Seasonal Care: Spring

As the seasons change, so too do your plant needs. Indoor plants are affected by outdoor changes. In this article, we’re talking about all things spring and how you should care for your plants when the temperature warms up.

Spring Forward

Plants love spring. It’s the start of the growing season and your plants will come alive, especially after a long winter. Kick your care routine up a notch to see some amazing nature stuff happen.

Introduce More Water

You might find yourself needing to water your plants more frequently to make up for the increase in temperature and daylight hours. The best time to water is early morning or early evening, when temperatures are cooler and water is less likely to evaporate.

To avoid overwatering, make sure to increase water frequency gradually. Check your plant regularly during this time of adjustment. If you notice wilt or leaf curl, water more frequently. If soil stays wet for two days or more, water less. For plants that thrive in higher humidity, localize humidity around them if the air in the home is too dry. If your plant is in full sun and you are watering semi-daily, you can help retain moisture better by adding rocks to top of the soil.

Pull Back On Sunlight

In the winter, your houseplants were probably as close to available light as possible. Now that the sun is stronger and days are longer, you may need to consider pulling them back or incorporating a sheer curtain to diffuse the rays. Plants that aren't suited for direct sun should only receive indirect light to avoid leaf scorch. 

Not sure if the sunlight is too strong? if you look out from the plant's view and see the sun in line with your plant's "vision," then this would be considered direct sunlight. Indirect light is ambient light emitting from the plant's view of the sky without directly seeing the sun. Overcast and obstructions can turn direct sunlight areas into indirect, and indirect areas much shadier. Rotate plants weekly if they begin stretching toward the light source.

Warm Up

It’s not quite time for A/C yet. Most houseplants like it between 65-75 degrees F. Keep plants away from cool draft sources like open windows, especially at night, and consider monitoring humidity levels with a hygrometer.

Pruning

It’s called spring cleaning. Pruning lackluster or wilted foliage is great for your plant in spring and can eliminate hosts for disease. If foliage looks okay, don’t prune just yet, as your plant might still be absorbing nutrients from it and will drop it naturally on its own time. Clean off dropped leaves that have collected on top of the soil and you’ll be pest-free.

Not sure if the sunlight is too strong? Put your hand out and let the light hit it. If it’s too hot for you, chances are, it’s too hot for your plant too.

A Time to Repot

Spring is the best time to repot your houseplants. Plants typically need to be repotted every 12 to 18 months. If you do it every other spring, it’s easier to remember. Repotting does not necessarily mean putting the plant in a new planter, but rather changing its soil or potting mix. Fresh soil provides the plant with fresh nutrients.

Consider Fertilizing

Fertilizer is one of those things that tends to get overlooked but it can be beneficial in the long-term health of your plant. Fertilizer is like taking vitamins. It’s not meant to supplement or replace food; and by the way, plants do that their own via light and photosynthesis, thank you very much. Fertilizer should be used sparingly and never in fresh soil. If you’ve decided to take advantage of spring repot your plant, the new soil won’t need any added fertilizer.

Get Outside

If you want to put your houseplants outside for the approaching warmer months, you should prep them a bit. A good time to move them out is when it’s consistently above 55 degrees F at night. Keeping plants in a stable environment is always the goal.

Outdoor weather can be unpredictable. Plants tend to dry out faster especially on warmer days. Move them to a shady area and water them in the early morning and at night to avoid burning. If it’s rained for a couple of days, lay off on watering and of course, make sure your planters have drainage. Shelter smaller plants from strong winds.

Be proactive and get ready for Seasonal Care: Summer.