How do you care for your houseplant in spring?
The morning dawns earlier and earlier. The birds are singing. Suddenly, it's a little too hot in this thick coat. Spring arrives and nature wakes up. It's not just outside that things are changing. Your urban jungle is also coming out of hibernation. Houseplants need different care in spring than in winter, summer or autumn. To find out more, click here.
Enough light, but not too much☀️
Did you move your plant over winter to a spot where it gets more light? Make sure it doesn't get too much light now.
In plants that get too much light, the leaves can burn. You can recognise burnt leaves by dry, brown spots.
Did you buy a new plant in winter and will it hardly grow in spring? Then a too dark location may be the cause.
Boost your houseplant in spring with fertiliser
The start of spring is not just the startfor us to move outside en masse and enjoy the spring sunshine. Your houseplants see the slightly higher temperatures and more hours of daylight as the sign to 'get going'. The plant creates new roots that take up extra nutrients. These nutrients are used to create new leaves. This means that your houseplant must always have sufficient nutrients available in spring. Among the fertilisers for indoor plants, you have the liquid nutrients that you mix with water or sticks that you mix with the potting soil.
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Give your houseplant a bigger home: repotting plants
Extra leaves and extra roots also mean more volume. And more roots also mean that the plant can absorb a greater amount of water and nutrients. Spring is therefore the perfect time to repot your plant. If you notice that roots are finding an unnatural way out or your plant is no longer absorbing water, it is high time to repot.
Use fresh potting soil when repotting. The young roots of your plant will immediately benefit from the fresh nutrients in this potting soil. You can easily give your houseplants a real boost in spring.
When repotting your houseplant, be careful not to damage the plant. Tap the plant very carefully out of the old (too small) pot. Remove as much old potting soil as possible, but be careful not to damage the roots.
On the bottom of the new pot put a layer of hydro grains for good drainage. This helps prevent root rot. On top of the hydro grains put a layer of potting soil. Then put the plant in the middle and fill further with potting soil. Do not fill the pot to the brim, but keep a few centimetres. Water immediately after repotting.
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Health check in spring
Spring is the ideal time for a major house cleaning, but also to give your houseplants an extensive health check. Some critters are a lot less active in winter, so you might not notice that your plant has become infested with pests. Give your houseplants a health check in spring to make sure no spider mites, aphids or other pests have settled/are trying to settle on your plant. This way, you can treat any pests immediately to avoid them spreading to other plants.
New life - time for cuttings
A new growing season is the ideal time for new life. Or to create it. Using a cutting, you grow a new plant all by yourself.
When cutting your houseplant in spring, always use a very sharp knife or sharp pruning shears. This ensures that the wound heals quickly and prevents fungal growth. Before you place the cutting in water or cutting soil, you should dip it briefly in cutting powder. This gives the cutting a nutrient boost and protects it against bacteria and fungi. It is best to give young cuttings rainwater instead of tap water. Rainwater does not contain calcium. It is best to remove the lower leaves of the cutting immediately. A small plant puts a lot of energy into those leaves, when it would be better using that energy to form roots.
Want to know more about caring for your houseplants?
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