Autumn has arrived, what does this mean for your plant’s growth and health? While growth will start to slow as cooler months set in, you can give your plants a helping hand by introducing organic fertilisers and soil conditioners. Organic fertilisers are naturally produced and made from animal or vegetable matter with no artificial or synthetic materials. They contain beneficial soil microbes that form a symbiotic relationship with the plant by enhancing nutrient uptake, regulating phytohormones (chemicals responsible for growth and development) and increasing plant tolerance against stresses. Soil microbes provide long term benefits to your soil and plant health, creating thriving plants by producing strong plant growth, decreasing pest and diseases susceptibility, and increasing fruit and flower quality. Organic...
The heat of summer brings lots of new growth to our plants, however it may also bring about pesky bugs. These pests may be hard to see and might be hindering the growth of your plants without you knowing what the cause is. This month we’ll cover one of the smaller pests commonly found on indoor plants, spider mites. Spider mites are tiny reddish-brown pests that thrive in warm, dry environments and are usually found in abundance in summer due to the warmer weather. They attack house plants by piercing leaves and feeding on the fluid. A good preventative measure is to regularly mist foliage with water to increase humidity in your home. Since spider mites are hard to see,...
Light is one of the most important factors in growing happy, thriving plants. Plants have different lighting needs, and finding their favourite spot allows them to flourish and be less susceptible to pests, diseases, and death. As the sun pattern changes throughout summer, what do you need to do to keep your plants happy? One of the most important factors to check is how much light your plants are getting. With the summer sun increasing in its intensity, places like western windows receiving afternoon direct sun may become too harsh for your plants. Plants kept near windows may also dry out quicker and need watering more often due to warmer days. Symptoms of too much light include curling, wilting, faded,...
Now we’re well into spring, plants are putting on new growth and may need some extra love and attention to keep them looking their best. Pruning off old or damaged leaves allows plants to relocate energy into growing new foliage instead of trying to keep the older, damaged foliage alive.
Below Nick demonstrates how to prune old and damaged foliage on popular house plants Bangalow Palm, Philodendron 'Birkin' and Elephant Ear.
As the weather warms up, plants will start putting on new growth and may need extra space. Repotting is an important component in caring for your plants and allowing them to flourish, and spring is the perfect time to do so! Plants should be repotted every 12 – 18 months depending on the species, excluding slow growing plants like cacti and succulents. Repotting your plants doesn’t necessarily mean you have to change your pot size but replacing the old soil will replenish nutrients available to feed your plants. Indicators your plant needs to be repotted include: Roots are growing through the bottom drainage holes Growth has slowed down in growing season or stopped Plant dries out quicker and needs watering more...
