Whether you have a green thumb or not, our houseplant care tips will tell you how to fertilize and care for your houseplants. Only with proper fertilization and watering will your houseplants stay beautiful and fresh for a long time. Your houseplants have more in common with you than you think. Just like you, they need light, water, and oxygen. The humidity in your rooms is also very important. And last but not least, while plants don't need movement, they appreciate regular repotting. Just like your pets, you should care for your houseplants, because they are living beings. So, check out our houseplant guide or explore an online plant nursery Pakistan to find a variety of easy-to-care-for indoor plants and learn how you can do something good for them.

The ideal humidity for houseplants

The ideal humidity for houseplants is between 40 and 70 percent; tropical houseplants prefer even higher humidity. You can measure the humidity in your rooms with a hygrometer from a hardware store. Good to know: Depending on how often they are watered, houseplants can increase humidity by up to five percent, thus improving the indoor climate. Houseplants purify the air by filtering pollutants like CO2 and converting them into oxygen. Plants can improve air quality, especially in bathrooms without windows.

Fertilizing houseplants: With what and how often?

For a healthy and long life, every houseplant needs to be fertilized regularly. The nutrients in the potting soil are eventually depleted, so it's important to replenish them. Plants with lots of leaves need more nitrogen, while plants with flowers or fruit need more phosphorus. Houseplants especially appreciate fertilizer during the warmer months, as they go dormant during the colder months. The exception to this rule is winter plants.

Professional fertilizers

Professional fertilizers are available from specialist retailers as granules, powder, or fertilizer sticks. You can also fertilize houseplants with natural kitchen scraps: Coffee grounds, for example, are rich in nutrients such as potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. They lower the pH of peaty soil and neutralize calcareous irrigation water. Mix the coffee grounds into the potting soil while they're as dry as possible. You can also fertilize your houseplants with the contents of used tea bags (e.g., chamomile, herbal, green, or black tea). You can also hang used tea bags in a watering can overnight and then water the plants.

Plant a shower against dust and pests

In winter, not only do we but also plants prefer to stay indoors. But even there, they need plenty of daylight to photosynthesize. However, house dust on the leaves means your favorite plants get less light. Our tip: Instead of wiping each leaf individually, rinse the plants once a month with lukewarm water in the shower or bathtub. It's best to protect the pot, soil, and root ball from the water jet with a bag. The shower also helps prevent pest infestations, such as scale insects.

Houseplants: Tips for the right location

Plants need more or less light depending on the variety. Tropical plants, palms, flowering plants, cacti, and succulents particularly tolerate strong sunlight and south-facing windows. Plants with many green, large, and soft leaves, on the other hand, don't like full sun and need a spot in partial shade. Shade plants, on the other hand, don't like direct sunlight at all. These are usually plants that only grow in shady locations in nature.

Watering and repotting houseplants correctly

When watering, the rule is: When the top layer of soil is dry to a depth of two centimeters, it needs watering. The ideal way to water is from below, using a saucer that you fill with water. This way, the plant draws the water it needs. Watering from above also works, of course. If plants are doing well, it's sufficient to repot them with fresh soil every three to four years in spring. This ensures that they thrive in nutrient-rich soil over the long term.

Styrofoam against cold floors

Plants don't like cold, especially from below. Cold windowsills and cool soils cause the root balls to cool down; in sensitive plants, they can even cause leaf loss. If you want to care for your houseplants in winter, place a cut piece of Styrofoam (or a rolling saucer for larger plants) under the pot to create more distance from the ground. This also helps protect against heat from the (underfloor) heating and prevents them from drying out too quickly.

Plastic bottle as an irrigation system

One of the most surprising houseplant care tips involves using plastic bottles. Many plant owners wonder who will water their plants when they're going on vacation. Our tip: Fill a plastic bottle with water and close it. Pierce holes in the lid (e.g., with a safety pin) and place the bottle upside down in the soil of the flowerpot so that it sits firmly in place. Your plant will draw water as needed and stay supplied until you return home. Alternatively, you can put the end of a string into a glass of water and wrap the other end around a thin wooden stick and push it into the potting soil. This simple trick works well not just for indoor plants but also for outdoor plants in Pakistan, helping them stay fresh and hydrated even when you’re away.

Explore a wide collection of outdoor plants in Pakistan today and bring more natural beauty to your home or garden!