Why are all my indoor plants dying?
People usually think it’s super easy to have indoor plants. Well, it’s easy to buy them, but it’s not easy to maintain them healthy and vigorous. This happens because most people don’t know there are five sacred rules one must follow to help our green friends survive.
The first rule is get to know your watering schedule. You can’t just decide to water your plants once a week and pray for a green color and a vigorous look. Check how you should be watering your plants using Google and adapting the schedule to the lighting and humidity level available in your location. Don’t be cheap, but also don’t overdo.
Then, you need a good drainage system. And no, the holes in the bottom of your pots are not enough. You should get some rocks or appropriate drainage material to place near the bottom of the plant, so that the water is sucked. Otherwise, it will just stay there damaging the plant roots. Humidity is another tricky subject: don’t just water the plant by spilling water in the soil, sprinkle some water in the leaves every two days.
Don’t move plants around, they don’t like it to be changed from place to place all the time. Just get a nice place near a window, according to the kind of plants you have (full sun, partial sun or shade) and let your green little friend be happy and healthy.
Literally none of these 5 tips are correct.
1. Water your plant when the soil feels dry about an inch deep or, after observing for a few weeks, note when they begin to droop and water one day prior. Example: you water your peace lily and 6 days later, the foliage is drooping. Try watering every 5 days.
2. Drainage holes ARE adequate, If in doubt re the number or size, drill a couple more.
3. Don’t put pebbles, broken pot pieces, etc., at the bottom of the pot – this causes what’s known as the perched water effect. Just cover your drainage holes with a plastic filter screen, landscape fabric or coffee filter paper and fill the pot completely with a well draining mix. Something like 50% coir, 25% orchid or pine bark, and 25% perlite or pumice works for most plants.
4. Don’t “sprinkle water” onto foliage. This does nothing to increase humidity but can lead to fungal infections. Misting does not increase humidity either. You know what does? A humidifier.
5. Except in the case of extremely finicky plants, it’s fine to move plants around. This is especially helpful in homes where window space is a limited commodity.