Keeping ornamental plants healthy and happy can be a bit daunting, and it often takes a lot of care in their care.

However, most houseplants do not require constant attention to remain healthy and happy.

There are many houseplants that are easy to care for and require little care, such as those that don’t require a lot of water, and you only need to trim a few leaves that start to turn yellow.

From a report in Better Homes and Gardens, Monday (14/3/2022), here are some tips for caring to keep your ornamental plants healthy and lush.

houseplant watering

PEXELS / COTTONBRO Illustration of watering indoor plants. All houseplants have different irrigation requirements, depending on how they grow and the changes in plant growth during the season.

The best way to water your plants is to give them the water they need. In general, plants that grow in well-drained soil in appropriately sized containers should be watered when the top 2.5 inches of soil feel dry.

Cacti and succulents require less water, but flowering plants usually require more.

Excess moisture, or excess moisture, is one of the most common causes of plant death. If you are not sure how much to water, it is better to water the dry part than to over water the plant.

fertilize plants regularly

As with watering plants, there are no rules about how much fertilizer you should add. It depends on the growth rate and age of the plant and its timing.

Since most houseplants grow rapidly in spring and summer, this is the best time to fertilize.

On the other hand, during the short days of autumn and winter, most houseplants don’t need much fertilizer. Avoid excessive fertilizer as it can burn the roots of plants and hinder growth.

For flowering varieties, use fertilizers with relatively equal proportions of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. If the nitrogen content is too high, the plant may grow more leaves but fewer flowers.

potted plants

Shake the dishes and change the dishes. Check root system. If the roots are wrapped inside the container, it is time to repot the plant.

If the plant is larger than the size of the pot, move it to a slightly larger pot. If you want to keep them in the same pot, cut off some of the roots with a sharp knife and replant them in a container using fresh soil.

When dividing houseplants, this is also a good time to divide the plants from multiple stems to form new stems. Spring and summer are the best seasons for repotting houseplants.

remove dust from plants

It is not uncommon for indoor plants to be exposed to dust. To do this, wash the plant in a gentle shower at room temperature, or use a soft brush if the plant has hairy leaves (which can retain moisture and exacerbate disease).

For soft-leaved plants, use a cloth to gently wipe the dust off the leaves of the plant.

Cleaning up the mess on your plants not only makes them look better, but also helps them absorb more light.

pruning dead or faded flowers

Shutterstock/OLGAPONOMARENKO Pruning plants illustration. Cut dried flowers from plants to promote more flowering and prevent disease problems. At this time, remove any yellow, brown or dry leaves.

Use narrow-edged or sharp shears to cut cleanly without tearing the stem of the plant.

To prevent the spread of pests and diseases, it is recommended to clean prunes with alcohol before moving on to other plants.

beware of plant diseases

Remove and destroy diseased plants and diseased leaves or stems to prevent the spread of disease.

Some diseases are spread by insects, so controlling them can help prevent this problem.

Common houseplant diseases include powdery mildew (white, powdery spots on leaves), fungal spots on leaves (yellow, brown, or black spots on leaves), and root rot (soft spots). , dark).