Holiday booked... but what about the plants?
So you’ve made all your holiday plans, and now, it’s time to start packing your bags and making final preparations before heading out. What are you going to do about all your houseplants?
Don't stress... there are a few things you can do to prepare your indoor plants for your absence.
If you are going to be gone less than a week, then all you need to do is water your indoor houseplants well just before leaving. Even your thirstiest plants will be alright for this short period of time as long as they’re not left sitting in a location that’s sunny or hot, where they will take up water faster. Consider temporarily moving these plants to a cooler location – just make sure there is enough light for them there.
Another step you can take to help ensure that your plants don’t dry out while you’re gone is to increase the water retention of your plants’ potting mixture by applying a thin layer of mulch on top of the potting soil.
But what if you're going for a little longer? Why not try your own DIY simple wick system that will automatically water a potted plant, all you need is a container for the water and some kind of absorbent material that you can use for a wick.
For the wick, you can use anything from rope to a candle wicks, as long as it absorbs water well. You may also be able to use a strip of cloth cut from an old T-shirt or towel.
As for the container, you can use anything that will hold water, and you can either set up individual systems for each potted plant or use one larger container for multiple plants. You just need to make sure you have sufficient water to last for the duration of your holiday.
Place one end of the wick in the water container, making sure it reaches the bottom, and poke the other end a couple of inches into the just-watered potting soil, being careful not to disturb the roots.
Now you're all set, it's time to enjoy that well earned holiday.
Bon voyage ✈️🏝
When to repot?
We're constantly being asked "When is it time to repot a plant?" So today we thought we'd share some tips to help identify some of the signs of a plant that is ready for repotting.
🌱If your plant is causing its nursery pot to warp from the new growth, it's likely ready for a larger pot.
🌱Have a look under your pot. If there are roots growing out of the drainage holes, your plant might benefit from a larger pot.
🌱Gently lift your pot from its pot. If your plant's root system has taken over the entire pot and consumed all of the soil.. it's 100% ready for a larger pot.
🌱When choosing a new pot, we like to give at least 3cm - 5cm of room on the sides and a couple below to allow for more roots. We always run our plant's roots under water to remove as much of the old soil as possible, and to loosen them up before we replant them.
🌱Fill your larger pot about half way up with your mix. Place your plant inside ensuring there are no gaps between your plants roots and the soil. Fill in the edges with your mix. Make sure you don't compact the soil too much.
🌱Place your newly repotted plant in a decorative planter. We always use a plastic pot inside our decorative planters. This will allow for excess water to drain away from your plants roots. Remember, drainage is SO important for your indoor plants.
How many of your plants need repotting? 🏺🌱🤔