Plants, both indoor and outdoor, can be a beautiful addition to your home. Care and maintenance are generally easy to do and, with proper care and maintenance, plants can thrive. Whether you're unsure of the right way to care for your plants or you want to make sure that you take good care of them, read this article for information on the proper way to care for plants, both indoor and outdoor.
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Method 1 of 3: Caring For Indoor Plants
Step 1. Give the plant plenty of light
One of the important things to pay attention to is to make sure the indoor plants you have get enough light. You can place your indoor plants on a corner table in your living room to make them look pretty, but if they are too far from the window, the plants may not survive long. Find out about the amount of light that certain plants need, then move them to a suitable place so that they get enough light. Keep in mind that south-facing windows get the most light, while north-facing windows usually get the least. Below are the basic provisions regarding the provision of light to indoor plants:
- Plants that require full sun should be placed in a place that is exposed to direct sunlight for 4 to 6 hours per day.
- Plants that require only partial light should be placed in direct sunlight for 2 to 3 hours per day.
- Plants that live in shaded areas should be placed in direct sunlight for only 1 hour per day.
Step 2. Water the plant regularly
Maintaining the right water balance for indoor plants can be a little difficult. If the plant gets too much water, its roots can rot due to poor drainage and if the plant gets too little water, the plant may dry out. Specifically the amount of water needed will vary from one plant to another. There are plants that like to live in wet areas, but there are also plants that actually only need watering once a week (such as cacti and succulents). In general, most plants will thrive if watered 2 to 3 times per week. When watering plants, use a spray bottle or watering can, and water enough to keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged.
- Insert your finger into the soil, about as deep as your knuckles, to see how wet the soil is. If your finger feels dry when you lift it, you will need to water it. However, if your finger feels wet when you lift it, it's a good idea not to water it for a day or two.
- Always use warm water to water the plants as cold water can shock the plant roots and damage the plant.
Step 3. Fertilize the plants every few weeks
Fertilizer is a mixture of ingredients for soil that can provide nutrients for plants. It is important that you fertilize your plants, especially indoor plants, every 2 to 3 weeks. In contrast to outdoor plants, in indoor plants the soil used does not get the addition of organic substances naturally. Most fertilizers sold have a serial number with three digits, such as 10-20-10. These numbers indicate the number of minerals contained in the fertilizer, namely nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (potassium). Since each type of plant requires different amounts of minerals, the type of fertilizer used will vary depending on the plant. However, you can use a fertilizer with an equivalent ratio of minerals (such as 6-12-6 or 10-10-10). This type of fertilizer is generally suitable for most crops.
- Spray or spread the fertilizer directly on the soil surface, according to the method of use stated on the fertilizer package.
- For potted plants, you do not need to mix the fertilizer with the soil first. Over time, the fertilizer will decompose and mix with the soil.
Step 4. Clean the dust that sticks to the plants
Over time, the dust will settle on your indoor plants. This adhering dust can reduce the natural beauty of the plant and inhibit plant growth because the attached dust clogs the pores in the leaves. Therefore, it is important that you clean the dust on your indoor plants regularly. You can clean the plant in two ways, depending on the size of the plant: cleaning it (wiping the leaves) with a rag, or cleaning it in the sink (under running water). If you choose to clean with a cloth, first make a mixture of warm water and dish soap or plant soap. Dip a clean cloth or patch of cloth in the mixture and then carefully clean the leaves of the plant from any adhering dust. If you choose to clean it directly under running water, take the plant to the sink and then use warm water from your faucet. Carefully clean the leaves of the plant from dust using your hands or a clean cloth.
- You can clean small plants under direct running water, but make sure not to let the pot get too much water.
- There are several brands of plant cleaning sprays available in the market. You can use it to clean the plants from the dust that sticks.
Step 5. Keep plants away from sources of air circulation
The humidity level of the air inside the house tends to be lower than the humidity level of the air outside. As a result, indoor plants usually dry out due to lack of air humidity. Although you can prevent dryness of plants by doing regular watering, the source of the problem that causes dryness of plants lies in placing plants close to sources of air circulation. The constant flow of air, whether from heating or air conditioning, can dry out plant leaves and eventually die. To overcome this, you only need to keep the plants away from sources of air circulation in the room. You can also place a humidifier in the room to increase the humidity in the room.
Method 2 of 3: Caring For Outdoor Plants
Step 1. Make sure the plants get enough water
In caring for plants in your garden or yard, you will depend a lot on the natural elements that exist and the environmental conditions that surround these plants. Therefore, the amount of watering needed will depend on the weather and soil conditions in the area where you live. In general, watering should be done 2 to 3 times a week, either manually (watering using a plant sprinkler) or using a sprinkler (automatic sprinkler). Make sure the soil in your garden or yard is moist, but not soggy. In addition, make sure the soil is not dry, let alone until cracks appear on the ground and are dusty.
Find out the ideal amount of watering for each plant. Some plants require a lot of watering, while others require only a small amount of watering
Step 2. Remove weeds that are in your yard regularly
Weeds can grow quickly and spoil the beauty of your garden. Not only is it an eyesore, weeds also eat up the land you can cultivate and take nutrients from the soil that other plants need. Therefore, you should pull out weeds whenever you see them. Hold the weed by the stem and try to hold the part closest to the ground, then pull the grass in an upright (vertical) motion. This is done to increase the possibility of the plant roots being uprooted and inhibiting the growth of new grasses.
- You can use weed repellent (pest) products, but most of these products are not products that specifically kill certain plants, so there is a chance that other plants that are around the weed will also be killed.
- Check for weeds growing under bushes or heavy leaves.
Step 3. Apply mulch every few months
Mulching is a process that is carried out to maintain soil moisture and prevent the growth of weeds that can interfere with other plants. In this process the soil surface is covered by plant debris (such as leaves or plant stems) which is also organic compost. After some time, mulch can also provide additional nutrients to the soil that can help the plant to grow even larger. If plant debris isn't available, you can buy your own mulch, which is sold at most garden supply stores. You just need to cover the surface of the soil in your garden or garden with 'mulch. Cover the soil surface evenly, with a mulch thickness ranging from 2.5 to 5.1 centimeters.
- Be careful not to cover the underside of the plant as this can stunt its growth. This is especially important for small plants or shrubs.
- You can replace the mulch with other organic compost (such as plant debris) if you wish.
Step 4. Prune dead or diseased plants
Diseases in plants can spread quickly to all plants in your garden if not treated immediately. The same is true for injured plants. If you don't prune or cut off the damaged or dead parts of the plant immediately, the wound will start to spread to other parts of the plant. Whenever you notice a plant that is wilting, drying out, brittle, or looks sick, immediately use pruning shears to cut any damaged branches or stems from the stems. The plant parts that you have cut must be discarded and should not be used as organic compost as they carry disease and, if used as compost, will spread the disease to nearby plants.
Step 5. Deadhead the flower plants
Deadhead is the process of cutting flowers that have died in flowering plants. This process can stimulate the growth of new flowers, as well as remove dead or wilted flowers from the plant. To do a deadhead, use a lawn shears to cut off the dead flowers, just below the petals. After a few weeks, you will see new flower petals begin to form and develop.
Step 6. Give the plants fertilizer once a month
Outdoor plants get more nutrients from their surroundings than indoor plants. This means that outdoor plants require less fertilization than indoor plants. Get a fertilizer that meets your plant's mineral needs, or use a fertilizer with a balanced mineral content, such as 6-12-6 or 10-10-10, at your local garden supply store or flower shop. Spray or sprinkle fertilizer on plants every 4 to 5 weeks, according to the instructions for use listed on the fertilizer package.
- You do not need to stir and mix the fertilizer with the soil because later the fertilizer will decompose and mix naturally with the soil.
- If you're not sure which fertilizer to use, ask your local florist for help.
Method 3 of 3: Fixing Common Errors In Plant Care
Step 1. Establish a good drainage system for soils with poor drainage systems
If there is a continuous puddle of water in the garden or plant pot, it means that the drainage system in the soil is not good. This is a bad thing because stagnant water can cause plant roots to rot, and eventually the plant will die. To work around this, carefully dig up the soil around the plant and lift the plant (along with the soil adhering to the roots), then place the plant on a tarp or other clean pot. In the excavation you have made, remove the hard soil (such as clay) and replace it with small stones or gravel. Add fresh, fresh soil to the top of the rock layer and then return the plant to its place.
If your entire field has a poor drainage system, you can dig it up and mix it with sand to help improve the drainage system
Step 2. Move plants that grow too close together
If you get too excited about gardening and plant several plants in close proximity, you may be surprised when the plants grow and fight for space in the field or plant pots. Plants that are planted too close together cannot grow because there are not enough nutrients for the two plants. Therefore, lift one of the plants that grows close to another plant, then move it to a new plot of soil or pot that provides more space. Fill the empty land that was planted by the plant with new soil.
- When transplanting plants to a new plot of soil, always use gardening soil sold in stores rather than the same soil that came from your farm. The same soil contains insects, plant diseases, and weeds that can disturb plants in their new place.
- To find out if the plants are growing too close together, check to see if the two plants are growing in opposite directions (overlapping each other), or if their main trunks or branches are tangled together.
Step 3. Avoid using too much mulch
Although mulch is useful for providing additional nutrients for plants and inhibiting the growth of weeds, using too much mulch can actually cause problems for your garden or garden. This is because mulch not only inhibits the growth of weeds, but also the growth of other plants so that other plants cannot come to the surface of the soil. The mulch you use should not exceed 5 centimeters thick. If the plant doesn't grow after you mulch, remove the mulch from the soil (with a mulch thickness ranging from 2.5 to 5.1 centimeters) and wait a few weeks for it to develop.
If the mulch you use is too thick, to cover the base of the plant or tree trunk, sunlight cannot hit the trunk so that the growth of the plant or tree will be stunted. Therefore, remove the mulch from the base of the trunks of plants or trees in your garden
Step 4. Prune dead or diseased plants
Diseases in plants can spread quickly to all plants in your garden if not treated immediately. The same is true for injured plants. If you don't prune or cut off the damaged or dead parts of the plant immediately, the wound will start to spread to other parts of the plant. Whenever you notice a plant that is wilting, drying out, brittle, or looks sick, immediately use pruning shears to cut any damaged branches or stems from the stems.
The parts of the plant that you have cut must be discarded and should not be used as organic compost as they carry disease and, if used as compost, will spread the disease to nearby plants
Step 5. Avoid over-watering
You may feel that you are watering your plants properly, but if they start to turn yellow and wilt, you may be overwatering them. Most plants don't need to be watered every day, and they can actually do better if they are given watering every few days. Water only when the soil has dried (at least 5 centimeters deep). If you water your plants every time you notice the soil appears dry, you are most likely over-watering. If you're having trouble getting the right watering (or are afraid of over-watering), try changing your watering method to using a spray bottle instead of a planter. The spray bottle produces a small amount of water in one press, preventing excess water from dispensing.
Step 6. Make sure you don't put the plant too deep from the soil surface
If the plants are slowly starting to wither and die for some unknown reason, you may have planted them too deep. Plant roots must be relatively close to the soil surface so that they can absorb nutrients from the topsoil and receive sunlight. Therefore, carefully lift the plant and then replant it in such a position that the main roots are at or just below the soil surface. If some of the roots are showing to the soil surface, cover them with a thin layer of mulch.
