Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Too much TLC can kill
Your tropicals you had outside all summer should be safely indoors now. As we start turning indoors, we’re paying more attention to all of our houseplants. Mostly that’s a good idea but too much T-L-C can kill a houseplant!
Overwatering is the number one killer of houseplants. Almost none of your houseplants like wet feet. We often think water’s the cure-all for what MAY ail your plant. The reality is, MOST of your houseplants, as well as outdoor plants, do better on the dry side. [I water these plants once a week. The larger plants get about a cup or so and I put 3 ice cubes in for the orchid and the zee plant]
However, because houseplants needs do vary, the best advice for a watering schedule is to get to know the plant. While the majority are better off drying out a little, some plants do like to stay moist. All this info should be on the tag in the pot you buy, if there’s no information, then ask. Generally, you’ll get more information from your local garden center.
A watering schedule least likely to get you in trouble is to water when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil is dry. Just stick your finger in the soil to find out. You can water from the top and let the water flow all the way through till it drains out the bottom (then empty the saucer) or you can bottom water. Set your pot in water until moisture can be seen on the soil surface. African Violets, in particular, prefer this method of watering.
Don’t over fertilize! I did that to my zee plant…. it was very unhappy with me, drooping over and hanging down. Gratefully, I flushed it (watering it till water ran out the bottom and then let it dry out completely) and it’s much healthier, standing straighter.
I use rainwater for my plants. Capturing it in a barrel and saving it in milk jugs.
