It's time to learn how to take care of your houseplants during the summer now that the weather is getting warmer. Some plants do better in the summer than others, while others need to keep them from getting parched or thirsty.
We've compiled some of our best summertime plant care advice to keep your houseplants happy and healthy, even when it's warm and sunny outdoors, to help your plants survive indoors when it gets hot outside.
In comparison to other seasons, summertime indoor plant care requires a little more manual labour. Do not be concerned; low-maintenance plants do not overnight become high-maintenance. To make sure they have everything they need, you'll merely need to check on them more frequently. If you're ever unsure, check through our helpful plant guides and perform the following actions:
Knowing how to keep potted plants cool in the summer is important since they risk overheating. Since there is no such thing as plant sunscreen (although perhaps someone reading this site could come up with one), shielding your plant from damaging rays can keep it healthy and retain its delicate leaves.
The majority of plants appreciate some sunlight, but too much can scorch the leaves, which is the botanical equivalent of getting burned. If you're not home throughout the day, you might not notice that your plant is becoming too hot. Because of this, you should check the location of your plant to make sure it doesn't receive an excessive amount of direct sunlight. Windowsills are especially prone to receiving direct sunlight, so consider moving your plant a little way inside the room to protect it from the sun.
Houseplants may struggle throughout the summer. They run the risk of drying out considerably more quickly than they would in the fall and winter due to the longer, warmer days and low air humidity. They require extra water during the warm, sunny weather for this reason.
Make sure to give your plant lots of water, being careful not to give it too much if you're wondering how to care for plants in excessive heat. For our benefit, indoor plants make it clear when they require extra water. The soil dries out and the leaves start to curl when they are thirsty. The best course of action is to establish and adhere to a new watering regimen for the summer. By putting your index finger into the top layer, you may inspect the dirt. You should water your plant if it seems dry.
Some indoor plants are finicky little things that don't like it when the environment changes. When things remain constant, they are happiest. So their humidity levels become unbalanced when the temperature rises and moisture evaporates more quickly.
By misting your leafy plants, you may improve the humidity and provide them with the essential moisture they need in the heat. A light spray with a spray bottle once or twice a week will suffice to satiate your plant's thirst; just be careful not to overdo it. Just remember to moisten them into the ground as well. Your plants also need to be misted in addition to being watered.
We enjoy being outside, especially during this little heatwave, and the majority of us leave our windows and doors open in the summer to let cool, fresh air enter our homes. Dust, insects, and pollen accompany that. The oxygen and sunlight that plants require to flourish can be blocked when the dust collects on the plant's leaves and blooms. Because of this, you should wipe off the leaves of your plant once a week with a moist cloth to remove any dust or dirt. Use a small, dry paintbrush to maintain the cleanliness of cacti and other plants with textured leaves, taking care to avoid touching any spikey burrs.
Another issue in the summer is the proliferation of pests like mites, gnats, and mealybugs that love the heat. Others leave behind specks and cottony webs that are visible wherever they live, while some establish their homes in the soil or on the underside of the leaves.
If you see these symptoms, thoroughly clean your plant with a powerful water spray or cut off any severely harmed areas of the plant. Any unwanted pests can be eliminated by applying an insecticidal or gentle liquid soap.
Both people and plants have excellent sides. Phototropism, or growing toward the light, is the mechanism through which plants develop. The plant may become uneven if one side receives excessive sunlight, especially in the summer when the sun is stronger. The number of light exposure plants receive is also limited because indoor houseplants do not travel with the sun throughout the day.
This can be fixed by simply rotating your plants to ensure even growth. Depending on how much sunlight your plants enjoy, you should generally rotate them every three to two weeks.
The greatest seasons for plant food are spring and summer when plants are actively growing. They relax during the end of the fall and winter, so when it becomes cold they don't require plant food.
When feeding your houseplants, these feeding instructions are a fantastic place to start: