4 Tips for Growing & Maintaining House Plants

 

For plant lovers, one of the most frustrating things is seeing them struggle to flourish at home. It is actually surprisingly common to see plants stop growing or slow down.

Despite all of the care you give, it can sometimes feel like a losing battle, so if you’re struggling to grow and maintain your house plants, check out these excellent tips!

• Check nutrient intake
• Is it root bound?
• If in doubt, underwater
• Has it reached its potential?

Enough Nutrients?

It may sound obvious but the main reason as to why a plant has stopped growing is a lack of nutrient intake.

Nutrients doesn’t necessarily mean chemicals and fertilizer either; it can be as simple as a lack of direct sunlight or warmth, and potentially not enough water.

The leaves of the plant dropping are a clear sign of a lack of nutrients, while yellowing or thin leaves are also indicators.

Do you think a lack of nutrients are the cause of your plant’s slump? Make sure they’re getting plenty of the good stuff!

B&M Top Tip: Make sure to try some plant food as well as water and sunlight. Plenty of goodness for you plants.

Is the Plant Root Bound?

 

If the plant you’re worried about has been in the same pot ever since you started growing or purchased it, there’s a chance it could have stopped growing for one very simple reason.

If the plant is root bound, it may actually be restricted by the size of the pot it lives in. There may not be any more room inside the current pot for the root to continue to grow, so the plant has suffered as a result.

You can usually tell very easily if the plant is root bound. If there are roots growing out of the bottom of the pot, then it is time to upgrade.

Also, if you take the whole plant out, you’ll be able to see if the roots have swelled to the size of the pot.

If either of these are the case, go out and get a bigger pot for your plant! Try our Ascot Round Planter -the 40cm width will provide plenty of space for growth.

If in Doubt, Underwater

 

When a plant starts to droop and look like they’ve lost some life, a lot of people tend to overcompensate by watering more often.

This can actually be worse for a plant so consider underwatering your plant.

Make sure the plant is getting enough sunlight, use a damp cloth every now and then to wash the leaves and clear dust (this helps with photosynthesis), and water every five days.

B&M Top Tip: Be sure to check the drainage is working properly. The plant may not be able to drain water away, so the roots are struggling.

Has it Reached its Potential?

If you’ve worked through every possibility and nothing has changed, then there’s a chance the plant has just reached its potential.

If this is the case, be sure to continue caring for it by pruning so it can replace the older branches with new ones over time.

Let your plant live out the rest of its life in a fancy new pot, like our Desert Palms Teacup Planter.

Do you have any tips for plant care? Let the B&M community know on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.