Plants are a great addition to any household. They improve your environment, whether indoor or outdoor, and are generally beneficial for your health. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen giving you a literal breath of fresh air. Certain species of plants have also been found to have air purifying properties. Garden mums, spider plants, and snake plants are just some of those capable of removing air pollutants such as ammonia, benzene, and formaldehyde.
In taking care of your plants, you have to consider the weather. If you live in Northern California with bay area landscapes, the climate is mostly warm and dry in the summers and mildly wet during winters. Common houseplants that thrive in this weather are dogwoods, lilacs, and elderberries. To know more about how to take care of these types of plants, read on:
- Water your plants well
Watering properly is important in keeping your plants healthy. Too much watering may cause the roots to soak and not get the oxygen it needs to function normally. Underwatering, on the other hand, doesn’t let the roots absorb the nutrients it needs from the soil. When it comes to watering your garden, you need to maintain good moisture levels on the ground to promote root growth. Ideal times for watering falls early in the morning or late in the evening. Also try to keep the leaves dry when you water to avoid plant diseases and burn marks from the morning sun. Finally, you need to ensure that the water is reaching the roots of your plants. If you you have potted plants, you’ll know when water starts dripping underneath the pot. But you have to water gradually to let the water penetrate fully.
- Give them proper sun exposure
Giving your plants the right amount of sunlight is essential in a healthy growth. The sun is essential in photosynthesis, where plants consume light and convert it into energy to fuel their growth. The morning sun is found to be most beneficial to plants. Exposing them to direct sunlight for 6 to 8 hours a day makes for good results. It doesn’t have to be continuous exposure too, as you risk exposing them to the scorching midday heat. You can put them out in the morning for 4 hours, shade them in noon time, then put them back out in the afternoon for another 4 hours.
- Watch them carefully
Spotting signs of stress in your plants is very important. Are the leaves getting pale? Is mold growing? Are the flowers falling off? These the are signs you have to notice regularly to keep your plants in good shape. They may be not be getting enough water or enough sunlight. Or you may be facing an infestation in your garden. Knowing the symptoms can help you identify the correct solution.
- Wait before you prune
Especially in hot weather, you must not immediately prune your plants the moment you see a sign of wilting. Doing this and you risk stressing the plant out even more. Imagine yourself having a bad day at work, only to be further aggravated when you get home. That’s double the stress you will feel, and so do plants. If your town is experiencing a heat wave, wait for it to pass. Most of the time, when the conditions go back to normal, the leaves may rebound and be healthy again. After then, that’s the time to snip off tips and stems that didn’t make it.
- Add some mulch
Adding mulch to your soil gives insulation and provides extra water to your plants. Go ahead and be liberal in adding these, they help prevent your plants from overheating and gives it additional moisture. It retains water and helps keep your roots cool. It also helps prevents weeds from growing and competing for nutrients.
