Spring Plant Care: What You Need To Know This Season
As the weather gets warmer and the daylight hours stretch a little longer, we’re often told that there are things we need to do this time of year to ensure our plants’ optimal health. Some of it applies but there are still some things to keep in mind when looking at changing up our plant care routine for the spring and summer. Longer days can often translate into plants requiring more frequent watering. But what are the things that do not necessarily apply? Let’s have a look at these long held myths.
Repotting Begins
Sure, it’s a common time to repot as many plants start to actively grow. But sometimes our plants aren’t ready to be repotted as the root ball is not fully developed. We often tell people at the shop that it isn’t necessary just yet, even when the plant has been in the same pot for over a year. Every plant grows on its own timing and repotting it just because it’s spring seems a bit arbitrary. Certain plants will go into shock if replanted before their time. When the roots cover the surface area of the root ball and begin to emerge from the drainage holes, it’s time to upgrade to a larger pot!
We Can Start Fertilizing
Again, as a general rule no harm done in starting a fertilizing regimen now that it’s spring. However, we need to take into account that plants are growing in different circumstances now. Our homes are now pretty regulated in terms of temperature, and many of us also have grow lights to supplement our plants during the winter months. The optimal conditions to have plants grow year round without going dormant is much more common today. We are also using milder, or organic fertilizers which means we don’t run the risk of burning our plants due to overfertilization. We fertilize our plants year- round at the shop, with soil amendments and foliar vitamin sprays. If the concentrations are mild, it is much more acceptable to continue to nourish and fertilize our plants throughout the year.
Clean The Leaves of Your Plants
Cleaning the leaves of our plants as part of a spring cleaning routine is not the same as cleaning behind our stoves or relining the shelves of our kitchen cupboards. Plants photosynthesize all year and require regular maintenance for optimal health. We recommend wiping the leaves with a damp cloth weekly or biweekly, but it should be done at least once a month. It’s our first line of defense against pests as well, as regularly cleaning the leaves of our plants forces us to take a closer look and make sure bugs aren’t present.
Time To Prune Out The Dead Or Yellowing Leaves
The same rules do not apply for indoor and outdoor plants. Yes, pruning out dead or detrimental leaves promotes new growth, but it can be done as needed for indoor plants at any time during the year. If stems aren’t doing well, prune them out with sharp and sterilized tools. Simple rubbing alcohol will do the trick, sterilizing after each cut, if there is any disease or pests present.
Times are changing and sometimes we have to update our ways of approaching plant care to better care for and cultivate our plants. Just know that you can reach out to our team with any questions you may have regarding repotting, fertilizing, or troubleshooting any plant issues. We are a community of plant lovers, after all. We welcome newbies and seasoned plant parents alike!