SET A DATE FOR HOUSEPLANT PAMPERING
Late winter is the perfect time to treat your houseplants to a rejuvenating “spa” day. Just like us, plants get winter-weary and experience their own form of cabin fever. Many were brought back into the house last autumn after a luxurious, moisture-laden summer vacation and for months now they’ve survived with little natural light, no fertilizer, and desert-dry heated air – not exactly favorable conditions for most plants. By February, your houseplants are ready for some serious pampering.
PLUMP THEM UP WITH HYDRATION
The first step toward rejuvenation is to thoroughly wash and rehydrate your plants while trying to emulate a soaking summer shower. Small plants can easily be brought to the kitchen sink where the leaves should be gently but thoroughly sprayed with tepid water, top and bottom, washing off winter dust and grime, while larger plants can be placed in the shower or tub. If you have any plants that are too large to move, simply clean each leaf with a damp cloth. Take the time to inspect each plant for insects or disease and remove any dead foliage. While you’re at it, scrub the pots and saucers clean of any dirt or slime. After the leaves are clean, wet the soil (again with tepid water) until the pot is heavy and you can see water draining from the bottom. Alternatively, you can soak the pots in a water-filled sink or tub for an hour; just fill to cover about 3/4 of the pot size. In either case, it’s important to let all the excess water drain away from the plants so that the soil doesn’t become soggy. Remember, you want to hydrate, not drown!
TIME FOR A HEALTHY SNACK
Once your plants have been sufficiently hydrated, you may want to start fertilizing again. I always stop fertilizing in October and let my plants “rest” during the darkest months when growth slows to a crawl. By mid-February, however, the days are growing longer and that extra light translates into growth triggers for many plants. After a long winter’s fast, they’re ready to begin feeding again. I prefer to use a gentle organic fertilizer for my houseplants, like Neptune’s Harvest; the seaweed formula is much less fragrant and therefore better suited to indoor use. Begin a regular feeding schedule but don’t overdo it – think of fertilizer as a healthy snack rather than a six-course meal!
DECISION-MAKING TIME
Now is also the perfect time to take a serious look at your houseplants. Are there any that need a larger or smaller pot? Are there some that are diseased or just doing poorly? Decide what needs repotting in fresh soil and what should be (dare I say it!) discarded. It’s also a good time to begin stem or leaf cuttings from your favorites that you can later share with friends.
REPOT OR NOT?
When repotting, you can use a good quality all-purpose soil for most houseplants but you can also choose a potting soil specific to a certain plant type such as African violet soil or orchid mix. Bear in mind that plants perform better in the type of soil they prefer. Another important point is to choose the right size pot for your plant and this can be a little more tricky since some plants like to be potbound while others have roots that spread rampantly to fill any space. You may have to do a little internet research for your specific plants but the effort is well worth it; after all, they’ll be living in this environment for a long time and the right conditions can make the difference between thriving and just surviving!
MOVE THEM AROUND
Now that your plants have been rehydrated, fed or repotted with fresh soil, make sure you place them back into the best light conditions possible, remembering that this time of year the light is growing stronger daily. Orchids tend to burn easily in the bright sunshine of spring so you may want to back them off a little from the ever-strengthening daylight while any potted herbs will be happy to fill that sun-drenched spot. Sometimes just moving a plant to a different location will give it a new lease on life.
Orchids appreciate filtered spring sunlight (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)
ENJOY A LITTLE TENDER LOVING CARE
Just as the seasons change outside, conditions inside our homes do, too, so it’s important that we take a little extra care during the year to keep our houseplants happy. All plants love the attention given during a spa day and will respond almost immediately with uplifted foliage and new vigor, looking fabulous again! And now that you’ve finished properly pampering your plants, how about that fragrant Epsom salt soak by candlelight for yourself?
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