How to bring back a suffering house plant

Are you a bit of a brown thumb but love using plants indoors? Well even if you have a plant teetering on the edge, it might not be too late to revive your green companion. With the right know-how and a bit of tender loving care, you should be able to bring the even the sorriest of customers back to life.

Water it wisely

The first thin most indoor gardeners think to do when Freddy the house plants begins to droop it add water. But if you have a sick plant on your hands, you may need to consider your watering schedule. For instance, different plants require different water levels in different seasons or conditions. Be sure you have the correct information about your plant’s water requirements and water accurately.

Adding more water when the plant is in poor health may actually exacerbate the problem,  and may be the root cause. Most small indoor plants during the winter only need around 1 cup of water, depending on their position. Air conditioner and heater use may also wreak havoc with the watering schedule. Generally, you need to keep the soil moist, not wet or dry. A simple finger test should tell you the plant requirements.

Planting up

Everyone outgrows their home eventually, and the same goes for plants. Up planting your little guy into a larger pot will give it room to move and thrive. As a plant grows it begins to fill out the pot and mix it’s planting in. If left too long eventually the root system will become pot bound and stunted. Up planting before this happens is essential in order for constant healthy growth to occur.

Brighten up their life

House plants tend to be placed in spaces for form rather than function. Meaning they might not be living in the most brightly lit corners of the home. But before you go and move your struggling plant out to a sunny spot, direct sunlight may just be a little bit too much. Remember, rather than placing the plant in full view of the sun, a bright spot with reflected light is a smarter choice. Once your plant has had a healthy dose of vitamin D, move it back inside.

A good feed

Don’t skimp on the potting mix! When potting up your plant, or moving it up to the next pot size, a good quality potting mix goes a long way. Most potting mixes now come jam packed with nutrients which will release to the plant over the first few months which helps the plant establish in its new home. But after the first season, it’s best to give your plant a feed with some fresh slow release fertiliser to suit the season. Liquid fertilisers and foliage sprays containing iron such as Seasol should also be a consideration.

Remember these four simple tricks to revive your indoor plant companion back from the brink.

Source: The Home Edition Blog