Spring Plant Care

Spring is finally here; the days are longer, the temperatures are (getting) warmer and generally things are feeling brighter, yay! Here at TLB HQ we are very much enjoying the glorious sights of blossom on the trees and the bluebells springing up, sure signs that the natural world is reawakening from its winter slumber. And your indoor houseplants will be no exception, the longer, lighter days will be rousing them from their dormant period, telling them that it’s time for them to spring into action once more.

As houseplant parents, we too should use spring as a signal to check in on our green beauties. After those short, dark, wintery days they are more than likely in need of a little TLC, so you’ll need to change your plant care routine a little to help your indoor plants transition beautifully from ‘sleepy’ to ‘active’. This week we are bringing you a very handy little guide to spring plant care; follow these top tips for looking after your plants at the start of this new season and you’ll be rewarded with plenty of lovely new growth over the coming months.

Getting Houseplants Ready this Spring – A Handy Plant Care Guide

Give them a trim

You may well notice that the winter months have taken their toll on your plants, and they may not be looking their luscious best. Yellow foliage near the bottom of the plant and dry, brown and crispy leaves are not uncommon sights at this time of year. You might also find that some of your botanical buddies are looking a bit long and lanky having spent the winter stretching out in search of more light. If this is the case for your plants, it’s a perfect time to grab those scissors and get snipping.

This is nothing to worry about, we promise it’s a simple step in your spring houseplant care routine and it will promote lovely new, bushier growth and deter pests.

Follow these simple steps to plant pruning:

• Grab a pair of clean, sharp scissors or secateurs
• Remove any leaves that have fallen into the soil at the base of the plant; these can attract pests and encourage mould to grow
• Examine your plant to identify the leaves that are yellowing or brown and crispy
• Lightly wet your scissors or secateurs
• For leaves that are entirely brown, gently cut them off at the base
• Where there are brown tips or edges simply snip away the affected area
• Finally, if a large proportion of your plant is showing signs of yellowing or browning, carry out the pruning in stages. Don’t remove more than a quarter of the leaves and stems in one go!

Give them a new pot

The spring and summer months are the perfect time to re-pot any of your indoor plants that have outgrown their current home. Most houseplants will only need repotting once every 12 to 18 months, many even less frequently than that. But for those that do need a new home, this is the time of year to do it and the process will be super beneficial for your green beauties, the benefits include:

• Giving them more room to grow
• Allowing more air to get to the roots
• Eliminating poor soil and providing essential nutrients
• Preventing the roots from becoming root bound.

 Look out for these signs that your indoor plants need repotting:

• Your plant looks too big for its pot
• The growth of your plant has slowed right down or stopped
• There are lots of roots growing out of the drainage holes. To check this, gently lift your plant and growing pot out of the decorative pot to inspect the underside of your plant
• The roots are pushing the plant out of the pot
• The plant has become top heavy and topples over easily
• Your plant needs watering much more often than usual because it’s drying out so quickly.

Even if you notice only one or two of these things happening, it’s a good indication that it’s time for a new pot. Here at Team TLB, we know that spring plant care for indoor plants can be a little daunting because it’s not one you have to do too regularly with these types of plants. But don’t worry, we’re always here to help, have a read of our Handy Guide to Repotting Houseplants. And if you still have questions do get in touch with us; [email protected].

When choosing a new pot for your plant, you should go for one that’s about 1 to 2 inches bigger than the current growing pot, and do make sure it has drainage holes! If the new growing pot won’t fit into your decorative pot, have a browse of our range of pots and baskets; will you go for the same again or give your plants a fresh, new look this spring?

Feed them

Through the winter, while your plants were dormant, you more than likely stopped giving them any plant food because they don’t need the extra nutrients. Now that they are waking up, they are primed for new growth so it’s a great time to give them an extra burst of energy with some nutrient-packed plant food. Here at The Little Botanical, we highly recommend Plantsmith Fortifying Houseplant Tonic, a complete blend of 13 essential nutrients and kelp extract. This expert formulation will keep your houseplants happy and thriving as we move into spring. Use it once a month to stimulate cell growth, promote stronger leaves and encourage long-lasting flowers.

To use this tonic, simply shake the bottle and mix approximately 4 pumps of tonic with 1 litre of tepid water (or 2 litres for younger plants) and apply at the base of the plant. Your plants will thank you with lots of lovely new growth!

Relocate them

As the days become longer and the sun stronger, it’s a good idea to think about the placement of your plants in your home. As plant parents, you will know that an important aspect of indoor plant care is knowing how much light your houseplants need, and at this time of year, a relocation into a darker or brighter spot may be needed to ensure they continue to get the right amount of sunlight.

For example, you might have moved some of your plants to a westerly facing window during the winter months to maximise light access. However, as we come into spring and summer, this spot will likely provide too much light for most houseplants. The direct sunlight could even scorch leaves and flowers. It is a good idea to make sure any plants in this position are behind a sheer curtain or moved a little further back from the window to make sure the lovely sunlight is filtered.

On the other hand, there are certain houseplants, such as the Snake Plant and the Croton that love light and warmth so much that they will enjoy being moved to a sheltered, outdoor spot during the summer, just remember to check on their soil regularly to make sure they don’t dry out.

Give them a drink

Over the wintertime, the watering needs of your plants will have reduced. Now that they are waking up and moving into their growing phase, an important part of your spring houseplant care regime will be to check whether they are thirsty. To do this, push your thumb a couple of inches into the top layer of soil. If it is dry, your plant needs a drink. It’s very likely that they will need watering more regularly at this time of year as they’re getting busy with all that lovely new growth.

Why not make your spring plant care a breeze with our copper watering can? Available in two sizes, this gorgeous accessory has been designed with style and functionality in mind, with an ergonomic handle that puts the ease into watering your indoor plants.

Rotate them

Plants will naturally grow towards the light so you might start to notice them looking bushier and fuller on one side. To avoid this and encourage a lovely, even shape, rotate your plants on a weekly basis.

Give your plants a spring clean

It’s not just your interiors that will feel revived and refreshed from a good spring clean. Dust may well have settled on the luscious leaves of your houseplants over the winter months so a good spring clean will do them the world of good. Not only will removing the dust make their leaves look fresher and healthier, but it is actually better for them! A layer of dust can block sunlight from reaching the leaves which will stop your plants from photosynthesising effectively.

To clean those lovely leaves, simply support the underside of each leaf with one hand and gently wipe down with a soft, damp cloth. For an extra treat for your plants, you can consider using some plant care products. For an oh-so-shiny sheen, take a look at this Plantsmith Beautifying Leaf Shine. This fab plant care product is 100% plant-based, containing natural oils to amplify the natural shine of the leaves and grapefruit extract to provide anti-fungal protection. Shake the bottle before lightly spraying each leaf and then wipe away gently with a soft cloth. You will be rewarded with super shiny, luscious leaves to admire all spring and summer long.

Say goodbye

And the last of our plant care tips for spring; don’t feel bad if you have to say goodbye. Like all living things, plants will naturally reach their end. Some of them won’t make it through the winter and that’s ok, just compost it and start again!

Being a plant parent is a journey of discovery; not only to discover which plants we like best, but also which plants our homes like best! Certain plants will naturally thrive more in certain homes and the more time we spend looking after our house plants, the more we will understand which ones work best for us and our own, individual homes. The main thing is to enjoy the journey. And if you do have to say goodbye to one or two of your botanical buddies this season, enjoy the excuse to shop for a new one! There’s nothing like a spot of retail therapy to ease the sadness of saying goodbye to a treasured houseplant, right?

That brings us to the end of this plant care guide for spring. We hope you have found it super useful, follow these hints and tips and we’re sure you’ll soon be rewarded with houseplants bounding back into life with luscious leaves and plenty of wonderful new growth. Of course, if you still have any questions at all about any aspects of plant care for spring, do get in touch at [email protected]. In the meantime, happy pruning and sprucing plant people!

With Love

Team TLB x