Things to consider:
Conclusion: Don't let the winter blues deter you from providing optimal care for your house plants. Feeding during winter ensures our leafy companions receive the care they need to thrive, maintaining their beauty and health throughout the year. By embracing winter nurturing, you'll witness the continued vibrancy and joy that your house plants bring to your home. Remember, a little love and care go a long way, even when the world outside is frosty and cold. Happy nurturing!
]]>The fact of the matter is, it’s a bit of a balancing act when it comes to choosing the right potting mix for your indoor plants. There are a number of factors you need to take into consideration when potting your plants. Ask yourself:
Potting mix for indoor plants
Most plants of the indoor variety come from tropical locations where they grow in rich soil types and receive higher levels of moisture from rainfall and humidity. We always say it is best to try and duplicate similar conditions and use a premium potting mix which will definitely give your plants a better chance at surviving outside of its natural habitat.
The potting mix we use at The Home Plant Co has a large percentage of coco peat, made up from the pith inside a coconut husk. Coco peat is an organic and environmentally sustainable substrate for growing many plants especially of the indoor variety. It is a very good medium for seed and for establishing plants as it is anti-fungal and is great for reducing the risk of soil borne diseases. Coco peat allows quick penetration of water and has great water holding capacity. It also has good aeration, meaning oxygen is better circulated throughout the medium, helping the plants to grow faster and healthier.
What to look at when choosing your potting mix
It’s a fine line when choosing a potting mix as you don’t want one that holds onto too much water or on the other hand, have it dry out too much.
Nutrition also plays an important role for the success of your plants. A potting mix with short-term and long-term release, and up-front macro and trace elements, will ensure your plants get the right amount of fertiliser at the right time during their growth cycle.
All of our plants are applied with a beneficial bacteria after planting. Beneficial bacteria increases the efficiency of these natural biological processes to enhance the plant. Our beneficial bacteria is comprised of unique naturally occurring organisms and their metabolites which are produced in proprietary multi-phase fermentation processes. More importantly this encourages the plant to put down roots quicker.
Hopefully with this guide you have a basic insight into how you can get your indoor and patio plants off to the best possible start….
Look for the difference...
Premium Range Potting Mix
Budget Range Potting Mix
Why should you use potting mix?
Outdoor soil and potting mix can differ drastically. For indoor plants, using a potting mix might be more beneficial depending on the species. Make sure you are looking at the specifics of each indoor plant when choosing your potting mix and this will nourish your indoor garden!
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Not all indoor and patio/alfresco plants are susceptible to pests and diseases.
Calatheas for example tend to get Alternaria leaf spot and fusarium root rot. To ensure this doesn’t happen it is vital to get your watering right and not to over water your plants or leave large amounts of moisture sitting on the leaf. Overhead watering can cause diseases such as leaf spot, however, many of the indoor varieties can get the common insects such as scale, aphids and mealy bugs mainly because of the conditions they are grown in are more favourable for these insects to thrive in.
]]>Calatheas for example tend to get Alternaria leaf spot and fusarium root rot. To ensure this doesn’t happen it is vital to get your watering right and not to over water your plants or leave large amounts of moisture sitting on the leaf. Overhead watering can cause diseases such as leaf spot, however, many of the indoor varieties can get the common insects such as scale, aphids and mealy bugs and mainly because of the conditions they are grown in are more favourable for these insects to thrive in.
Aphids: Aphids are tiny, sap-sucking insects that can multiply rapidly and infest indoor plants. They typically cluster on new growth, feeding on the plant's sap and causing leaf curling, stunted growth, and yellowing. Look out for clusters of small insects on your plants and the presence of sticky honeydew residue. Regularly inspecting your plants and using natural or chemical remedies can help control aphid infestations.
Spider Mites: Spider mites are minuscule pests that are difficult to detect with the naked eye. They thrive in warm and dry conditions, often infesting indoor plants. These pests pierce the plant's leaves and suck out the sap, leading to stippling, yellowing, and webbing. Spider mite infestations can be mitigated by increasing humidity around the plants, regularly misting them, and employing natural or chemical treatments.
Mealybugs: Mealybugs are soft-bodied, oval-shaped insects covered in a white, cotton-like substance. They tend to congregate in plant crevices, leaf axils, and on the underside of leaves. Mealybug infestations can cause stunted growth, leaf yellowing, and the secretion of honeydew, which can attract ants and sooty mold. Control measures include manually removing the insects, using insecticidal soap, or introducing natural predators.
The most common pest of all are the dreaded fungus gnats. There are knock down insecticides for this, however, they tend to be attracted to organically enriched potting media. It is essential to get your watering right through the cooler months and to allow good airflow through the potting media and let it dry out before your next water. Fungus gnats usually thrive in temperatures from 15-25 degrees, so this is the period to concentrate on the most from winter to spring.
Photo: Yellow sticky trap
How to reduce fungus gnats
Other diseases
Sometimes diseases can be mistaken for cold weather or injury, due to winter time being the main period in which most of these species can struggle. Tropical plants prefer humid conditions, much like their own natural environment and tend to curl their leaves when they are too cold or too hot. Increasing the temperature in winter or moving your plant into a protected area away from potential frost and artificial heating is worth doing to keep your plants healthier through this difficult time.
There are many different fungicides for photosynthetic diseases such as leaf spot, but the use of copper fungicides usually works best. There are also many insecticides on the market that will eradicate the most common insects but it’s always best to try and improve plant health through other options, such as…
Photo: Healthy Calathea Bicajoux Pink
Much like humans you look after us with healthy nutrition and we will also live a better and longer life with less issues down the track
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