If you’re anything like us, you’ll be looking to keep your plant care ticking over between the months of May and August. On this page, you will find everything you need to know from, plant food to how to pot fresh soil. So, read our summer plant care tips below!
Plant Care During Summer
During the summer months, your main concern is going to be keeping your house plants happy and healthy. Summer brings hot weather, high humidity, and plenty of direct sun. So, definitely bare this in mind for your house plants.
Whether you have the best indoor plants or the worst, summer presents plenty of challenges for even the most experienced plant parent. So, be sure to have a mull over this helpful article so you’re in the know over this period!
Sun Sun Sun: Dealing With Higher Light Levels
One of the many amazing things about summer is the amount of sunlight we get. Not only are there more light rays, there are also more hours of daylight. This means your plants can get all the light they need to photosynthesise.
As many of your house plants will have had to deal with low light conditions over the winter months, many will be itching to come out of dormancy. As you may have already seen, the swiss cheese and bird of paradise are indoor plants that typically tend to sprout new leaves now.
Believe it or not, not every plant loves the sun. For plants like peace lilies and cast iron plants, be sure to keep them out of direct sunlight. This way, they will keep their deep green shine. The key to mastering light is mimicking your houseplant’s natural environment.
The key to this is knowing how much light your houseplants need. Too much light and their leaves will scorch. Too little light and you may begin to see wilting leaves and yellow leaves. Have a look at our plant care guides for more information on whether your plant needs, bright light, direct light, indirect light, or low light.
Always keep an eye on plants near south-facing windows. These will typically receive the most light during the day, so keep an eye out for any scorching.
Is Water Wet? Watering During Growing Season
One of the most challenging parts of summer plant care is knowing how much water your plants need. For three-quarters of the year, your main concern will consistently have been to caution yourself against over-watering.
Despite this still being important (as we don’t want our indoor plants sitting in excess water), the warm weather will dry your plants’ soil surface out more quickly. So, always remain vigilant during any heat waves!
Water is one of the most fundamental things your houseplants need as it helps maintain cell structure throughout the plant. The key is to make sure your plant pot has drainage holes so any leftover water can drain freely. This way, your plant can receive enough water and offload any excess.
Watch Out: The Perils of Too Much Fertilizer!
One of the easiest things to get wrong with your indoor plants is your fertilizer routine. Although plants love a little bit of fertilizer during the growing season, the consequences of too much could be severe!
Interior plants love the correct balance of fertilizer, so make sure you’re clued up. Why not read our “How to Fertilise Your Houseplants” Blog post?
Just like humans, plants need a healthy balance of nutrients to stay healthy and strong. Fertilizer blends a mixture of Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium that helps to benefit your plant’s leaves, stems, and roots.
Be sure to use fertilizer once every couple of weeks during the summer months. Always be sure to dilute your fertiliser with plenty of water. Otherwise, you will scorch your roots!
Repotting Your House Plant: The Plant Care Cheat Code...
If you’re looking for the plant care cheat code, then repotting is going to be your best bet. Repotting your houseplant is going to give most plants the opportunity to continue growing bigger and bigger!
You’ll know it’s time to repot when your plant’s roots have become root bound (begun to grow beyond the bottom of your nursery pot. Prize your houseplant gently from its nursery pot and place it into a bigger pot with plenty of extra topsoil.
Then, be sure to water your new plant with sufficient water.
Look Out For Pests: Keep Your Houseplants Healthy
As we reach the summer months, one of the top tips we can offer you is going to be to invest in some neem oil. Most pests thrive when the humidity levels and the temperature rises. Another cause can be too much water in your topsoil.
The best way to treat any infestation of pests is going to be to isolate your houseplants from one another and spray your affected plant’s leaves (and soil) with neem oil
Keep your plants separated until the infestation has ceased and then you can begin to reintroduce them back together. If your plant is suffering from fungus gnats, or a fungus infestation, be sure to isolate your plant from others and do not water until the fungus has died.
Not Found What You're Looking For?
Have you not found what you’re looking for? If you’re looking for more information regarding outdoor plants and summer, then why not read this article by Gardener’s World?
