I only have a few houseplants as I just kill them, but agree totally on the watering day. Mine is Monday morning and I just go round and tip the glasses of water have been festering on the teens bedside tables for the past week into the nearest plant and it seems to work a treat. One day I'll find one of them has vodka in it I'm sure but so far so good. Repotting is a good plan and makes you feel very grown up and organised. I repotted a spider plant from my daughters room that had only ever been watered by me in the method above and we've now got five brand new ones out of the original so my utility rooms is a 1973's dream.
Another tip - the reason that some plants are so common is because they are the ones that will actually survive. I started off by regularly going to the garden centre and buying anything that was unusual or interesting. Unless you are an expert or willing to invest in stuff like special light lamps for them, they generally die.. If you aren't sure what to try, go to a local cafe and check what they have growing.
Indoor plants have always been the bane of my life! Not sure if I can ever go back there after all the herbicide I have committed. Can I just say, what a joy to behold is the reading/sitting nook/corner of your kitchen. I have much envy for exactly this kind of space.
Thanks Esther, I’m not great at plants, but getting better. I was an overwaterer before, but now I hold back. I also find those plant watering globe things help with this, as the plant can drink a bit more if it wants to. These are the ones I have https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0713276003.html
can only reproduce if the soil surface is moist. Esther I know you said to pick a day, but if the soil is damp don’t water the plant. Wait for it to dry out and then water - no more little buggies.
I love my plants and I feel like my seasonal allergies have gotten better since I’ve added them to pretty much every room!
This is really helpful, thank you! Like you, I do not get anything done on an ad hoc basis but I had never thought to add plant watering to my many routines. It’s going on the list!
My tip came from my mum but I assume she got it from somewhere helpful (dangerous assumption actually) - use rice water. Just the stuff you have left from rinsing/soaking rice, even better if you give it a couple of days to stew. My plants seem to really like it.
Oh my god, those little gnats! Awful things. The yellow sticky sheets weren’t touching it.
I had such an infestation that I was driven to buy some ‘sciarid fly nematodes’ to get rid of them. You dilute the bug powder in water, water ALL your plants with it and the nematodes eat the gnats.
I’m not sure if there is a terrible environmental consequence of using them, but it did work!
I am the plant killer in our house but it’s fine, my daughter has saved them from me. I would like to know where your little cushioned sofa/chairs are from??
How much light does the Philodendron need? I’m not green fingered. I have managed to keep my one of these alive for a year but it doesn’t look anywhere near as healthy or glossy or GREEN as yours. Mine is by the front door which has just a little natural light, through a stained glass window.
I have a rampant philodendron which was tumbling from our third floor to the ground floor, multiple tendrils spreading and climbing up and down everywhere and supported by hooks etc. It had some natural light from hallway windows. After years - maybe 8?!? I then had to detangle it and give it a severe trim - lots of it broke when I moved it - to have the hallways redecorated. It’s now in our sitting room in a dark corner but with two windows at 90degrees to it and although it’s not the triffid it once was it’s certainly shiny and healthy. I’ve never repotted it. I think they adjust to their environment quite happily.
I know the article is about plants but I laughed out loud at the line ‘your Y7 son in too-small trousers with an inch of sock showing’! This is totally my son at the moment but I refuse to buy new trousers with only 2 weeks of term left!
I'd like to add two things - killing plants is fine. Wasteful, but also totally normal and how you learn. Don't sweat it. Think of everything Monty kills in the garden and he has help!
Also, if you don't want fungus gnats (and who does), get the little floating discs you put in standing water to prevent mosquitoes. I'm not sure if that's a UK problem, but it surely is a US one. You can just keep one in your houseplant watering can, and when you water it will add the larvae killing bacteria to your plant pots.
I only have a few houseplants as I just kill them, but agree totally on the watering day. Mine is Monday morning and I just go round and tip the glasses of water have been festering on the teens bedside tables for the past week into the nearest plant and it seems to work a treat. One day I'll find one of them has vodka in it I'm sure but so far so good. Repotting is a good plan and makes you feel very grown up and organised. I repotted a spider plant from my daughters room that had only ever been watered by me in the method above and we've now got five brand new ones out of the original so my utility rooms is a 1973's dream.
Very useful, thank you! I'm much better at garden plants than house plants, will keep trying
Another tip - the reason that some plants are so common is because they are the ones that will actually survive. I started off by regularly going to the garden centre and buying anything that was unusual or interesting. Unless you are an expert or willing to invest in stuff like special light lamps for them, they generally die.. If you aren't sure what to try, go to a local cafe and check what they have growing.
Indoor plants have always been the bane of my life! Not sure if I can ever go back there after all the herbicide I have committed. Can I just say, what a joy to behold is the reading/sitting nook/corner of your kitchen. I have much envy for exactly this kind of space.
You’re branching out Esther. 🤗🤗
Thanks Esther, I’m not great at plants, but getting better. I was an overwaterer before, but now I hold back. I also find those plant watering globe things help with this, as the plant can drink a bit more if it wants to. These are the ones I have https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0713276003.html
Those annoying little gnats
can only reproduce if the soil surface is moist. Esther I know you said to pick a day, but if the soil is damp don’t water the plant. Wait for it to dry out and then water - no more little buggies.
I love my plants and I feel like my seasonal allergies have gotten better since I’ve added them to pretty much every room!
This is really helpful, thank you! Like you, I do not get anything done on an ad hoc basis but I had never thought to add plant watering to my many routines. It’s going on the list!
My tip came from my mum but I assume she got it from somewhere helpful (dangerous assumption actually) - use rice water. Just the stuff you have left from rinsing/soaking rice, even better if you give it a couple of days to stew. My plants seem to really like it.
Oh my god, those little gnats! Awful things. The yellow sticky sheets weren’t touching it.
I had such an infestation that I was driven to buy some ‘sciarid fly nematodes’ to get rid of them. You dilute the bug powder in water, water ALL your plants with it and the nematodes eat the gnats.
I’m not sure if there is a terrible environmental consequence of using them, but it did work!
I am the plant killer in our house but it’s fine, my daughter has saved them from me. I would like to know where your little cushioned sofa/chairs are from??
those are very old and knackered, from habitat, but I know I've seen similar things on Next in the furniture bit
Please tell me how come your cats don’t chew/drag down all your houseplants? They look beautiful by the way
that's interesting - Iris has never done this! nothing to do with my influence. must be an individual cat thing
Sent to son whose money plant has black spots, lovely stuff thanks Esther
Extremely varied content at the moment- from breast reductions to house plants in the same week. I am here for all of it 😍😍😍
LOL I know. scattergun
How much light does the Philodendron need? I’m not green fingered. I have managed to keep my one of these alive for a year but it doesn’t look anywhere near as healthy or glossy or GREEN as yours. Mine is by the front door which has just a little natural light, through a stained glass window.
I think possibly more than that - mine is on a high shelf under a window and is having the time of its life
I have a rampant philodendron which was tumbling from our third floor to the ground floor, multiple tendrils spreading and climbing up and down everywhere and supported by hooks etc. It had some natural light from hallway windows. After years - maybe 8?!? I then had to detangle it and give it a severe trim - lots of it broke when I moved it - to have the hallways redecorated. It’s now in our sitting room in a dark corner but with two windows at 90degrees to it and although it’s not the triffid it once was it’s certainly shiny and healthy. I’ve never repotted it. I think they adjust to their environment quite happily.
I know the article is about plants but I laughed out loud at the line ‘your Y7 son in too-small trousers with an inch of sock showing’! This is totally my son at the moment but I refuse to buy new trousers with only 2 weeks of term left!
Same!!!!!
Elaine I was very pleased with that line and I'm glad it made you laugh
I'd like to add two things - killing plants is fine. Wasteful, but also totally normal and how you learn. Don't sweat it. Think of everything Monty kills in the garden and he has help!
Also, if you don't want fungus gnats (and who does), get the little floating discs you put in standing water to prevent mosquitoes. I'm not sure if that's a UK problem, but it surely is a US one. You can just keep one in your houseplant watering can, and when you water it will add the larvae killing bacteria to your plant pots.
this is a great tip