By Pat Dray
The Garden Spot
Pat Dray
Do you remember that March 1 was the start of meteorological spring? I always think that is the perfect time to start waking my houseplants up from their long winter of rest and relaxation.
Winter is the best time for your plants to rest, since daylight is dramatically reduced, the air is dry and temperatures are cool – not the perfect growing conditions. Now that the daylight hours are getting longer, and the heating systems won’t be running so much (we hope), it’s time to start getting the plants ready for their growing season.
One of the first things to do is to give your plants a close look for any debris or insects. After their winter nap they do need a bath. Smaller plants can just be cleaned up in the kitchen sink with lightly running water through the hand sprayer. Dry the leaves off whenever possible, being sure to check the undersides for any tiny mites that might have found a home. You can remove mites by putting the plant in the sink with a very diluted amount dish soap in water – a gentle bubble bath.
This is also when you will notice any problems that developed over the winter. One of the most common is yellowing or dropping some leaves. It is normal for many houseplants to shed some leaves during the winter. However, it is often worsened due to over watering, cold drafts next to windows or doors or low humidity. Leaves that are yellowed will not be coming back, so it’s best to remove those now.
You will probably see a bit of active growth on your plants, which means it’s time to start feeding them. You can start slowly with half strength liquid fertilizer for a week or two and then move up to the full strength per the directions. When you start to see more growth, evaluate the pot size and determine if you should repot. One of the easiest ways to tell if it’s time to repot is to see if any roots are growing out of the soil or through the pot drainage hole. This tells you that the plant needs more real estate, and you should repot it into the next size container – one or two inches wider. Be sure to rinse off the plant and the roots well and use clean potting soil.
You will also notice that your plants will require more active watering to support the new growth. Remember that not all of your plants may have the same water requirements. For example, a cactus would be watered only when the soil is very dry, where tropical plants want some constant dampness.
Most houseplants like an air temperature between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit, so hopefully you’ll have them out on your porch the next time you’re reading the Garden Spot. Happy spring.
Pat Dray is a past president of the Garden Club of Orange and a master gardener.