Simple Spring Houseplant Care Tips To Grow Happy Plants!
Start the growing season off right with these spring houseplant care tips!
Gather ’round green thumbs, indoor jungle lovers and houseplant enthusiasts, spring is here! In the Northern hemisphere, this glorious time is affectionately known as “growing season” among houseplant lovers and gardeners. It is a time where not only us humans come out of hibernation and bask in that beautiful sun, but also begin a new and exciting plant care routine. Spring houseplant care is notably different than winter care, and there are some things that you can do to guarantee that your plants are starting the spring season on a high note! Here’s How!
1. Evaluate Your Houseplants
Before you jump into your spring houseplant care routine, it’s a good idea to take inventory of the houseplants in your home. If you’re anticipating a hefty to-do list, why not grab a notepad and go through plant-by-plant to assess their spring care needs. Considerations will consist of tips #2 and onward for each plant. This will give you an idea of how to proceed with happy houseplants this spring season and ensure that you won’t get too overwhelmed.
2. Consider Changes in Lighting
Spring marks more of that beautiful beaming sunshine! You might have moved many of your plants closer to your windows to soak up whatever precious little sun the winter season has to offer. If that’s the case, you may want to slowly move some plants around to accommodate more sunlight. This is particularly important for plants with sensitive leaves that may burn from too much sun. Since spring is a shoulder season, you may want to keep an eye on the weather forecast. Don’t worry, you still have time before the intense summer sun begins. You can gradually move plants around to where they need to be during the growing season.
If you use grow lights…
If you’re using grow lights to supplement natural lighting during the winter only, you can certainly begin weaning your plants off the grow lights as the season kicks into high gear and the sun intensifies. On the other hand, if you have grow lights year-round, no action needed!
3. Expect Watering Needs to Increase
With more light…you guessed it…expect thirsty houseplants! You may notice your soil is drying out much faster than it did a few weeks ago. That’s because with all of the extra light, your plant is photosynthesizing more and water is a key ingredient to the process! Make sure to keep an eye on that soil in the spring to make sure that your plant isn’t too thirsty for too long.
4. Clean Your Leaves
All of that beautiful sunlight won’t be very useful to your plant if there’s a layer of dust on their leaves! A spring houseplant care checklist wouldn’t be complete without making sure that your leaves are sparkling clean. You can give plants a shower to accomplish this, or simply use a microfibre cloth and cleaning solution. Dust can accumulate on your plants quickly during the winter months when the furnace is running, so your plants will surely thank you for this step! If your a pet owner, shedding season can also cause dust to accumulate during the spring. Cleaning your leaves will also help prevent pests!
5. Spring is Time to Repot!
While you are checking out your houseplants, spring is a great time to take note of your plant’s root system. Many plant parents will hold off until the growing season to repot their plants. If this is the case for you, part of your spring houseplant care routine will be to look for the following signs that your plant needs to be repotted.
- Your plant’s roots are poking out of the bottom of the pot
- Their roots are tightly packed and have begun to take the shape of the pot
- The roots are popping out of the top of the soil
- Your plant is unreasonably thirsty
- Your plant generally appears unhappy or unhealthy with no other explanation
- The soil quality is poor–appears to be devoid of nutrients
Remember: A Good Rule of Thumb for Repotting is to Increase the Pot Size By 2 Inches
6. Clean Your Plant Space
Why not take your spring cleaning to your planty space too?
Since you are already moving plants around, it’s always a good idea to remove any fallen dirt, dead leaves, or debris from the shelving around your plants too. At minimum, you will want to do this every new season, but the more frequent the better! Pests love to hide in excessive dust and dirt or crispy leaves. Spring is typically when most houseplant parents will handle their plants most so keeping on top of your plant space and keeping things clean is key. The added bonus is that your planty space will be sparkling clean for you to enjoy as well.
7. Time to Trim and Propagate!
One of the most exciting houseplant activities is to trim and propagate your houseplants! A great time to get started is by incorporating this practice into your spring houseplant care routine. You can do this to help make your current plant, or “mother plant” more full and bushy, or you can share the new baby plants with friends and family! Spring is the perfect time to get started on propagations because the ample sunlight will help encourage root growth. Trimming your plant will also stimulate new growth and can make your houseplant more full as well (much like humans getting a hair cut).
8. Consider Fertilizing
If you’ve noticed that your houseplants have really started growing and putting out new leaves, this is a good sign your plant is ready to be fertilized. Make sure that you do your research on your particular plant’s fertilizing needs, and always follow the labels and dilute your fertilizer accordingly. Too much fertilizer can burn your plants, and this includes slow release fertilizers.
9. Take a Deep Breath! You survived the Winter!
You did it! Hopefully your plants are not too worse for wear after the cold, dark winter season. And hopefully in all of your spring cleaning you’ve found space for…more plants! Take some time to enjoy your plants and the beautiful weather.
Don’t forget to follow my plant journey on Instagram @plantyquirkyblogger!
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