Plant Mom Duties
I’ve shared with you my plant babies and now I’d like to tell you how I take care of them! I’ve learned through fellow plant parents and the internet LOL.
I have many different types of plants but most of them require the same attention. I have air plants, tropicals plants, succulents and regular potted plants. All are unique in their own way and all require attention. They are living things too. They need sun, water and food just like us.
The placement of my plants
I was lucky for when I moved into my new house I have a large windowsill that is perfect for plants. Most of my plants live here but of course it’s not big enough for all of them. The larger ones I have are either on the ground or a stool. They are still catching those sun rays though! Some plants actually can’t handle too much sun…again just like us! Do some research on the type of plants you have and the best way to look after them; honestly Pinterest and fellow IG plant parents works perfectly. If you’re unsure, placing your plants in a decent sun-lite place is ideal. I try not to place mine where they can get too cold in the winter or too dry from the heat of the vents.
Make sure when you find a place for your plant to just keep it there. Plants don’t like a lot of movement or if you do need to move it, do it with lots of care. The only movement I do is I occasionally rotate them so the sunlight can be distributed properly.
Fo your larger plants, place them on the ground or on a stool! Watch your pets so they don’t start nibbling on the leaves. For my air plants, I have them on shelves around my house. None of them are in direct sunlight and they’re surviving!
Wednesday is watering day
Most plants just need to be watered 1-2 times a week. I choose Wednesdays to water my babies. It’s in the middle of the week so it’s easy to remember. I give enough water to make the soil moist. Try not to over water your plants as it can drown them but also don’t forget about them! Try to pick a day that’s easy for you to remember.
My babies also get showers every second day or so. Some of my plants are more tropical and need to feel like they are in the tropics. Since Canada does not have the humidity they are needing you sometimes need to give that to them. Get a little spray bottle with water and occasionally mist their leaves and soil. It’s a nice little shower that your plants will love you for.
Air plants are probably one of the easiest plants to take care of. As they don’t need to be in soil, you just need to give them a bath once a week. I gather all my air plants and place them in a large bowl filled with water. I let them soak for 20 minutes and then let them drain. When you let them drain, make sure to place them upside down so the water can fully drain out.
4 easy steps for Taking extra care of your plants
1. Make sure to occasionally clean your plant leaves. Too much dust can disrupt the sun rays from reaching your plant and we don’t want that. Give them a nice wipe every so often to clear away any dust or grim that can build up. I also like to wipe my leaves with some coconut oil to give them a nice shine and some nutrients.
2. Every so often you need to re-pot your plants. Just like us, as we grow we need new clothes and plants need the same. Gently re-pot your plants when they start growing big or start looking squished. The roots need room to grow and thrive!
3. Using pots with drain holes is best. It’s better for the soil so it doesn’t get soaked in water for too long. I have many without drain holes and should really replace them but there are ways around it! I’ve placed rocks at the bottom of those pots so the soil isn’t sitting right at the bottom.
4. Clipping away dead leaves is also helpful. It eliminates the plant from unnecessarily feeding that leaf and can focus on feeding the rest of the plant.
