Houseplant Care – NANCY WITH THE LAUGHING FACE

January 16, 2022

Practical Houseplant Care During Heating Season

In many parts of the United States, we are deep into heating season and spending much of our time indoors. Whether we use oil, gas, electric or wood to stay warm, the heated air in our homes can become bone dry as winter wears on.

We humans acutely feel the loss of moisture in our skin, hair and mucous membranes as humidity levels drop, but don’t forget that our houseplants crave moisture as much as we do. So, how do we keep our plants (and ourselves) healthy and happy in this arid environment? The following are some simple and practical tips to help raise the humidity in our homes to a more comfortable level:

WATER PLANTS THOROUGHLY

The simple act of watering plants is the easiest way to put moisture back into the air of our homes, but just giving your plants a halfhearted passing splash is not going to do the trick. When watering, try to use the ‘drench and drain’ method. By this I mean to water a plant thoroughly, preferably in a sink or tub, where the water can generously run through the potting medium and out the drainage hole(s). Allow the pot to drain completely before returning the plant to its usual home. Alternatively, you can place your potted plant in a bowl of tepid water for an hour or so while it soaks up what it needs. Your houseplant’s pot will feel heavy with moisture after you do this and will keep your plant hydrated for a longer period of time. When the pot feels light again, it’s time to water thoroughly!

AIR DRY YOUR LAUNDRY

Whenever possible, hang laundry around your house or apartment to air dry rather than use a clothes dryer. The damp clothes will not only dry surprisingly fast indoors but will replace much-needed moisture in the rooms where they are placed. I like to utilize bathroom shower rods, towel racks and over-the-door clothes hangers for this purpose. Foldable clothes drying racks are also easy to store and convenient for indoor winter use!

UTILIZE BATHROOM STEAM

We Americans love to shower, so why not leave the bathroom door open while showering or bathing to allow that health-giving steam to escape and disperse into your living space. Many plants thrive in these typically humid rooms so, if space allows, you might move some plants into the bathroom for the winter months; just be sure there is adequate light from a window or LED fixture.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WARMER DAYS TO OPEN UP

Baby, it’s cold outside! But not all winter days are dry and frigid. On cloudy or rainy days, when outside temps are above freezing, try cracking open a window or two to circulate the air for a little while. Be sure to move any plants away from the windows so that the colder air won’t be blowing directly on them. The natural humidity and fresh air will not only help your home feel instantly more comfortable, it will also cheer your winter-weary soul!

POLLY PUT THE KETTLE ON

Heating water in a kettle on a woodstove or kitchen range and letting the steam escape into the air works pretty much in the same way as a humidifier. Making stovetop winter soups and stews helps, too! If you’re fortunate to have a bright kitchen windowsill, any plants placed there will also benefit from the extra moisture given off by daily washing and cooking.

HUMIDITY TRAYS AND HUMIDIFERS

Humidity trays are easily created using a flat baking sheet or even a single plant saucer. The idea is to use pebbles or flat stones to cover the tray or saucer bottom, add water to fill, and then place your plants atop the pebbles so that they don’t sit directly in the water. As the water in the tray or saucer slowly evaporates, your plants will enjoy that extra moisture!

If your home is extremely and persistently dry, or if you suffer from allergies or respiratory issues, a good quality humidifier will certainly help. These are a great way to direct humidity where you need it most such as in bedrooms and nurseries or near tropical orchids, African violets, ferns and other moisture-loving plants. The downside is that humidifiers can quickly grow mold so be sure to keep your unit clean as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

For more on winter houseplant care, please check out my previous posts:

WINTER HOUSEPLANT SPA https://nancymarieallen.com/winter-houseplant-spa

THE HOUSEPLANT NURTURER https://nancymarieallen.com/the-houseplant-nurturer

Feature photo by Nancy Marie Allen; all others courtesy of Pixabay

February 21, 2020

Growing Happy African Violets

Blooming almost continuously throughout the year, African Violets possess astonishingly exuberant flower power. It’s no wonder so many people become lifelong collectors of these charming plants with their Easter-egg colored blooms!

In their native habitat of mountainous Tanzania where they grow on the forest floor, African Violets are well protected from harsh sunlight by larger plants and a thick canopy of trees. Although they originated from this tropical environment, today’s modern hybrids enjoy the same comfortable daytime temperatures as we do at 65F to 75F, and will even tolerate dry heated air if kept reasonably moist. They do require bright light to bloom but you don’t need a glass greenhouse to keep them happy. Today, I’ll give a few simple tips on how to successfully grow these delightful beauties.

PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHT

Bright light is the key to getting your violets to bloom but in order to provide the best window light for any houseplant, one has to make changes with the seasons.

My African Violets grow near a large and bright west window which is perfect for them during the dark fall and winter months but would cook them with harsh sunlight come summer. As the sun grows stronger in early spring, I use sheer curtains to soften the intensity of the light. In the heat of summer, I may place some sun-loving plants in front of my violets to provide an additional sunscreen. When the days grow shorter again in fall, I work in the reverse and gradually provide more light.

By doing this, I’m able to provide the level of light that my African Violets need to thrive. Remember that plants will lean towards any light source so rotate your violets once a week to keep growth centered and even.

If you lack adequate window space and natural light, don’t despair! African Violets are the perfect candidates for a side table with a lamp and an LED light bulb. In fact, bright supplemental LED lights work wonders on all plants, especially during the dark winter months.

Sansi makes an excellent LED light bulb that fits standard size sockets and mimics bright natural sunlight. Since you can use it in most household lamps, you don’t need to purchase a special light fixture. I’ve included a link below if you’d like more information.

USE WARM WATER

I water my African Violets the same way I do most of my houseplants, from the top, using a narrow spouted watering can to help get through the dense rosettes of leaves. When the soil feels dry, I saturate my plants with room-temperature rainwater and then pour off any standing water that remains in the saucer after about 20 minutes; this gives the plants a chance to soak up all the moisture they need.

In winter, you’ll want to group your plants together to keep humidity levels up. You can also place your violets on a dish or tray of pebbles which will catch excess water and humidify the surrounding air. Make sure to have your plants sit on top of the wetted pebbles, not in standing water.

A couple of times a year, I give my African Violets a warm water spray bath to clean off the leaves, flush out fertilizer salts and give the plants a good soaking. Never do this with cold water which will shock these tropical plants and cause unsightly spots on the leaves! After the plants have drained, and this is important, make sure to allow the leaves to dry thoroughly in a warm room before returning them to bright light; otherwise, remaining water droplets will intensify any light which can then burn the leaves!

FEED REGULARLY

Organic liquid fertilizers made for in-home use are best but avoid fish emulsions which, for obvious reasons, are best used outdoors! For the majority of my houseplants, I begin feeding when I spy signs of new growth, usually mid-February to early March, and stop fertilizing altogether after mid-October to allow them a winter rest.

For my African Violets, which bloom throughout the year, I use half-strength fertilizer twice a month beginning January 1st and supplement this by adding some finely crushed eggshells to the soil. The eggshells provide beneficial calcium as well as trace elements and minerals. Each time I water my plants, they slowly absorb these nutrients which encourage healthy growth and abundant flowers!

REVITALIZE AND REPOT

Sometimes you can revitalize a tired violet by removing the old outside ring of leaves which helps the plant direct more energy into making flowers. Regular grooming by removing dried flowers and stalks helps, too, as it encourages repeat blooming. At some point, however, your African Violets will stop thriving and need to be repotted. Plants may stop blooming, the outside leaves may begin to droop and die off causing a long ‘neck’ to appear, or a plant might divide itself into two separate crowns; in short, they’ll show obvious signs that it’s time for attention. Many experts simply repot their violets once a year, invigorating them with fresh soil and thus avoiding any decline in their plants’ overall health.

There are special pots designed just for African Violets, many with wicking systems, but a plain pot with drainage holes is less costly and will work just fine. Choosing a new pot for your violet is really a matter of personal preference. Ceramic and plastic pots tend to hold moisture longer while clay or terra cotta ‘breathes’ but dries out faster. Placing plastic inside a decorative cachepot is fine as long as you don’t allow water to puddle at the bottom and drown your plant.

One important consideration is that African Violets prefer shallow or squat pots rather than tall narrow ones and they like a snug fit around their roots. Never put a little violet in a large pot! The photo below will give you an idea of the pot size in relation to a plant.

Since the art of repotting is another story, I won’t go into it on today’s blog but will direct you to this page for an excellent basic tutorial:

https://www.repotme.com/pages/how-to-repot-african-violets

Do you have some struggling African Violets at home? If so, try practicing the above tips and your violets will thank you with increased vigor and blooms! If you’ve never grown them before, I hope I’ve encouraged you to give them a try. Beginners will have the greatest success using fertilizer and soil made especially for African Violets and I’ve included some helpful links below.

Although these tips are just the basics, following them will get you off to a good start. My only warning is that once you start collecting these sweet tropical violets, you may find it hard to stop!

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links to the companies listed below. When you click through on a link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank You!

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February 7, 2020

The Houseplant Nurturer

There’s a definite houseplant mania going on these days as more people of all ages are becoming interested in this gratifying hobby. Since you can easily purchase houseplants just about anywhere – via catalogs, online, in big box stores and even small neighborhood markets – it’s not surprising they’ve become so popular.

Peace Lilies, Orchids and Variegated Ficus Benjamina (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

It’s easy to fall in love with houseplants when you think about how much they enhance our living spaces. They help to purify the air we breathe, add beneficial humidity and beautify our rooms with their verdure and colorful blooms. They’re ever-uplifting home companions and, after a lifetime of keeping houseplants, I cannot imagine being without them.

Korean Rock Fern and mini Orchid (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

If you’re new to collecting houseplants, you may be wondering what you can do to help them thrive, and the answer is both surprising and simple – nurture them. Just like pets, our houseplants are totally dependent upon us for care. But how much care you’re willing to give really depends on your personality and lifestyle, so choose your plants accordingly.

Houseplants enjoy each other’s company (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

If you have strong mothering instincts, then Orchids, Ferns, Begonias or African Violets would be thrilled to share your space. However, if you’re rarely home to water your plants or even wish them well in passing, then easy-care Cactus, Pothos, Philodendrons or Succulents would make better companions. Once you’ve made your choice and settled your new plant or plants in your home, it’s time to add the secret ingredient to houseplant success – your loving care. But what exactly does ‘loving care’ mean when it comes to plants? After all, you can’t snuggle with them on the couch like you can with Fido.

Gryphon Begonia, Amaryllis and Anthurium (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

Plant nurturing is a different kind of love for sure, but it’s still love. To me, it means doing whatever I can to help my plants enjoy a long and healthy life. I make sure they’re getting enough light, monitor them for dryness, feed them when needed and check them regularly for any changes that may signal pests or disease. I talk to my plants, encourage them and touch their foliage. I collect rainwater for them to drink. I take the time to groom them and remove any yellowed leaves or spent flowers to keep them looking their best. Occasionally, I even take them to the tub for a hydrating bath or bring them outside for a summer shower. And when I spy fresh new growth and flower buds forming, I’m elated! I know it’s their way of saying, “thank you!”

Twining *Hoya, String of Pearls and Aloe Vera (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)*

Yes, it’s a little fanatical and a true labor of love to provide this level of care on a regular basis, especially with a large collection, but my houseplants respond in grateful appreciation with increased vigor and beauty. If you’re wondering if all this fussing is worth the effort, just visit the home of someone who’s a known houseplant nurturer. Chances are their plants look pretty fabulous!

For more on houseplant care, visit my blog: Winter Houseplant Spa