Houseplants can be a great way to add a bit of life and colour to your home. While some houseplants are hard to keep alive, with the right care and maintenance, you really can make them thrive indoors. In this article, we’ll provide you with insider tips and tricks to keep even the most difficult houseplants alive, so you can enjoy their beauty for years to come.
Benefits of houseplants
Houseplants are a great way to bring life into your home. Not only do they look beautiful, but they can also improve air quality, reduce stress, and provide a sense of accomplishment.
As an added bonus, keeping houseplants alive can actually be surprisingly easy with some know-how. From easy-to-care-for succulents to hard-to-kill plants, there are a variety of species that can thrive indoors with the right care and attention.
While some plants are notoriously hard to keep alive, there are a few key tips you can follow to ensure your houseplants stay healthy and beautiful. Make sure to water your plants regularly, as over- or under-watering can be deadly to your beloved greenery.
Choose the right lighting – some plants need direct sunlight, while others prefer more shade. Fertilizing can also be beneficial, and look out for signs of pests and diseases – pruning, removing, and treating any affected areas is key. When necessary, don’t be afraid to re-pot your plants into bigger or more appropriate containers.
With a little TLC, you can keep even the hardest to kill houseplants alive and healthy. Trust your instincts, and the results will speak for themselves.
The Plants That Are Hard to Kill
It’s true that some plants are harder to keep alive than others. But don’t let this deter you from adding beautiful greenery to your home. It’s possible to maintain even the most difficult-to-care-for plants if you know what you’re doing.
Identifying hard-to-keep plants is key, as they often require special requirements to thrive. For example, are notoriously tricky to keep alive and need a lot of light.
But with the right attention and care, even the most challenging plants can stay alive and look gorgeous.
When caring for hard-to-keep plants, make sure to water them regularly, provide appropriate lighting, fertilize, and check for pests or disease. Re-pot plants as needed, and find the right soil for the type of plant you have. Taking these steps will help ensure the longevity of your plants and make sure they’ll look beautiful in your home for years to come.
Identifying Hard-To-Keep Plants
When it comes to houseplants, some are much easier to keep alive than others. It’s important to know the difference between the two so you don’t end up with a dead plant on your hands.
Hard-to-keep plants typically require more maintenance and attention, as well as a slightly different care regime. Identifying them can be as easy as looking at the plant’s tag when you purchase it from a gardening store. The tag will usually state that the plant requires more intense care than most, such as increased watering, more light, and more frequent fertilizer applications.
You should also look for signs that a plant is struggling, such as yellowing leaves, wilting, and the presence of pests or disease.
These are all warning signs that the plant is not receiving the proper care and attention it needs and may be hard to keep alive. If you’re unsure of a plant’s care requirements, do some research and ask your local gardening store for more information. Doing so can help you ensure that your plant will stay alive and healthy.
Common Challenges
Houseplants can be tricky to keep alive, but they don’t have to be! Common challenges come with attempting to keep them alive, like pests, disease, and temperature. One of the biggest issues is providing the correct amount of water.
Overwatering can be a death sentence for many houseplants.
Too much water can lead to root rot, which can kill the plant. Temperature is also crucial for houseplants. If the temperature gets too cold or too hot, the plant can suffer.
Different plants prefer different temperatures, so you should research what is best for your plant. Pests and disease can also be a challenge for houseplants.
Pests like aphids can feed on the leaves, and diseases like powdery mildew can quickly spread throughout the plant. Regularly checking for pests and disease can help you prevent damage to the plant.
If you want to keep your houseplants alive, you need to provide the right amount of water, the right temperature, and look out for pests and disease.
Overwatering is the most common mistake that people make with houseplants. Make sure you water your plants only when the soil is dry and stick to the amount specified in the instructions.
You should also make sure that the temperature is right for your plant by researching the ideal temperature range for it. Check your plants regularly for signs of pests or disease and take immediate action if you find any. With the right care and maintenance, even the most difficult-to-keep houseplants can survive indoors. Don’t be intimidated by tricky plants – do your research, and you’ll be sure to have a thriving houseplant in no time!
Tips for Keeping Houseplants Alive
Water your houseplants consistently and correctly. This can be done by using the “soak and dry” method, which is when water is applied to the soil until the top inch is completely saturated, and then only watering again once the soil has completely dried out.
Lighting is also important for nurturing healthy houseplants. Many species of houseplants prefer bright, indirect sunlight and will do best near windows facing east, west, or south.
Consider supplementing natural light with grow lights to guarantee that your plant is getting enough light all year round. Fertilizing your houseplants is key to keeping them vibrant and healthy.
There is a wide range of fertilizers available: water-soluble, slow-release, and organic. Each type should be used according to the instructions on the packaging.
Organic fertilizers are typically best for a long-term maintenance plan, while water-soluble fertilizers can be used to give plants an extra boost. Pests and disease can be easily avoided with proper care and maintenance.
Inspect your plants regularly for signs of insects or any other abnormalities. If anything is found, isolate the plant from other houseplants and treat it with the appropriate pesticide or fungicide according to the package instructions.
Re-potting is crucial for any houseplant’s health. The best way to tell if a plant needs to be re-potted is if the soil has been completely exhausted, or the roots are visibly beginning to grow out of the bottom of the pot. If either of these is the case, it is time to re-pot the plant and provide it with a fresh potting mix.
Watering
Watering your houseplants is essential for keeping them alive. Properly watering your plants is essential for providing them with the nutrients they need to grow. To water your houseplants, always use lukewarm water.
If your tap water is hard, you should use filtered or distilled water instead.
When watering your plants, make sure to moisten the soil completely, but don’t leave the soil wet or soggy. You can tell when your plants are getting enough water if the soil is moist but not wet. If in doubt, it’s better to underwater than overwater.
You should also water your plants on a regular schedule, such as every two or three days, to keep them healthy.
When deciding how much water to give your houseplants, you should take into consideration the type of plant and its size. Some plants, such as succulents, require very little water, while others, such as ferns, need more. Larger plants may need more water than smaller plants.
The amount of water you give your plants should depend on the temperature and humidity in your home. If it’s humid and cool, you may need to water less often.
If you’re having trouble keeping your houseplants alive, try adjusting the amount of water you give them. Start by giving them a little less than you would normally, and then gradually increase the amount until you find the right balance. With the right amount of water, your hard-to-keep houseplants will thrive.
Lighting
Good lighting is essential for any houseplant to thrive. Plants require 6 to 8 hours of bright, indirect sunlight daily.
Place your plants near a window that gets plenty of sunlight and adjust them as the season changes. During the winter months, you may need to move your plants closer to windows that get more direct sunlight.
Too much direct sunlight can be damaging. If your plants are placed in direct sunlight, the leaves may become burned or dried out.
Plants that are placed in a room that’s too dark will become pale and weak. The best way to ensure your plants get the right amount of sunlight is to experiment and monitor the plant’s growth and health. Moving your plants around until you find the right spot can make all the difference.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing your houseplants is key to keeping them alive, especially if they are hard to keep alive. The best way to fertilize your plants is to apply a balanced fertilizer every two to four weeks during the growing season, usually from spring to autumn. Make sure to dilute the fertilizer according to the instructions, as too much can damage the plant.
You can also add a slow-release fertilizer to the soil when you re-pot the plant. This will help to ensure that the plant has a steady supply of essential nutrients throughout the year.
Controlling Pests and Disease
Pests and disease can easily damage your houseplants. It is important to be vigilantly on the lookout for any signs of pests or diseases.
If you notice any of the signs, such as discolored and/or wilted leaves, mildew, pests, or yellowing—take steps to get rid of them as soon as possible. Take action by removing the affected leaves or spraying with a suitable pesticide. If the problem persists, it’s best to get advice from a local gardening specialist.
To prevent pests and diseases from occurring in the first place, make sure you keep your houseplants clean. Wipe the leaves down with a damp cloth every few weeks and check for any pests or diseases.
Make sure to use potting soil that is designed for indoor plants. Consider installing an air purifier to remove any airborne pollutants that can affect the health of your houseplants.
Re-Potting
Re-potting is one of the best ways to keep your hard-to-kill houseplants alive. Even if your plant looks healthy, it may be time to re-pot it if the roots have filled out the pot.
Re-potting every 1-2 years is usually sufficient and is a great way to refresh the soil and give your plant a nutrient boost. When re-potting, be sure to use a pot that is wide and shallow rather than tall and deep.
This will help the plant retain moisture and prevent it from drying out. Make sure the pot has good drainage and use a high quality soil mix that will hold moisture and provide the necessary nutrients for your plant. Add a layer of mulch on top of the soil to help it retain moisture and to keep the soil from becoming too compact.
Be gentle when transferring the plant to its new pot.
Handle it gently and try to keep the root system intact. After re-potting, give your plant some time to adjust to its new environment before watering it. With these tips, you can keep your hard-to-kill houseplants alive and thriving!
Conclusion
Taking care of houseplants can be an incredibly rewarding experience. But some plants can be trickier to keep alive than others.
If you’re looking to add greenery to your home or office, there are plenty of plants that are hard to kill, you just have to take the proper steps to ensure their wellbeing. When it comes to watering, make sure you give your plants enough to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
For lighting, most plants need indirect sunlight, and some can handle full sun exposure. Fertilizing is crucial to keeping your plants alive, and you should be doing it every couple of weeks. Pests and disease can also be a huge problem, so make sure you’re checking your plants regularly and treating any issues right away.
Re-potting is important to avoid over-crowding and to give your plants more space to grow. With all these tips, you’ll be able to keep even the hardiest of plants alive and enjoy the dividends of your work.