Experience Green Living A Beginner’s Guide to Indoor Greenery

Are you new to indoor plant maintenance? Here’s our blog to give you a comprehensive guide towards indoor plant maintenance. You can adopt different ways to improve your plant maintenance. Nature significantly enhances your living area's ambiance, boosts your mood and even improves air quality. 

At home supplies, we have the best plant maintenance services in the UAE. So, there’s nothing to fear, with some basic knowledge and care you can become a successful indoor gardener.

The following steps are necessary to be adopted to green up your space. The first step to maintaining any indoor plant is understanding and choosing the right plant.

The most basic step that needs to be understood by every beginner is to choose the right plant. Beginners should opt for low-maintenance varieties that can resist different conditions. Here are some excellent options:

Snake Plant 

The snake plant is known for its striking leaves. This plant is almost unbeatable, it can survive in low light and needs to be watered once a week. 

Pothos

Pothos can grow in low to bright indirect light. It’s forgiving if you forget to water it occasionally, making it perfect for beginners.

ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

The ZZ plant has glossy, dark green leaves, which can add a lush touch to any room. It can be another hardy option that can tolerate low light and irregular watering. 

Spider Plant 

Spider plants are known for their air-purifying qualities and ease of care. They prefer bright, indirect light and moderate watering.

Selecting Right Pot

After deciding to select the plant, you need to choose the most appropriate pot for your plant. Choosing a pot with drainage holes will help prevent waterlogging and ensure proper drainage. It is essential to use a well-draining pot to fulfill the exact needs of your plant.

Selecting Suitable Area

Selecting a suitable area for your plant is essential for your plant maintenance. Consider factors like natural light availability, temperature, and humidity level of specified areas. Doing this assessment will help you identify the best-specified area for your plant. 

Light Requirement

Understanding the light requirements of your plants is crucial for their health.  Light is a primary energy source for photosynthesis, and different plants have varying light needs. 

Low Light Plants

These include Snake Plant and ZZ Plant which can survive with a little natural light such as in offices and minimal windows. 

Medium Light Plants

These plants prefer bright, indirect light. They will do well and survive near east or west-facing windows where they receive filtered sunlight. It includes pothos and spider plants.

High Light Plants

Plants like succulents and Cacti need plenty of direct sunlight to survive. They do well near south-facing windows. 

Artificial Light

If your house lacks in providing the light your plant needs to survive. Try using an artificial grow light, it can supplement the natural light and help them survive.

Watering Basics

To succeed in plant maintenance, every beginner should understand the basics of watering. Over-watering is the most common type of error. Here are major guidelines that can help you to improve watering.

Check Soil Moisture

Before watering, check the soil moisture. Put your finger about an inch into the soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. If it’s still moist, wait a few more days or hours. 

Watering Schedule

It is essential to schedule the watering of plants according to their needs. Succulent plants require watering only once or twice a week, while tropical plants may require more frequent watering. 

Proper drainage

At first try to use pots with drainage holes to prevent water from collecting at the bottom, which can cause root rot. If your pots don’t have holes, consider using a layer of rocks at the bottom to improve drainage.

Watering Technique

It is important to understand that soil needs to be watered rather than the leaves to avoid promoting fungal growth. To ensure that plant roots get a good soak, water the plant until it starts to drain from the bottom.

Learn To Read Your Plant Signs 

Take some time each week to understand your plant needs. If they have yellow leaves, dry soil, or aren't growing well. These signs can tell you if there's a problem with how much water or light they are getting, or other issues. Understanding these needs, you can change the routine to keep your plant healthy. 

Watch Out For Pest And Diseases

Indoor plants are usually attracted to pests like aphids, spider mites, or fungus gnats. Here’s how to deal with them:

• Before bringing a new plant to your house, inspect it’s pest-free. Older plants need their leaves to be wiped with a wet cloth from dust and potential pests. 
• If the plant is attracted to any potential pests, treat them with pesticides or neem oil to prevent infestations. If your plant is infected, isolate another plant to prevent them from pests. 

Watch Out For Yellow Leaves

Watch your plant regularly for yellow leaves. If plant leaves are turning yellow, they might need more or less water. These sign also means that the plant is not getting enough nutrients it requires. This requires looking at the overall health of your plant and figuring out what’s wrong with it. 

Enjoy The Overall Process

The most important thing in indoor plant maintenance is to learn the process and enjoy the experience. Setbacks and mistakes are the part of journey, use different resources like books, and online guides to increase your knowledge and learning. 

Caring for indoor plants can be a rewarding experience that enhances your living space and provides a sense of accomplishment. Selecting the right plant, understanding its needs, and providing care are basic steps that need to be followed by any newbie to enjoy the process of indoor planting. As you gain experience and confidence try to increase your collection that aligns with your lifestyle. Happy planting beginner!!