If you’ve been thinking about bringing some green home, there really couldn’t be a better time to do it. The climate change crisis has reached such heights now that school kids are leaving their classrooms to become environment activists, reminding us that if we continue consuming at the current rate, we might not even be able to leave a healthy planet behind for them. While indoor plants may not help as much as, say, planting a tree outdoors, they’re certainly better than nothing. Not only would they help increase the oxygen level in your home, they will also boost the mood of your space by keeping things fresh and lively.
Like most things, caring for your indoor plants becomes much easier if you have some tricks up your sleeve. I must admit I have picked up most of these hacks from my mother, who is the real ‘domestic goddess’ in the family—so much so that sometimes I feel a little neglected when I think about the level of care and attention our plants get from her—but they’re all you’ll need to keep your plants lush, luxurious and flourishing. Scroll ahead for our top tips.
1) Don’t overwater your plants
One of the few essentials to remember while adopting plants is to check how much water they require, and how often. Some plants don’t need watering at all during monsoons because of the high level of humidity in the air, but the opposite may apply during summers. Keep a close watch to see how they react to weather changes to ensure that you aren’t overwatering your plants.
2) Position them right
It is also imperative that you pay attention to the amount of sunlight your plant need. If it requires minimum sunlight, place it indoors, next to a window for a partially warm spot. Alternatively, position it outside in the balcony for some serious sun-tanning.
3) Pay attention to the soil
Make sure you use good quality soil—dark red soil would have higher levels of nutrients to help your plants thrive. Aerate the top soil once in ten days by shuffling it around with a stick or a fork. A fresh sprinkle of fertiliser every two months will also boost your plant health.
4) Use kitchen waste
Anything organic that comes out of your kitchen is nutrition for your plants. Used tea leaves, coffee grounds, powdered eggshells and banana peels will all provide your plants with useful nutrients, and you can also take it one step further by recycling the water you used to wash grains, lentils and veggies to water your plants.
5) Weed your plants regularly
Keep an eye out for weeds, bugs, caterpillars and other insects that weaken plants and munch on the leaves. Neem acts as a natural insecticide and anti-fungicide, so make yourself a natural, homemade repellant by spraying some neem oil carefully onto your plants.
6) Prune them
Give your plants a nice trim every three months (depending on their growth rate) to stimulate regrowth. Prune after your plants have bloomed; and do the same with unopened buds and leaves—remember to wait till they grow. Make sure you are trimming the smaller branches and stems though, since cutting the thicker branch will stunt plant growth. But always trim a little at a time—you don’t want your plant to look like it had an impulsive, regretful haircut. You can also get rid of the bits that overcrowd the pots, such as dead leaves, limp stems and overgrown branches.
7) Play them some tunes
Just like humans, plants love to listen to music too. Numerous studies have indicated that plants thrive and display healthier growth in response to sound waves and audio cues. Considering classical music generally does the trick, you may want to get your plants swaying to Beethoven on loop, now.
8) Talk to them
“The secret to improved plant breeding, apart from scientific knowledge, is love,” horticulturist and botanist Luther Burbank once said. Talking to plants helps them grow faster. In fact, it has been found that plants grow even faster to the sound of a female voice.
9) Give them a massage
This one is too quirky for me too, but definitely worth a shot—especially because it comes approved by ‘plant wizard’ Burbank himself. Wipe the dust off the leaves or spray them clean with a splash of water, and gently massage your plants while you chat with them to create a vibration of love.
