Plant Care
General Care for indoor plants
Dust: One of the challenges with indoor plants is the accumulation of dust on their foliage. A simple solution is to put them outside in the rain for a wash. Plants love it! Follow this link for a demonstration; https://www.ourhouseplants.com/guides/cleaning-your-plants
Humidity: Some plants prefer humid conditions and others dry. A Maidenhair Fern grows well in a bathroom with high humidity levels if there's also lots of light. By contrast, Dracaena Marginata, known as a Dragon Tree, prefers dry conditions. Follow this for more information; https://www.ourhouseplants.com/guides/humidity
Watering: More plants die by over-watering than under-watering. Check to see if your plant needs to be watered. The best way to do this is to push your finger into the soil to the second knuckle, and if the soil feels dry, water the plant, and if it feels moist, don't. If the tips of leaves are browning, chances are it is overwatered. And never let your plant sit in a saucer of water as it can cause root rot and various fungus issues. Follow this to check what you may need; https://www.ourhouseplants.com/guides/watering
Repotting: If the plant seems too big for the pot and the leaves aren't healthy and shiny, the plant may need potting up. Choose a pot the next size up, tease out the roots and backfill with new potting mix. Water in well with a liquid seaweed solution. To see if you are doing the correct thing, check here: https://www.ourhouseplants.com/guides/repotting
Position: Keep indoor plants away from the direct radiant heaters, hot windows, and warm and cool blasts of air from vents. For you to consider:
Pests: Scale, mealy bugs, spider mites, fungus gnat, fungus and aphids: These are common pests that affect indoor plants, mainly if they are under stress. Scale can be identified as tiny brown inanimate lumps. If only a few are present, they can be scratched off. However, if the plant is thoroughly infected, use horticultural oil, if appropriate, such as Neem Oil or Yates Rose Gun for mealy bugs, fungus and scale. For Spider Mites you need Kill-a- Mite which you will need to follow the instructions very closely as this is a serious treatment. A great resource is; https://www.ourhouseplants.com/guides/house-plant-pests . It outlines each pest and the best way to eliminate them using eco-friendly ideas or chemical suggestions.
The resources we use the most are from ABC Gardening Australia. Craig Miller-Randle has provided us with an informative set of videos and fact sheets. Everyone can benefit from watching Craig Miller-Randle's ultimate guide to indoor plants. All episodes are on iView.
Or select the relevant episode:
- https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/guide-to-keeping-indoor-plants-alive/10928692
- https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/indoor-plant-maintenance-guide/10949224
- https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/indoor-plant-care/9429934
Websites:
- https://aussiegreenthumb.com/best-indoor-plants/#t-1614848365028
- https://www.yates.com.au/
- https://www.homestolove.com.au/how-to-care-for-indoor-plants-5670
- https://www.searlesgardening.com.au/indoor-plant-care-helpful-hints
Chalet Boutique:
- https://chaletboutique.com.au/collections/pet-friendly-plants
- https://chaletboutique.com.au/blogs/news/child-friendly-plants
Plant Life Balance - Australian creation for all indoor plant enthusiasts (Free on App store)
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Rate your space.
- Style your space.
Photograph your room. Drag and drop some plants in
- Get the look that's right for you.
Styled looks.
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Flourish is the complete indoor plant companion app designed for those new to indoor gardening who may need help picking new plants for a space or caring for the ones they.
There are so many websites, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and other sites. Our advice is to read and watch as much as you need. Get to know your plants, and you can always send us an email if you cannot solve your issue.