Top Recommended Houseplant and Gardening Suggestions Gleaned from the Last 25 Years - Expert Advice on Horticulture We've Shared Over the Past Quarter-Century
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Keep your plant babies green and thriving with these nifty hacks and precious insights from REAL SIMPLE's treasure trove of gardening know-how spanning the last 25 years. Let's dive into eight awesome ways to keep your indoor or outdoor garden flourishing and your plants happier than ever.
Just the Right Amount of H2O
Flood the pot until water seeps out of the drainage holes at the bottom. Stop right there - too much liquid can lead to devastating root rot. Pro tip: the best time to water is either in the morning or the evening, shunning the midday heat when most H2O would evaporate.
Newspaper Fortress for Weed Control
Before mulching your garden, lay a thick layer of newspaper or cardboard around your plants. This hardy barrier will weed out pesky weeds, lock in moisture, and gradually enrich the soil as it breaks down. Make sure you dampen the newspaper before spreading the mulch and, if you're using cardboard, steer clear of anything with a glossy coating as it won't decompose as easily.
Aspirin's Secret Garden Powers
Aspirin isn't just a cure for headaches! Dissolve three-quarters of a pill in a gallon of water and spray the solution on your indoor or outdoor plants every two weeks. The active ingredient in aspirin, salicylic acid, can strengthen your plant's defense system, helping them fight off fungus.
Eggshell Seed Starters
There's no need to purchase plastic starter containers for starting seeds. Eggshells work wonders as containers, holding moisture and offering a tiny boost of calcium to your baby plantlings. Once they mature, simply plant the entire eggshell with the seedling inside.
Leaf Shining Solution
Dusty particles on leaves can block sunlight and hinder photosynthesis. Instead of invest in plant-specific cleaners, give your plants a good rinse in the sink regularly, or wipe the leaves with a damp cloth when dust starts to build up. If your plants have waxy leaves, run the business side of a banana peel over them for an extra shine!
Rosemary Repels Mosquitos
Strive for a cleaner, greener, and mosquito-free backyard by planting a rosemary bush – its intoxicating aroma repels these pesky critters. For additional plant-based mosquito repellents, check out these 15 options.
Drip Irrigation Hose Hack
Transforming your garden with drip irrigation can be costly and time-consuming. But, with a simple hack, an old garden hose can do the trick. Punch 1/4-inch holes with a drill bit into the hose, and you've got a budget-friendly alternative to pricy installations. This also offers a superior solution for upcycling a hose with an existing leak or hole.
Fall Mulch Magic
In the fall, surround your outdoor plants with a layer of mulch to reap numerous advantages: nourishing the plants, maintaining moisture, reducing watering frequency, shielding roots from frost, and offering shelter for wildlife.
Enrichment Data:
While the compilation below isn't an exhaustive list of the top 8 houseplant and gardening tips from REAL SIMPLE magazine, it provides some valuable insights from their wealth of knowledge. Here are some additional tips and popular houseplants that can be inferred from REAL SIMPLE and similar sources:
Extra Tips for Houseplant and Gardening Success
- Adopt Low-Maintenance Plants: Such as the Skunk Cabbage and the Calathea, these plants thrive in various lighting conditions and require minimal care.
- Lighting Needs: Most houseplants prefer bright, indirect light. Position your plants near windows, but not directly in sunlight to avoid scorching the leaves.
- Water Wisely: Water your plants only when the top few inches of soil feel dry. Avoid overwatering, especially with succulents like the String of Turtles and plants like the Krinkled Dracena.
- Regular Fertilization: Frequently feed your plants with a water-soluble fertilizer during the growing season to foster healthy growth.
- Elevate Humidity: If your plants are thriving in dry air, consider using a humidifier or placing your plants on a tray filled with water and pebbles to increase humidity levels.
- Personalized Choices: Select plants that suit your lifestyle. If you're often in a specific room, place plants there to help ensure they receive the right care.
- Pruning and Training: Regularly trim and shape your plants to maintain their vigor and vitality. Train trailing plants like the Snake Plant and Philodendron to climb trellises for an attractive aesthetic.
- Temperature Control: Most houseplants prefer temperatures between 65°F and 75°F (18°C and 24°C), so avoid placing them near heat vents or drafty windows.
Following these tips can help you become a successful houseplant enthusiast and reap the numerous benefits of gardening indoors.
- Expand your indoor gardening knowledge with additional tips from REAL SIMPLE magazine, such as adopting low-maintenance plants like the Skunk Cabbage and the Calathea.
- For optimal growth, position your houseplants near windows with bright, indirect light, avoiding direct sunlight that may scorch their leaves.
- Water your houseplants appropriately, ensuring the top few inches of soil are dry before watering, especially with plants like succulents and the Krinkled Dracena.
- Regularly fertilize your houseplants with a water-soluble fertilizer during their growing season to foster healthy growth.
- Increase humidity levels around your houseplants by using a humidifier or placing them on a tray filled with water and pebbles.
- Personalize your indoor gardening experience by selecting plants that suit your lifestyle, often placing them in rooms where you spend the most time.
- Regularly prune and train your houseplants to maintain their vigor and vitality, shaping them to climb trellises for an attractive aesthetic.
- Maintain an ideal temperature for your houseplants by keeping them away from heat vents or drafty windows, preferably between 65°F and 75°F (18°C and 24°C).
Incorporating these practical tips from REAL SIMPLE can help create a thriving indoor garden and amplify the rewards of houseplant enthusiastship.
