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Spruce Up Your Houseplants In The Spring
Posted On 2009-03-30 , 12:43 AM
As the daylight lengthens, many of our houseplants put on a spurt of new growth. Now is a great time to give them some extra attention to help keep them healthy and attractive.
1. We should give them a good cleaning by wiping down the leaves with a damp cloth or spraying them under the shower. This will remove the dust and open the pores on the leaves so that the process of transpiration is improved. Transpiration is the process where the plant absorbs gasses from the air and gives off oxygen to the air. Clean leaves are also better able to absorb the light to promote healthy growth. Plants with fuzzy or furry leaves should be dusted with a soft brush or duster as the water will damage the leaves.
2. Now is an excellent time to check whether our houseplants have outgrown their pots and need to be repotted. Most houseplants will repot better during a time of active growth. Spring is such a time. Do your indoor houseplants need repotting?
3. Many plants can be pruned back if they have grown too large or uneven growth has made them unshapely. The best time for pruning foliage plants is in the spring when the new growth has started. THis will cause new growth to start below the branches pruned, producing a bushier plant.
For flowering plants we need to know about the flowering characteristics of the plant. Many flowering houseplants produce flowers on the new growth and pruning will produce multiple new shoots that will bud and produce flowers. Some flowering plants will flower on growth that is one year old already and pruning old growth can reduce the buds produced.
4. Our houseplants will also benefit from an application of fertilizer when the new growth starts. This will give the plant the nutrients it needs for healthy growth. Fertilizing should continue through the growing season as appropriate for each houseplant variety.
A little attention at this time of year will do much to improve the health and appearance of your indoor houseplant.
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