Summer is my favourite time of year, I love being outdoors, going on road trips and heading out of town. However this means my indoor plants need to fend for themselves and can look a little on the sad side when I return. This week I decided to stop being a bad plant mum and give my plants some much needed attention. The Summer heat whilst great for your social life, can definitely take its toll on your plants. So here are a few things that I will be doing this week to make sure my indoor plants are happy and healthy during the hot Summer heat!
Top 5 Tips for Keeping Your Indoor Plants Alive During Summer
1. Water consistently
We drink a lot more water over Summer and your indoor plants are no different. In the colder months I water my plants every second week, sometimes more or less depending on what their soil tells me* however over Summer I tend to water every week or more if necessary.
*You can test your plant’s soil by digging your fingers about 3-4cm into the soil and determining if it feels dry, moist or wet. During Summer you want to maintain moist soil (not wet, there’s a difference).
Tips for watering:
– Be consistent. Opt for a little bit regularly, rather than a lot at once.
– Try to wet the entire top area of soil when watering to ensure the water is evenly distributed throughout the soil.
2. Trim and remove dead stems/leaves
The Summer heat may lead to some dead stems or leaves. This might be due to the heat, perhaps the soil was too dry/wet or it was just the end of the road. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Most important thing to do to help care for your plant from here is to remove those dead stems or leaves to make way for new growth. Anything that is discoloured (yellow or brown) simply ‘pluck’ it off. If it’s dead it will be easy to remove. Alternatively you can cut it with scissors from the base of the stem. Don’t rip or tear your plant during this process, if it doesn’t come away easily then use scissors to trim.
3. Wipe down your leaves
If a plant’s leaves are covered in dust it will struggle to ‘breathe’. Meaning that if it can’t easily absorb enough light then it will struggle to convert that into food through photosynthesis. If you notice that your plants are a little dusty gently wipe them down with a damp cloth. Be careful not to be too rough. Check in a few weeks to see if you need to repeat the process. This is an all year round maintenance tip, plus it will make your indoor plants look amazing!
4. Give them a pick me up
I regularly spritz my plants with water, this is something that I love to do for them as it’s like their very own spa treatment and is perfect for a hot Summer’s day. I usually do this after I wipe down their leaves, however it’s fine to do at any time. Fill up a spritz bottle up with water and spray over your entire plant. This is especially important over Summer as the heat and sun can be quite aggressive.
5. Fertilise
Summer and Spring are when plants grow the most, so these warmer months are a great time to fertilise the soil. Summer days are longer, which means plants absorb more Sun and need more nutrients to grow. Choose a fertiliser that is suitable for your plant and then dilute in water to include on your next regular watering routine.
I hope you find these tips helpful! If you came home from Summer holidays with sad little plants like I did, please don’t worry. Follow these tips and they will be to back to being your bestie in no time 🙂
My Fave Accessories for my Indoor Plants
For more helpful information on how to best care for your plants be sure to check out our Beginner’s Guide or if you’re on the other side of the world and want advice for the best plants to choose for Winter, we’ve got you covered.
