena or dieffenbachia. Take the stem and dip the end in a glass of water. After a few days you will see small roots appear. Once the root system is well developed, you can transplant your cuttings into a container with potting soil.