There is nothing like spending an afternoon with the kids planting pretty flowers to bring some life and colour to your home. And it can be pretty disheartening, when, only a few weeks later, you find them wilted and sad looking.
To ensure you have healthy indoor plants all year long, David Corscadden from Beyond The Wild Garden has some great tips:
Keep on top of watering
One of the most important tasks of an indoor gardener is keeping on top of watering as house plants can dry out very quickly thanks to central heating. This task can be made easier by investing in water aids which slowly release water into the pot or by simply placing a saucer under to store water.
Time to dust
Now this may seem like a strange tip but it is a very important one. Because the plants are indoor all the time and do not get rained on, which washes dust off outdoor plants, it is important to dust them. This will help promote better photosynthesis and encourage a healthier plant.
Upgrading pots
Throughout the year it is important to check that your plant and pot are in harmony. Make sure the plant is still suitable for the pot you have it in and that it has not outgrown it. This can be done by making sure that roots are not coming out of the bottom of the pot. If this happens, it is time to upgrade to a bigger size.
Fertilise
Just as you fertilise your window boxes and hanging baskets, you should fertilise your house plants too. I am a fan of using tomato feed as I find it gives great results. There are also a number of slow release varities that can be bought specially for indoor plants.
Keep on top of deadheading and pruning
Just like the prized plants we love outdoors, houseplants need to be deadheaded and pruned to encourage a second flush of flowers and health growth.
