There are plenty oflow-maintenance varietiesto choose from.
Meet the Expert
Overwatering Your Plants
This is by far the most common houseplant mistake.
This is why many indoor plants, she says, prefer deep, but infrequent watering.
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By watering sparingly but deeply, you foster lower root growth and ultimately help support a more resilient plant.
This leads many people to believe that full direct sun will make all plants happy.
Not so," Sonya Query, Marketing Director forLove, Plants, Inc., says.
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Too much sun can lead to sunburns.
But how do you strike the balance between too much sun and too little?
Query recommends a light, semi-transparent curtain in a sunny window or pulling the plant a few feet away.
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Or stick with plants that prefer low-light situations and keep them away from full, direct light.
These include plants like Z.Z.
Such planters are intended to be decorative," Nastya Vasylchyshyna, botany expert atPlantum, says.
She explains how they’re often used to hide the plant’s actual pot from view.
If water cannot drain from the plants soil, most houseplants will become waterlogged and developroot rot.
The good news is theres an easy fix.
Stop planting your houseplants in pots that lack a drainage hole at the bottom.
Take note that this also applies to the potting mix, Vasylchyshyna warns.
Roots need room to party, but not an empty ballroom, Query says.
So, finding the right size for your plant is important to keep your plant happy and healthy.
The solution is knowing when torepot your houseplant.
As a plant grows, so do the roots.
This is why houseplants usually need to be repotted every few years.
When you repot, choose a pot 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the current pot, Query says.
Not Giving Enough Nutrients to Your Plants
Just like outdoor plants, indoor ones need nutrients.
Thus, its important to periodicallyfertilize your houseplants.
Mixon recommends fertilizing at least monthly in the growing season of spring and summer.
This will keep houseplants looking their best, she says.
Forgetting About Humidity
Everyvariety of houseplanthas adapted to its own natural habitat.
Once you know your plant desires more humidity, you might add it to your homes environment.
Adjust the relative humidity level, lighting intensity, and watering frequency, Vasylchyshyna says.
All these will help support your humidity-loving rainforest plant.
High ambient humidity and regular watering are a must for them to thrive."
