All is not lost! Here’s what to do when you’re not so good at taking care of plants – Smart, simple tips to help your plants revive.
Find the best light
A cactus thrives under bright light while zamioculcas can live with low light if they have to. Either way, knowing whether a plant likes low, medium or bright light is key to keeping them happy. When the sun is up & shining, put a sheet of white paper on the spot you want to place your plant and hold your hand about 30cm above it. A sharp shadow on the paper indicates bright light; if there’s a shadow of your hand but it’s soft and fuzzy, it indicates medium light; and if it’s hard to see the outline at all, that spot receives low light, meaning only a limited number of plants will survive there.
Wash away the pain
Restore your dusty plants to their former glory as shiny, glossy leaves look nicer, right? But there’s another reason why it’s important to keep them clean. Plants breathe through little pores in their leaves called stomata. If you let the dust accumulate for long, they’ll start to suffocate & photosynthesize less efficiently and eventually die. Hence make sure to wipe your plants with a wet cloth or sponge to keep them clean.
Point and spray
A survival strategy for anyone out there who has killed a plant from over-watering. While watering plants is essential to their happiness, misting them can be just as important. All plants benefit from some pointing-and-spraying, but indoor plants like it most, especially those that require humidity in addition to water – ferns and calatheas among them.