Being surrounded by different plants was actually one of my oldest childhood memories in my house, especially when seeing my mom in the garden with her different plant collection when I was a kid. Until I grew up and our garden is almost the same. I don’t have much time to look around there or ask anything to my mom about her houseplants, maybe I don’t have the interest to know more about houseplants, or I can’t see myself being in plants. I never imagine I got an interest in houseplants lately during my home quarantine.
Benefits of Plant Care
This time of pandemic made me transformed me into something that I cannot see myself doing some hobbies that I never been through. I got an interest to collect houseplants when I browsed on the internet about different hobbies while on quarantine and also about therapies of dealing with anxiety. I found out that both results have common and that is plant care. There are different reasons for planting is also a therapeutic remedy to relieve anxiety and stress. At this time of the pandemic, many of us can’t handle some anxieties and pressure due to the current situation where we can’t go outside easily and having a fear of having the virus.
According to my research, planting a beautiful garden can be a great way to relieve stress. Whether you have a small patio to decorate or a vast amount of space to tend, the act of making your particular stretch of nature into a haven can be a stress reliever in itself, and the garden that you create can bring you even more peace.
Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/gardening-for-stress-relief-3144600
That’s why I love seeing my houseplants in the corner of my room and it looks like a mini jungle. No wonder why some people got an interest to collect plants for their homes. The most accurate answer to why they want to collect plants is to escape from being bored and worried about the pandemic.
Proper Care of Plants
As a newbie Plantito, I learned so many things about how to take care of my houseplants. There are days that I am worried about its physical appearance like the dried leaves, plant mites, dried soil, and also the room light condition. I also learned that too much water can kill them. That’s why I purchased a moister meter to check the soil condition.
Part of my plant journey has many ups and downs when it comes to maintaining its condition. I’ve done different experiments for my plants, but some of them are not applicable and it can damage my plants if I push through. That’s why I created this blog to give you ideas and tips on how to properly care for your houseplants.
1.) Always do the scheduling
Just schedule the water of your houseplants every 2 to 4 days as required keeping the soil’s moisture. For example, I scheduled my Monstera Adansonii plant for its water routine every Monday and Thursday every week or it depends on the soil moisture. I always touch the soil base by touching it. So you can determine when to water your houseplants by checking its soil condition. I also check the soil by using a moister meter to check the deeper soil’s moisture.
2.) Check the soil
We use soil to keep the houseplant alive with the help of water and sunlight, but not all soil can be applied to your houseplants. That’s why choosing the right soil is essential to keep your houseplants grow and healthy. Potting soil is the most applicable type of soil for your houseplants. Some common ingredients used in potting soil are peat moss, composted bark, and perlite. Some potting soil contains a small amount of fertilizer and slow-release nutrients. Aside from that, water drainage is also important to make the soil firm and healthy. Waterlogged soil can attract fungus and it can kill your plants too. That’s why always check the bottom part of your pot and check the holes whether there’s clogging on the drainage holes.
3.) Check the light condition
Some houseplants can survive in low light conditions and others prefer in light shades like windows and room corners. I noticed that some plants cannot produce new leaves because I place it 2 meters away from my window (the only light source in my room). I decided to place it near the window, so I can check if it’s applicable to my houseplant. After 1 week, I saw tiny leaves appearing in the stem part and I was so surprised! Direct sunlight can burn your houseplants because their mechanism is not similar to any outdoor plants that can tolerate a direct sunshade. Better to check some of the houseplant guides on Google or YouTube just to know where to place your houseplants without damaging the leaves and also the growth.
4.) Check the leaves
Plant leaves can tell that if it needs care or not. We can tell the plant’s condition on its leaf color and shapes. Most plants show moisture stress symptoms when they are too dry or frizzy. Smaller than normal leaves that may be wilted, folded or misshapen, dull gray-green in color, and may turn brown from the outside in and may drop are signs of too little water. For more information about leaves, you may visit this link to know more.
I always cut the brownish leaves to keep the plants healthy. To keep away from mites, always mist a little the leaves and wipe away with a soft cloth gently. Shiny and green leaves indicate that your houseplant is in the right condition.
5.) Leave it alone
I know that plant growth takes time and it really depends on how we take care of it. That’s why it is important to stay patient and positive all the time when it comes to planting growth. Other plants don’t need too much care and maintenance. Plants prefer to live peacefully and sometimes they feel stress if we touch them too much. Too much love will kill them indeed. Repotting is also not advisable to any plants, but it is necessary for plants that need to revive like having diseases in soil or the pot are broken. There are many ways on how to repot plants without damaging the roots and foliage. Seeking experts will guide you and give you some personal advice from their experience. I personally contacted my friends that have a similar experience with plant care.
I know that seeing plants can give some peace, but they need also space for their ecosystem and peace as well. It is an exchange relationship between us and plants. That’s why plants are the most important living creatures on earth because it gives us oxygen to breathe. Being a newbie of this particular hobby was a bit challenging, but I learned so many things in life about being a plant parent. It is a call that we need to be in this position that we have to be responsible and diligent in our duties to take care of the environment surrounded by us. Whether it is a plant, pet, or a living creature, it is similar to have a relationship with our friends, siblings, and love ones.
I hope this blog will help t your plant care journey. I admitted that I am not an expert in this area, but I shared some of the personal experiences that I encountered during my time with my plants. I also want to hear from your stories too. Just write your personal insights about your plants in the comment section. Feel free to add your comments, so I can improve more on my plant care and also to my writings as well.
Also, check my plant journey Instagram page at @plantercore.
Always stay home and stay safe, guys. Happy Planting!
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