How to love your houseplants without killing them
A few short weeks ago, I was fussing over my houseplants in preparation for a one-week vacation. I carefully adjusted the dates on their elaborate watering schedule, while countless thoughts and questions swirled around in my brain.
If I water Spider 003 tomorrow instead of today, I won’t need to water it again until we get back.
What am I going to do about Pothos 009? The soil’s way too damp to water now, but it’s going to dry out by mid-week.
Should I water Pilea 001 today, even though it’s probably a smidge too early?
Eventually, it was time to leave, so I set aside the plants i wasn’t sure about. I moved them away from their usual spots in bright indirect light so they’d use less water, grouped them together so they’d have a more naturally humid environment, misted them one last time, and hoped for the best. I imagined this little group of plants shriveling up and dying. I imagined my peace lily dramatically drooping over its clay pot, leaves yellowing as it begged for water in an empty condo.
When we got home from our week-long trip, I ran towards my plants, ready to save them. And. They. Were. All. Perfectly. Fine. Hubby commented that they were “thriving” and that they looked “even better” than before. Hmph.
That made me think of a video I made when I first started getting into houseplants. In this video, I didn’t talk about watering, repotting, pruning, or fertilizing — these “ways to show your love” can be rather invasive and beginners often get carried away. Instead, I shared these seven ways to love your houseplants without killing them:
Look at them. This one’s pretty obvious but it can be endlessly enjoyable. When I look at my houseplants from a distance, they bring me a tremendous sense of peace and inner calm. I also like looking at my plants up close. I look for new points of growth and I also look for pests.
By looking at your plants regularly, you’ll become familiar with how the plant looks when it’s healthy. That way, you can more quickly notice problems when they arise. In terms of pests, I’ve found mealybugs, scale, thrips, and spider mites on a few of my plants in the past, but I caught them early enough to control the infestations.
Learn about them. When I first started becoming interested in houseplants, I couldn’t get enough information about them. I sought out books, blog posts, and YouTube videos to learn as much as I could about my green babies.
Plants generally need the same things (e.g., water and light), but there are also many nuances (e.g., some plants like to dry out between watering and some plants burn in direct sunlight). Learning about the different characteristics of my houseplants felt very satisfying.
Wipe their leaves. Over time, houseplants tend to collect dust on their leaves, which interferes with photosynthesis. Every once in a while, I show my love for my houseplants by wiping their leaves. I use a damp cloth or paper towel to remove any dust, dirt, or water spots. I only wipe with water.
Generally, any plant with leaves that have a smooth glossy surface would benefit from an occasional wiping down. Note that some plants have more delicate leaves that may not take well to being wet, so it’s a good idea to read up on this one before proceeding.
Fan them. Sometimes the air around the plants can get a little stale. While most houseplants don’t like being in drafty areas (e.g., in the path of heating and air conditioning), a light fanning can help improve the air flow. Every once in a while, I use a handheld, manual fan to move the air around my plants.
Photograph them. When you live with your plants and see them every day, it can be difficult to notice subtle changes, particularly with houseplants that grow more slowly. This is where photography comes in. I love documenting growth by taking photos of my plants. Sometimes I forget how much they’ve grown in my care and it’s amazing to have a little photo history for each plant.
I generally take photos of the entire plant right after I bring it home and every few months so see how the overall shape has changed. I also enjoy documenting any areas that are putting out new growth and the root system when I’m repotting.
Draw them. Another way to immerse yourself into houseplant love is to draw them. When I drew my plants, I started seeing them differently and noticing things I hadn’t notice before. I found I had to look very closely at the details to be able to draw them, which gave me a new appreciation for the colours and structures of each plant.
Talk to them. Plants are great listeners. They’re alive and non-judgmental. They will listen to your stories of delight and sorrow. By talking to your plants, you can send a little dose of carbon dioxide their way, while also expressing yourself and releasing what is on your mind. This may feel silly at first but give it a try. If it doesn’t feel good, you don’t have to do it again.
Overall, these non-invasive ways of caring for my houseplants have brought me a lot of joy. I can show my love for them without doing anything to disturb their slow, steady growth. And despite hubby’s teasing, it was nice for me to learn that my houseplants don’t need me as much as I thought they did. It’s liberating to know that I can leave them for a week, possibly even 10 days. It opens up the door to all sorts of short adventures, knowing I can come home to thriving green babies.
