While I don’t have many houseplants, I find that caring for them improves my mood significantly during the winter months. By the end of the gardening season at the latest, we can look forward to and start planning for the holidays. Coming January, all of that is behind us but the gardens are far from ready to be worked on.
So I’d rather play indoors in the dirt than outdoors.
First on my to-do list, I take each houseplant and examine it closely to assess its health. Are the leaves as green as they should be? Do I see signs of insect damage from mites or aphids? How dry/moist is the soil? Will the plant be root bound? Does it need to be repotted or divided?
If leaf color is less than desired, your plant may benefit from monthly fertilizing. If you see aphids or spider mites, a spray of insecticidal soap approved for houseplants may be in order. If the soil is too wet, the plant is at risk of root rot. Start over by pulling the plant out of the pot and removing the wet soil. You may need to address damp roots by drying very gently with a paper towel. When you see the roots growing in circles around the rim of the pot, it’s a good time to switch to a large pot. New soil around the roots, but don’t water for a day or two. Then get into the habit of only watering your plant when you can stick a finger in the soil and it’s ankle-dry to the touch. I think about every ten days is enough.
Second, I take a very soft brush (like a blush brush from a makeup kit – one I dedicate to my plants) and brush the dust off the leaves. This is really important when we talk about succulents as dust can affect their ability to photosynthesize. But other indoor plants also need to be dusted well once a week.
