How to Help Your Plants Thrive: A Complete Guide to Caring for Plants

Did you know that houseplants can actually increase mood and mental health? That’s right! There are even some plants that help purify the air such as Aloe Vera and snake plants.

Maintaining your indoor plants’ health isn’t always easy, however. You want to keep them bright, green, and growing strong.

Some plants are high maintenance while others require very little maintenance. Caring for plants in and outside your home requires you to know exactly what each one of your plants’ needs.

In the guide below, you’ll learn a few different plant care tips to keep in mind when purchasing and caring for plants inside or outside your home. Continue reading below to get started!

Know Your Plant

Before getting started with proper plant care, it’s important for you, as a plant parent, to know your plants well. Each individual plant will have its own care requirements. It’s important that you know exactly what your plant needs to thrive when purchasing it.

You can then determine if you’re able to provide it with the proper care. Most plants should come with care instructions that explain their requirements. Here are a few things to take into consideration.

Soil Requirements

Depending on your plant, it might require a specific type of soil. For example, a cactus mix is great for desert plants. Other plants might need loam or topsoil.

The soil pH might also have an effect on the plant’s health.

Sunlight Levels

Some plants will need direct sunlight while others need shade. Know how much sunlight your plants need and then place it inside your home or plant it outside in the ideal spot. For example, some plant instructions will encourage you to place the plant in a window facing a certain direction (north, south, east, or west).

Watering Amount

The amount of water your plants receive will also make a difference in their overall health. You might have one plant that needs watering once a day and another plant that only needs watering once a week. Underwatering or overwatering a plant can ultimately kill it so make sure you know exactly what it needs.

You’ll also want to take into consideration the type of water you give your plants. Is soft water bad for plants? Both hard water and soft water can damage plants over time.

The best solution is to use filtered water to ensure your plants are getting only the best.

Prepare for Pests

Keeping plants in your home and as a part of your landscape will attract pests. This is normal and can be prevented if you take the proper precautions. When purchasing your plants, ask about different natural pesticides you can use.

It’s also ideal to research which types of pests like to invade the specific types of plants you have. Each time you water your plants, be on the lookout for signs of these pests and provide treatment as soon as possible.

Caring for Plants Is Made Simple With This Guide

Even if caring for plants seems like a difficult task at times, this guide will help you take great care of them. Use the helpful information listed above and be sure to start out with low-maintenance plants and then work your way up to the more needy ones if desired.

If you’re interested in other DIY topics, then be sure to check back here on a frequent basis!

Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash