Just a little springtime refresher for all the new and existing PMILFS out there!
With Mother’s Day around the corner, we wanted to take a minute to celebrate the plant moms out there!
Being a plant mom is hard, but watching those little babies grow into full-sized, luscious, green adults is incredibly satisfying– especially if you’re cultivating herbs or other edible plants.
My father is a landscaper and because of him, I’ve grown up learning about the best ways to take care of various plants, know when they’re sick, and how to design my interior and exterior surroundings with the ideal balance of greenery. It’s rare when I have the opportunity to share this relatively niche knowledge with the masses, but now that it’s springtime, why not spread the seed?
Anyway…
There’s more to being a plant mom than just water and sunlight. Just like a baby, plants have ways of communicating what they need and it may be difficult to figure out exactly how to care for them unless a seasoned (plant) mother gives you some valuable advice. It takes a village!
Happy Mother’s Day, plant mommies!!!
Use well-draining soil
Using soil that drains well is essential to prevent water from pooling and causing root rot, which is smelly and something that you do NOT want to deal with. Adding perlite or sand to potting soil can improve drainage.
Fertilize (as needed)
Plants need specific nutrients to thrive. adding fertilizer according to the plant's needs can help ensure healthy growth. There are various blends of fertilizers that are better for some species than others, but starting with an all-purpose fertilizer is a safe bet when you’re starting out, especially if you have a variety of plant babies.
Dust leaves
Believe it or not, dust can accumulate on plant leaves, thus blocking sunlight and interfering with photosynthesis (the way plants turn sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into food). Gently wiping leaves with a damp cloth can help keep them clean and healthy. Don’t just dust them with a duster– you’ll get all that nastiness in the soil, which is probably fine, but you know, not ideal.
Monitor humidity levels
Some plants thrive in high-humidity environments, while others prefer drier conditions. Using a humidifier or placing a tray of water near plants can help increase humidity levels.
Repot when necessary
As plants grow, they may outgrow their containers and must be repotted into larger ones. It's important to choose a container that allows for drainage and to use fresh potting soil. If you start seeing roots peaking out of the top of the soil or out of the bottom of its container, that’s the plant begging you to give it some SPACE!
Watch for pests
Indoor plants can be susceptible to pests like spider mites and mealybugs. Keeping a close eye on plants and treating pests early can help prevent damage to the plant. If you suspect that your plant might be sick (which is possible!), diagnose the illness by googling the symptoms. These are the types of illnesses you should Google! Many illnesses are curable by just removing the affected part of the plant and adding fertilizer, but before you waste your resources, make sure that the illness is, in fact, curable. Unfortunately, some plants develop illnesses that kill the plant quickly, and if that’s the case, you don’t want to be spending time reviving something that’s a goner.