How to prepare your houseplants for the Spring
Spring is one of the most exciting times for a plant owner! You plants are slowly coming back to live and will start to grow quickly. In this plant care guide, we'll go over everything you need to know about taking care of your houseplants during the spring.
Spring is one of the most exciting times for a plant owner! During the winter, your houseplants have been dormant and you probably didn't see a lot of growth. If you did, consider yourself lucky!
When spring comes, your plants are slowly coming back to life. If you didn't have a lot of growth during the winter, get ready for an explosion of growth during the spring. Most houseplants spend the winter resting before getting ready to grow again.
Is there anything you need to think about when spring is coming up and you're taking care of your houseplants? What is the best way to prepare for spring? These are some great questions and we're going to answer these and more in this plant care guide.
These are the main topics we're going to cover in this plant care guide:
Let's get you and your plants prepared for the spring, so you can get some new growth as quickly as possible!
How can you prepare your plants?
Monstera with a new leaf
When you're preparing your plants for the spring, you have to think about a few things:
- Moving your plant to give it the right sunlight exposure
- Changing your watering schedule
- Fertilizing your plant
These 3 things are very important when it comes to preparing your plant for the spring.
Move your plant to give it the right sunlight exposure
If you've had your plants during the whole winter, you might have moved them closer to the windows. This is a great way to give your plants some extra sunlight during the winter season. In the winter the sunlight is less bright, so your plants often don't get enough sunlight in their normal spot. Now that the sun is getting stronger again, you'll gradually need to move your plants back to a more shaded spot. You should do this to avoid giving them too much sunlight exposure.
Most houseplants will need to be moved to avoid burned leaves or other issues caused by too much sun. This will only happen during the summer, so you've got plenty of time in the spring to move your plants. However, some houseplants can stay in one spot all year if they are sun-loving plants such as succulents and cacti, so you won't have to think about moving them.
To prepare your plant for the spring, move it to a spot where it gets the sunlight it needs.
Change your watering schedule
During the winter, you've probably watered your plant less than you would in the summer. In Watering your houseplants in the winter, I recommended that you slow down your watering habits in the winter. Now you'll need to do the exact opposite: You'll need to water your houseplants slightly more than you did in the winter.
During the spring and the summer, it's warmer in your house and your plant grows much faster, so it uses more moisture. You can help your plant to stay healthy during this time by watering it a little more often. You'll still need to pay close attention to the soil and make sure it's dry before watering. You can still accidentally overwater your plant in the spring and summer.
To prepare your plant for the spring, water your plant more often than you did during the winter.
Fertilize your plant
The spring and summer are the growing seasons for your houseplants. This means that you'll need to help your plant by giving them extra nutrients to grow. For many plants, including cacti and succulents, this is the only time of year you'll need to fertilize them.
At the beginning of March (or September in the southern hemisphere), fertilize all of your cacti and succulents. They'll need these nutrients to grow during the only time they can. You should fertilize them once more at the beginning of the summer.
For all other plants, fertilize them once per month during the spring and summer. This will give them plenty of nutrients to grow and thrive during this time.
It's best not to skip fertilizing your plants in the spring because, for many plants, this is prime time for their growth. The autumn and winter are for resting, but the spring and summer are for growth and lots of it.
To prepare your plant for the spring, fertilize it.
What materials do you need to help your plants?
Photo by Huy Phan from Pexels
You now know how to prepare your plants for the spring! You already know the essentials, but there are some things you might need to get to make it easier for you. This is a short list of things you might want to get for your plants:
- Some new pots for repotting
- Fresh soil for your plants
- Fertilizer to feed your plants
These are all optional to taking care of plants in the spring, but it helps to get these early on. The fresh soil and new pots are a great thing to get earlier on because you'll be prepared for when your plant has outgrown its current pot. When your plants start growing quickly in the spring and summer, you'll probably have to repot at least a few plants.
As we've discovered earlier, you'll need to feed your plants during the spring and summer. It's good to make it easier on yourself and get some type of fertilizer early on. Especially if you're low on fertilizer from last year.
Should I repot my plants in spring?
If you noticed that your plants have outgrown their current pot or the soil looks too compact, then spring is the perfect time to repot them. Repotting allows the plants to have more room for their roots to grow and helps refresh the soil with new nutrients. It's essential to keep in mind that not all plants need repotting, so check the specific needs of each plant before continuing.
To repot your plants, you'll need a new pot that is 1-2 inches bigger in diameter than the current one, fresh potting soil, and a trowel. First, gently remove the plant from the old pot, and shake any excess soil from the roots. Next, place the plant into the new pot, and fill in the remaining space with fresh potting soil, making sure to press down firmly to avoid air pockets.
After repotting, make sure that you give your plants a good drink of water and place them in a bright spot away from direct sunlight for a few days to allow them to adjust to their new home. Remember to adjust your watering schedule accordingly as repotting can change the plant's water needs.
Can indoor plants be moved outside in spring?
It's very tempting to bring your plants outside in the spring because it's getting a little warmer and there is more sun. But it's important to remember that not all indoor plants can handle the outdoors where you live. So, can indoor plants be moved outside in spring? Let's find out!
A stable climate is important
It's important to understand that the sudden change in temperature, light, humidity, and even the quality of soil can be stressful to most indoor plants. But this doesn't mean your plants don't like the fresh air and can't thrive outdoors. Plants like spider plants and pothos can do very well in moderate climates with a mix of sun and rain. Plants like succulents and cacti thrive in dry and hot outdoor conditions, so make sure to protect them from rain.
However, some indoor plants are more picky and need very specific growing environments. Plants like ferns, African violets, and peace lilies will struggle to survive in changing temperatures and humidity levels. Plants like that are better off staying indoors unless they naturally grow where you live, of course.
Pay close attention to the temperature
If the weather is very stable in spring where you live, and the temperatures during the night don't go below 15℃ (59℉), you can slowly try to bring some plants outdoors. Make sure to keep a close eye on your plants to look for signs of stress.
If the weather in spring is very chaotic for you (and me sadly), hot and warm one day, snow the next, and lots of rain the day after, you should not move your plants outside in the spring. These changing conditions will stress most of your houseplants out and could cause permanent damage. Just wait until the summer to move some of your plants outdoors, when the weather is more stable.
How can I do this without shocking the plant?
Let's assume for this section that you can move your plants outside because the weather is stable and warm enough. But how do you move your plant from the stable conditions of your home to the "wild" outdoors without shocking it? There are a few things to keep in mind if you choose to place your plants outdoors for spring.
First, make sure to gradually acclimate your indoor plants to the outdoors. Honestly, this step can seem a little involved, but you'll soon find out it's not as bad as it seems. To acclimate your plants, you can start by placing them in a shaded area for a few hours each day and slowly increasing the amount of sunlight they receive over several days or even a week or two. This will help prevent shock and sunburn to the plant's leaves.
Again, be on the lookout for sudden temperature changes. If you live in an area with unpredictable weather, make sure to keep your plants in an area that is protected from sudden cold snaps or heavy rains. You may even want to bring the plants inside at night or during particularly rough weather.
Lastly, when your plants are used to being outside in the spring/summer, pay close attention to the soil and watering needs of your plants. When they are moved outside, they may need to be watered more often, because the sunlight and wind will evaporate the moisture in the soil more quickly. Be sure to check the soil daily, and make sure it's not getting overwatered after a rainstorm. Only water your plants if the soil is dry.
When does the new growth start?
Your plants grow more quickly in the spring and summer, but when does this growth really start? That's a great question because it actually starts slightly before the spring. Generally, in the northern hemisphere, your plants will start to grow around the last week of February and the first 2 weeks of March. If you're in the southern hemisphere, this will be around the last week of August and the first 2 weeks of September. During this time, the sun will start to become stronger and your plants will be the first to notice.
If you haven't taken care of plants during this time of year yet, you're going to have a blast! For me, it's the most exciting time of year to take care of plants!
How do I know if my plant is thriving in the spring?
Plants start to grow again in the spring, but how do you know if it's doing as well as you think it does?
There are a few obvious ways you can tell that your plants are doing well, including new growth, healthy leaves (no discoloration), and strong roots.
New growth and healthy leaves are easy to spot. If you've got multiple new leaves growing at the same time, you know your plant is very healthy and its roots are doing their job: absorbing nutrients from the soil.
If you don't have a lot of new growth, but your plant still has strong roots (not dried up or soggy), the growth will come eventually. You might still have to fertilize your plant to give it the boost it needs. The roots are strong and healthy and will eventually make your plant grow.
How can I protect my plants from pests and diseases common in spring?
During the spring when your plants start to grow again, pests become more active again as well. These changing growing conditions are a perfect breeding ground for all kinds of pests and diseases. So how can you protect your plants?
One of the most important steps is to regularly check on your plants. Make sure to inspect them every few days to spot any signs of pests or diseases before they can take hold. You should look for any unusual discoloration, spotting, wilting, or damage to the leaves or stems. Acting fast is important in the prevention and control of plant-related problems.
Prevention is always best, so it's a good idea to maintain good plant hygiene. Remove any dead or damaged plant parts, clean the surrounding soil of any debris, and monitor your watering schedule to avoid over-watering. This helps to prevent pests and diseases from breeding in the area surrounding your plants.
By taking a few small steps, you can prevent any pests and diseases from damaging your plants too much. So make sure to take the time to check your plant to keep it safe.
How can I maximize the growth of plants in the spring?
Like many things in life, preparation is half the effort and the same goes for letting your plants grow (quickly) in the spring. Most of the work is done in the winter when your plant is dormant.
Winter plant care is key
During the winter, your plant is dormant, which means it doesn't grow as much, you won't need to water it very much, and you won't fertilize your plant. The goal of taking care of your plants in the winter is to keep them alive and prevent problems, you're not taking care of your plant to make it grow.
If you've dealt with any problems in the winter, your plant will use the first few weeks of spring to recover from them. It'll put energy into healing rather than growing new stems and leaves. If your plant is completely healthy, it can start to grow right away. This is why taking care of them in the winter is so important.
Speeding up growth in the spring
Hopefully, after the winter, your plant is completely healthy and it can focus on new growth. To help your plant along, there are 4 things you can do to help your plant grow:
- Fertilize your plant
- Give your plant plenty of light
- Water your plant
- Prune dead or dying leaves
By fertilizing your plant at the beginning of spring, you give it a boost. It'll use these extra nutrients, combined with the extra sunlight to grow...quickly.
When your plant grows this quickly, it'll use much more moisture from the soil than it has during the fall and winter. Because of this, you will need to water your plant more often. Make sure to check if the top of the soil is dry before watering because you don't want to accidentally overwater your plant.
And lastly, you can help your plant focus on new growth by removing any dead or dying leaves. By removing these leaves, the plant doesn't have to waste any energy trying to keep these "ugly" leaves alive. Instead, it'll have the energy to put out new stems and leaves.
Conclusion
Spring is almost here! Getting your plants ready for six months of growth can be challenging, especially if you're new to gardening. But don't worry! As spring arrives, it's an exciting time for plant owners. Our plants start to grow again, after being dormant for months.
In this plant care guide, we've looked at how you can best prepare your plants for optimal growth during the spring. It's by far my favorite season to take care of plants. The best preparation begins in the winter and this will help your plants to focus on growing during the spring.
During the spring, you'll need to start fertilizing your plants again, increase how often you water them, give them plenty of sunlight, and regularly check for pests or diseases. If you follow the advice in this plant care guide, your plant will have a fantastic growing season ahead of it!
Thank you for reading this post! I hope it helps you to keep your plants healthy and beautiful! If you're looking for more guides on specific plants, you can always request a plant guide to get a guide for the plant you have trouble with.
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