While browsing the Friends of the Library book sale at my former library branch, I found a copy of the Reader’s Digest 1519 All-Natural All-Amazing Gardening Secrets: Expert Tips for Gardens and Yards of All Sizes and for $2 I scooped it up and added it to my growing pile. Although November is not the most logical time to think about gardening tips, I thought it’d be fun to highlight a few helpful tips for indoor plants from this book.
One of the neat tips I found for keeping your indoor plants healthy is to water them with egg water after you have boiled some eggs. Once it has cooled, the water contains beneficial nutrients that will feed and hydrate your plants. Another suggestion in the book is to use club soda to water your plants. The mineral in the soda water is like the egg water in that it has added benefits for the plants to grow!
Another interesting tip I found in regard to feeding houseplants is to occasionally water acid-loving plants like ferns with unsweetened brewed tea. If you have leftover tea leaves, sprinkling them in the soil of said plants is also beneficial to keep them green and bushy. I have miraculously kept a fern I bought at Trader Joes 3 years ago alive, and plan to incorporate this in my watering rotation.
If you notice that some of your houseplants look a little dusty, the book suggests you give them a little shampoo with a mix of dishwashing liquid and water. Dip a clean cloth into the mixture and lightly wipe the leaves clean. You do not want to use anything heavy or thick on the leaves because it will clog up the pores of the plant and cause them distress. Another suggestion in the book was to wipe down the leaves with a mixture of water and warm milk. It apparently makes the leaves shiny but dries quickly enough to keep the pores unblocked. I am not sure I will use the water and milk trick, but my monstera deliciosa could use a visit to the spa with some soap and a light hand!
Another section that I found interesting and full of useful tips was the part about repotting plants. While they can be repotted at any time of year, plants often do better being planted right at the end of winter. That said, the book lists four signs that a plant is ready for replanting. First is the arrival of new leaves. If the soil starts drying out quicker than it used to, this is also a sign that the plant may need a larger vessel. If you notice roots growing out through the drainage holes or appearing above the soil’s surface, that is an additional sign that it is time for a new pot. Finally, if you notice that the roots are so tightly coiled together that you only see roots and no soil. Whenever you decide to repot a plant, the book warns to never pull the plant out of its pot by the head or top of the plant but rather employ the use of tools such as a butter knife to slide around the edges to gently loosen the plant. The book also suggests giving the plant a good soak before you replant it to loosen up the soil and make it easier to pull out.
While outdoor gardening for the year is done, hopefully these tips will help you maintain your indoor garden this winter. Having happy and healthy houseplants provides a slice of green in a muted world of winter browns and greys. Happy planting!
