5 Spring Plant Care Tips For A Greener Thumb
The XL Plant Collection, ready for spring.
Spring is a time of change and growth, and it’s the favorite time of year for living plants! If you are worried that their needs have changed with the season (hello, fertilizer routine) be at ease! The spring season is all about enjoying your plants as they flourish, promoting their new growth, and saying goodbye to the dormancy of winter. Taking care of your plants during the spring is simple. We mean it: even fertilizing them is not the mystery it may seem! Read on, and learn all you need to know about providing your plants with the best care this spring.
Feed your plants
During the winter, many plants go dormant and do not exhibit a lot of growth. But once spring arrives, the days start to get longer and the sun shines abundantly. Plants just love it: they come out of their dormant stage ready to grow, and hungry for nutrients! Now is a great time to fertilize and give them a bit of extra energy. And we promise, fertilizing may sound scientific, but it truly a simple process. Follow the instructions on the bottle to dilute the fertilizer, and err on the side of under-fertilizing if you’re nervous. The spring sun accomplishes a lot on its own.
2. Consider repotting
Springtime is also a great time to repot your plant, considering that its roots will begin to grow again and may benefit from the extra nutrients in fresh soil. This only needs to happen once every 1-2 years, or when your plant looks to be outgrowing its pot. For refreshing nutrients, you can simply change out the soil and keep the plant in the same pot. You can also replace just one third of the soil at a time to add fresh nourishment without risking plant shock. To help your plant grow taller, you can move it into a pot that’s one size bigger than its original (usually about 2” larger) to give it room to grow. Remember that most plants like to have tightly compressed roots, so you don’t want the new pot to have too much extra space.
3. Give your plants a trim
After the long months of winter, your plants might need a haircut. Many indoor plants come from warm, tropical climates, and winter can be rough on them causing them to go through natural shedding. Trim any brown or yellowing foliage, and don’t be afraid to prune back funky growth (especially if your plant has been growing towards the light!). Both trimming and pruning will help your plant focus on all the new growth it is about to produce.
4. Do some spring cleaning
When it comes to plant care, cleaning leaves is a little like flossing: we should be doing it often, but how many of us actually follow through? If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned your plant’s leaves, now is the perfect time to get a little spring cleaning in. Even a few minutes of dusting goes a long way, revealing a beautiful shine while helping your plant to photosynthesize. From dust to sap to calcium buildup, you can’t go wrong with a soft cloth and a natural, gentle soap.
5. Watch for new growth!
Spring and summer are the most rewarding times of year to own and care for plants! Enjoy watching your plant grow and “blossom” into its best self over the coming months, whether that’s unfurling leaves or even flowering, and remember that the recipe to great plant care is simple: a light touch, combined with a curious eye.
Looking to add some fast growers to your collection this spring? Some of our favorite easy-care plants that are perfect for spring include the Cascading Pothos, Monstera Deliciosa, and Ponytail Palm.
SPRING-READY PLANTS
Premium plants paired with stylish ceramics, plus lifetime plant care support.