8 Clever Tricks to Keep Houseplants Happy
Help potted plants thrive, whether youre home or not.
Help potted plants thrive, whether you're home or not.
Water Wisely
No one likes returning to a house full of dead plants after a vacation. Next time, leave them with a bottle babysitter. Raid the recycling bin to create a DIY watering globe like this one.
Or Try the Tub
Our home care expert Heloise recommends turning your tub into a terrarium when you're out of town. In a sunny bathroom, place planters in a tub filled with a few inches of water, and cover them individually with dry-cleaning bags to keep plants hydrated.
Add a Filter
Before you fill your pot with soil, line the bottom with a coffee filter. This will allow excess water to flow through the drainage hole, but keep dirt where it belongs.
And Don't Forget the Grinds
When mixed with your potting soil, ground coffee, which is rich with nutrients, can help your plants grow. It's a smart addition to your compost pile, too.
Sneak in a Sponge
Absentminded plant owners take note: Placing a sponge at the bottom of the pot will collect excess water that your plant can continue to drink if you forget to water it.
Pile Pinecones
If you've got an abundance of pinecones in your yard, layer some at the base of a planter. They'll help with water drainage, and help you use less soil — which makes for a lighter, easy-to-move pot.
Start With Citrus
Save juiced lemon halves for sprouting seedlings. After the seed germinates, you can plant the whole thing (lemon rind and all) into a pot or garden.
Remember the Rain
One writer at Apartment Therapy remembers how her clever (and frugal) grandmother would collect rain in buckets to water her indoor plants. You can even try putting hardier plants outside for a bit when it rains.
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