Useful Tricks To Successfully Grow Plants In Your House

Gardening can be an enjoyable hobby, but sometimes it seems like your plants are not growing as they should. A few smart tricks can help you get your plants to flourish. Here are tips and tricks to help you grow plants in your house with ease.

Soil

The quality of the soil that you grow your plants in is important. The best way to start with good-quality soil is to use organic compost teas. Avoid using chemical fertilizers, especially if you are growing food for consumption. When choosing soil for your plants, you must keep the pH between 6 and 7 (neutral). Most plants will do well in this range. If not, they can be adjusted by adding an acid or alkaline material at one time per year. 

Never add both; doing so can easily kill your plant. If you are unsure as to what your soil’s pH is, get a test kit and take samples. If the soil needs to be changed, it is best to do so in stages by adding small amounts of organic compost at a time while watering thoroughly until your plants become accustomed.

Light

Most plants require at least six hours of sunlight per day and should be placed accordingly in a room that gets plenty of natural sunlight. 

If this is not possible, you can always supplement with grow lamps or fluorescent bulbs for enhanced indoor growth. Alternatively, consider grow lights such as incandescent lights. As the folks at Grow Light Info explain, this type of bulb is extremely inexpensive and widely available. Most plants love natural sunlight, but some types of light can actually damage leaves and other plant parts. 

Water

Indoor plants need more water than those that live outdoors. Watering your indoor plants once a week is usually sufficient unless the soil becomes dry to the touch and starts to crack. Then it’s time for another watering. There is no hard and fast rule about how much or how little water you should give your houseplants. If you feel that the plant needs water then do so, regardless of what time of day it might be. 

Remember, there are always exceptions to rules such as these; if you have a particularly thirsty houseplant make sure you check its moisture levels regularly with your finger in the soil near its base. If it feels moist throughout, don’t water just yet.

Disinfect Your Hands

If you’re going to handle your plants, or work in the soil, keep in mind that most plants are susceptible to a variety of conditions. Make sure you thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water before working with any houseplants so as not to accidentally spread diseases from plant to plant.

Be Careful with Cleaning Supplies

To clean your plant, don’t use harsh chemicals such as bleach and water mixture. This can damage the leaves or other places on the plant where it comes in contact with the chemical. Use only mild soap and warm water to wash your plants; be sure not to get any of this mixture near their roots, as this will kill them quickly.

How To Divide Plants

The best way to propagate plants is to divide them. This can be done any time of the year, but if you do it in the hot summer months, make sure the plant is in a shady area while you’re separating its roots and replanting it in soil. There are several different ways to create new plants from existing ones. 

You can take a softwood cutting and place that into water or soil where it will grow roots; this method works great with African violets, spider plants, and many other types of houseplants! Also, a method called root division can be employed by taking an entire healthy portion of the root off from one plant and planting it into another individual pot filled with soil.

How To Repot A Houseplant

If your plant is getting too big for its pot, it needs to be repotted into a larger container. Make sure that the one you select can hold (and has room for) the roots of the plant. When repotting houseplants, make sure all of their soil is removed from around the root ball before placing them in a new pot. Give them fresh water and place the potted plant in an area with lots of bright sunlight until new growth begins to sprout; this will give it what it needs to grow healthy and strong in its new pot.

The best way to learn how to grow plants in your house is to experiment. Don’t be afraid if things don’t always work out, because over time you will find what does work for you. As long as you follow the basic tips like watering, soil pH, and light, your plants will thrive.