Rise and shine because it’s (finally) gardening time! Help your houseplants get back in shape with these spring gardening tips from our favorite green thumbs! Happy planting!
After a long, harsh, cold winter (we thought it’s never going to end), spring is finally here! Plants love spring. You know what that means, it’s time to dust off those gardening tools and get ready to step back into the garden. We know that you are anxious and overwhelmed since it’s the start of the growing season, and your plants are starting to wake up from winter dormancy. So this spring, we ask for some spring gardening tips and advice from our favorite green thumbs on how to encourage growth and treat your plants this new season.
Dust and Wash Your Plants’ Leaves
It doesn’t take long for dust to gather on the leaves of your houseplants. When your houseplants’ leaves are covered in dust, it will block the sunlight and reduce the process of photosynthesis. As a result, your houseplants will be unhealthy, and will be they prone to diseases and pest infestations.
Rachel Mayo of Grow in the Light shares, “When my home and space undergo spring cleaning, my plants aren’t excluded! I use this time as a reminder to dust and wash my plants’ leaves. I also love to prune and trim. Getting rid of dead or yellowing leaves gives each plant that renewed, green vibrance while keeping them healthy.”
Omysa Plant Care Tip: Clean the leaves of your houseplants from time to time by either showering them or spraying them with a dilute soapy water mixture, using a soft brush to gently remove the dust, or wiping off with a damp cloth, particularly for large houseplants.
Prune, Trim, and Curate
Aside from dusting and washing your houseplants’ leaves, Deborah Green of Mod and Mint shares one of her personal spring gardening tips, “Spring is the perfect time to prune your houseplant. It will be full of energy at the beginning of the active growing season. Don’t be afraid to give your plant a good prune. Many plants will grow back even fuller than before. And you can water propagate all the cuttings you take!“
Pruning and trimming your houseplants prevent pests, such as fungus gnats, and mold. It also prevents your houseplants from looking thin, and it helps your houseplants to keep a healthy shape and size perfect for your home. Plus, your houseplants grow healthier and stronger when you trim and remove dead or dying leaves.
Omysa Plant Care Tip: Make sure that you are using clean and sharp pruning shears or scissors because any cut you made to your houseplants’ tissue can expose it to disease. It’s best to clean and disinfect them between each use with a mild bleach-and-water solution or rubbing alcohol. Don’t forget to give your houseplants a good drink or a little misting, if the soil is dry, after pruning or trimming them.
Relocate Plants Based on Light and Temperature Needs
Maryah Greene, the consultant and plant doctor of Greene Piece, shares that the green thumb is a myth, and it will make the best of us feel like we are not doing the “plant parent” thing correctly, to which we completely agree. Keeping houseplants happy and healthy is not something you are born with, but it’s about constant research that will help you properly care for your houseplants.
Greene adds that all you truly need are the following: a basic understanding of the lighting in your space, a confident understanding of how to repot your plants once you bring them home, and patience & the power to put the watering can down until it’s actually watering day.
Omysa Plant Care Tip: The right amount of light can help your houseplants grow, so it’s best to read the label and research what type of light your houseplant needs. As a general rule, water your plant only when the soil is completely dry. Check the soil by sticking your finger towards the rootball. If it’s wet, wait for a few more days. If it’s dry, then you can bring out your watering can. Greene advised, “Keep your plants on a watering schedule and they will love you back.”
Re-pot (if needed)
One of the most important spring gardening tips that you must learn is how to transfer a houseplant into a slightly bigger pot and add a bit more soil to it. Seriously. It’s a bit intimidating, especially for beginners, but re-potting your houseplant can help it grow well, and since spring is finally here, it’s time to re-pot your houseplant.
Signs That You Need to Re-pot Your Houseplant:
- It’s been years since you re-potted
- The plant looks too big or too small for its pot
- Roots are growing out of the drainage holes
- Soil is dried out
- Water is sitting on the top
Nick Cutsumpas, plant coach of Farmer Nick, advised, “The most important thing you need to do when spring rolls around is to take a deep dive into the soil and explore your plants’ roots. Although their leaf growth may have slowed over the fall and winter months, the roots were still growing strong, and many of your plants may be ready for re-potting.
Spring is typically the best time to re-pot since plant growth will increase during the warmer months, so if you notice the roots are coming out of the drainage hole, the top of the soil, or just compactly circling your planter, it is time to find a bigger home.“
Omysa Plant Care Tip: The very main reason that you are re-potting your houseplant is that it outgrew its current home. Choose a pot that’s a little bigger than your houseplant to give the roots plenty of room. Also, make sure that the new pot is deeper, as well. Don’t forget about drainage holes. You don’t want your plant sitting in water and rotting.
Emily Sanchez of Classy Casita shares, “The spring season is such an exciting time for plant owners. It’s the best time to re-pot and fertilizes your plants, so definitely set some time aside for plant/self-care. How we like to do a spring cleaning or in a way “start fresh” during spring, so do our plants. Doing your plant care during the springtime is a great way to set them up for another great year of growth!“
Lucrecer Braxton, an award-winning photographer and digital marketing and content strategist of Soul Sista Plants, gives one of her personal spring gardening tips, “As the growing season approaches, this is a great time to touch every single one of your houseplants. Check to see if roots are coming out of the drainage holes or if your plant has outgrown its current pot. If you haven’t changed the soil in a year, this is a great time to refresh the soil and nutrients for a healthy plant.”
Omysa Plant Care Tip: Before you transfer your houseplant into the new pot, add a base layer of soil. This will serve as a new space for the roots to grow. Make sure that it’s just enough so your houseplant has still room to grow.
Spring Is the Season to Feed Your Plants
Figuring out how, what, and when to feed your houseplants can get overwhelming, especially if you’re a beginner. Lisa Muñoz, interior plant designer of Leaf and June shares, “Your plants are awakening from winter dormancy and will benefit from added nutrients. Whether that means repotting with fresh potting soil or giving them some fertilizer, they’ll welcome the food, and it will give them a boost of energy.“
Sign That You Need to Feed Your Houseplant:
- Spindly or Weak-Looking Plants: If your houseplant or indoor plant looks feeble, it might be lacking food, proper light, or both.
Omysa Plant Care Tip: Feed your houseplants in the growing season, which is spring and summer, to give your plant a little boost and to promote growth.
Always take a soil test to truly determine the level of nutrients in your houseplant’s soil and to avoid fertilizer burn or shock. It’s important to always follow the instructions on fertilizer labels since too much can kill your plant.
It’s best to feed your houseplants every two weeks to once every few months, depending on the type of plant and the type of fertilizer you are using. We recommend using liquid fertilizer because it provides a steady supply of nutrients that you can precisely control. It’s diluted into water and can be poured using a watering can. Read the feeding requirement of your plant to learn how frequently you should feed it.
Lastly, keep your houseplants where they bring you the most joy. Nick Cutsumpas shared his #PlantShelfie, a mix and match of books, décor items, and plant life. You can put your houseplants everywhere, and it’s always fun to look for ways to enhance your home’s interior with lush, beautiful houseplants.
Check out our Plant Care blog to learn more about different houseplants and tips on how to keep your plants alive and healthy.
Whatever houseplant you choose to transform your home into a lively oasis, you’ll definitely need a stylish planter to display your plant baby in. No matter what your style, there’s an Omysa planter that will be perfect with your garden and home’s décor. From ceramics to fiberstone, check out Omysa’s Shop and add it to your cart!
