7 mistakes to avoid and your indoor plants won’t die again

Love having plants around but can’t seem to keep them alive for more than a month? You could be making one of these mistakes. Read on to find out how to keep your indoor plants alive.

Here’s something we can all agree on: indoor plants are amazing. Having one at home can give you all kinds of health benefits like keeping the air temperature down and purifying the air by reducing the level of carbon dioxide at home.

On top of that, they are also pleasing to the eye. Some indoor plant species like the monstera deliciosa (also known as the Swiss Cheese plant), aloe vera, snake plant, zz plant, peace lilies and spider plant can help add beauty to an otherwise dull space.

But being a plant parent is not as easy as just watering it once a day. It takes time, effort and dedication to make it thrive in its environment, even if you have a green thumb. Not only do you have to make sure you don’t overwater it, but you should also take note of its environment because not all plants require sunlight 24/7. So, really, you can’t afford to make any mistakes or it’ll cost you your plant’s future.

If you want to keep your plants happy and healthy, avoid making these mistakes. No matter what.

Mistake 1: Overwatering your indoor plants

Remember how we said we should water our plants on a daily basis? Turns out, some indoor plants can actually die from overwatering. It’s true, plants like cacti and succulents actually prefer dry soil and thrive with as little as a monthly watering. But of course, this doesn’t apply to all plants, so as a rule of thumb, always check the nature of your beloved plants and find out how much moisture they need.

Mistake 2: Too much sunlight on your indoor plants

Lighting condition is important too. Contrary to popular belief, not all plants need direct sunlight. Sure, natural light is essential, but remember like all things in life, there should be a balance. Too much or too little of everything is never a good thing. For most indoor plant species, direct sunlight is too harsh, unless you’re growing succulents as they have a higher tolerance. We recommend giving your plants indirect sunlight like sunlight that is reflected on the wall or diffused through the curtain.

Mistake 3: Constantly changing the location of your indoor plants

Like humans, plants need stability too. Constantly moving their locations to and fro will put a strain on their wellbeing too as they need time to adapt to their new environment. In fact, changing the location of your indoor plants can be fatal to their health. To be safe, check if your plant’s looking plump and healthy and if it is, the best thing you can do is nothing. 

Mistake 4: Choosing the wrong type of soil for your indoor plants

Yes, the type of soil you use for your plants matters too! When propagating a plant, you should always make sure the soil you make or buy is what your plant needs. Some indoor plants do better in high sand and peat content like succulents (make sure their soil is dry), while others like their soil moist to provide constant hydration to them.

Mistake 5: Not looking after your indoor plants’ hygiene

Another common mistake people make: Not “cleaning” them. Let’s not forget that these indoor plants came from the great outdoors and they’ve been surviving for millennia before we came along and put them in our home for decoration purposes. When these plants grow outside, they often get their green leaves cleaned. Not only does this help them to soak up the natural light easier, this also helps to prevent pest infestation. 

Mistake 6: Neglecting your indoor plants

While taking care of indoor plants don’t require much effort, a certain level of commitment is still needed. Since your indoor plants aren’t protected by Mother Nature, you have to act as its guardian angel. Don’t just set it in your living room and leave it be. Check on them every now and then to see how healthy they are. Are they wilting? Are the leaves turning brown? If they are, then you should tackle those issues early on before it’s too late. 

Mistake 7: Keeping your indoor plants rootbound

Here’s another thing you shouldn’t do to your indoor plants – keeping them rootbound. Oftentimes when we’re growing a houseplant indoors, we confine them in a pot or container. While there’s nothing wrong with keeping them in a pot, you should remember to re-pot them when they outgrow their planters. Here are a few signs to look out for: Leaves turning yellow and roots popping out.