Houseplants are a great way to bring the outdoors inside, and Kristina Lacayo of Green Acres Nursery and Supply in Elk Grove has all the tips on keeping those plants happy and healthy!
First off, consider what kind of light the plant needs. To figure that out, look at the label that comes with your plant. It will tell you what kind of light your houseplant needs to thrive, plus how much water and what kind of soil.
If a label says the plant needs "bright light," that means not direct light from the sun but more of a constant light. "Medium light" indicates that the plant should be about 5 to 6 feet away from a window. And "low light" means the houseplant should be in a shady part of your house.
Next is watering, which Kristina says is one of the most important aspects to ensuring your plants thrive indoors. "One of the most common mistakes is watering all of your plants at the same time," Kristina said. "Every plant has its own specific needs and should be watered accordingly." She adds that as seasons change, so should the watering routine.
When it gets hotter, you might need to water more often so the plant doesn't dry out. To determine if your plant needs water, stick your finger a few inches into the soil to see if it's really dry down below. Then you'll know the plant is thirsty.
Next is fertilizing your houseplant. Especially during the prime growing seasons of spring and summer, houseplants are going to grow rapidly, and they need the right food and nutrients to support that growth. Unlike an outdoor garden, where nature provides rain and plants can send new roots searching for food, the nutrients available to a houseplant are limited by the amount of soil in the pot and what you provide for supplemental feeding. Fertilizing is essential.
And the No. 1 task to taking care of a houseplant is to have fun with it!"Learn something new about a plant and you might learn something new about yourself, too," Kristina said.
For more information on houseplants, visit
https://idiggreenacres.com/
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