How to take care of plants

The following tips will be more universal, but the golden rule is to know our plant well, that’s why the first one is here. Although the majority of plants that are commonly cultivated share many of their needs, each species can be a world and some have very concrete and specific needs. Find out what the species of your plants is and what their particular needs are. For example, it will not be the same to find out how to take care of an indoor plant than an outdoor plant.

The vast majority of plants do not tolerate waterlogging in their soil or substrate, so watering them in excessive amounts is one of the main causes of the death of plants in the home. it’s so much better water often and in small amounts to do little and a lot, although this is easier. Drought-resistant plants, such as cacti and succulents in general, are especially vulnerable to waterlogging.

We leave you these other articles on When to water the plants.

Another of the basic care of plants is to check the humidity of the soil where they are planted. If you are not sure if your plant needs watering or not, stick a small toothpick or even your finger into the substrate, next to the plant and without damaging it. If the ground is wet it will stick to the stick or your finger and usually means that it does not need watering yet.

Read this other article on the Types of substrates that exist to have more information on the subject.

If you’re not sure if a plant is a sun or shade plant and can’t find any information, there’s a formula that always works: give it plenty of indirect light. Some plants do not tolerate direct sun, which burns their leaves, while others do not thrive in shade. The solution is:

• indoors: place them in a bright room, near a window that filters the light with a curtain.
• outdoors: place them where they are protected from the midday sun and only the morning or afternoon light reaches them.

Take a look at this post about Excess or lack of light in plants.

Very few plants tolerate frost: if you live in an area where the winters are very cold, you will have to look for seasonal plants, or those that especially tolerate this type of climate. You can use specific fabrics to keep plants covered in winter, which will help them retain heat. Similarly, the quilting technique can help.

In this EcologíaVerde article you can find outdoor plants resistant to cold and shade.

Many desert or Mediterranean species are adapted to hot summers, but many others do not tolerate the temperatures above 30 ºC, and even less in the sun. Water them more often and look for shade, especially in the hottest hours.

You can visit these other two articles on Sun-resistant Flowering Garden Plants or Shade Plants.

There are plants with specific needs in terms of substrate, such as acidophilic plants, and others that are not demanding at all. However, you can prepare a universal mixture yourself which will be excellent for a very high percentage of them: mix equal parts peat, coconut fiber and earthworm humus, and then add a few handfuls of vermiculite and perlite. You will have a very light mixture, with excellent drainage and rich in nutrients and beneficial microorganisms, ideal even for seedbeds.

To learn more about acidophilic plants: what they are, examples and care, do not hesitate to visit this post that we recommend.

Again insisting on drainage, it is vital that the pot in which you place your plant has holes through which it can escape excess water when watering Indoors, you can place a saucer under the pot and remove the excess water about ten minutes after watering.

Here you can find more information about drainage in pots.

Despite popular belief, plants don’t live on sun and water alone: ​​they need nutrients. They extract them from the ground, but as they develop they deplete those within their reach, especially in pots, and they have to be renewed. Always fertilize in spring and summer, during the months of activity, once every 15 days. Whenever you can, use organic and ecological fertilizerssuch as earthworm humus or compost, which you can make yourself.

Perhaps this EcologíaVerde article on How to make homemade organic fertilizers can help you.

Whenever you see wilted leaves or flowers on your plant, or bad looking blackened stems, grab the sharpest shears you have, disinfect the cutting edge and prune or remove what is in poor condition. In this way, the plant does not waste energy or nutrients in feeding parts that will eventually die anyway, being able to focus on its healthy stems or branches, which will develop better.

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