My earliest memory of an indoor plant was a circular UFO looking contraption nestled in the corner of my Nan’s sitting room. Under the UV rays sat several fuzzy African Violets topped with the daintiest of purplish magenta flowers and appeared almost iridescent under the buzzing lights. Fast forward thirty-five or so “ish” years and indoor plants have come a long way since the token living decor item hiding in the corner.
During COVID our homes became our safe space and as travelling the great outdoors was no longer an option. Many people turned to creating their very own indoor jungles to pass the time and ground themselves with the environment, we no longer had instant access to.
For some the whole “indoor plant craze” of 2020 was just a phase, however, for many including myself, the plant parenting stuck and a new generation of CIPPA’s (Crazy Indoor Plant People Australia) was created.
Plants for People
Anyone who has eagerly waited for a new leaf to unfurl can attest an indoor plant is far more than a decor item. They breathe life and vibrancy into a space creating a sense of calm and a tranquil atmosphere full of possibilities.
Indoor plants not only purify the air we breathe, making for a cleaner healthier home, they also provide us with a grounding connection to Mother Nature. The simple act of caring for and nurturing an indoor plant allows us to slow down in a busy anxious world. This helps us live in the moment, releasing the happy hormones and flooding our bodies with endorphins.
Personally, for me, just a few minutes a day tending to my indoor plants helps me centre allowing the rush and worries of the day just fade away. If you too would like to take full advantage of the wonderful world of indoor plants, then here are a few tips and tricks to help you on your way to creating your very own indoor jungle.
Flooded with Love
Believe it or not the most fundamental aspect of a happy healthy indoor plant is the substrate in which you grow your plant. Like us, an indoor plant’s root system needs to breathe. Unfortunately, many new plant parents kill their beloved indoors with too much love, essentially overwatering the poor things to death.
Yes, plants do need water to thrive, but they also need air circulation around their root systems. If the potting medium becomes waterlogged due to poor drainage the root system will rot away. This leaves nothing for your indoor plant to absorb moisture and nutrients, ultimately resulting in a slow soggy death.
So how do we stop this from happening to your indoor plant? Use a potting medium which allows for adequate drainage. This can be achieved by using a good quality potting mix and adding perlite. Perlite holds moisture, but also creates tiny air pockets throughout the soil and allows air circulation around the root system.
Don’t water to a routine – watering every Sunday at 3pm will not make your indoor plant happy and in doing so you can run the risk of overwatering your plant.
Instead try “the finger test” if you dip your index finger into the pot up to your second knuckle and it feels dry it’s time for a drink. If it’s still damp, then leave it be… there is plenty of moisture still available to the plant.
If you would like to take the guesswork out of watering your indoor plants, then a moisture meter is a handy tool to have. Simply insert the probe into the soil, check the reading and Voila!
Also remember to take your indoor plants out of their cover pots to water or remove the tray as this allows for any excess water to drain away freely rather than pooling in the bottom of the pot.
Spick & Span
Just like other items in our homes, our plants also need to be cleaned regularly. Dust and grime can build up overtime blocking the stomata on the leaves which allow the plant to photosynthesise. Wiping over your leaves gently with a damp, clean cloth keeps them healthy and helps with spotting any unwanted pests or diseases early.
Don’t be afraid to give your plant the ol’ choppity chop. If your plant has a leaf which is struggling or damaged simply cut the leaf off. The plant will put all its energy into new healthy growth rather than trying to save a leaf that is already on its way out.
Feed Me Seymour
Unlike plants growing in the ground, our indoor plants are 100% reliant on us for all their nutrients, so make sure you keep your indoors happy and healthy with regular feeding. Slow-release fertilisers can be added to the soil during the planting process or evenly sprinkled on top of the soil and typically last around 6 months.
For an added plant boost you can also use a liquid fertiliser which, will be instantly taken up by the plant either through the leaves or root system. A liquid fertiliser will need to be applied more regularly – every few weeks to ensure great plant health.
This Little Light of Mine
When we think of a rainforest, there are several different layers of plants – emergent, canopy, understory, and the rainforest floor. Many of our indoor plants fall into the last two layers – understory and forest flooring meaning they require bright indirect or indirect dappled light to thrive.
Ensuring your indoor plant is receiving the correct amount of sunlight is key to guaranteeing you have lush green foliage and strong healthy growth. The best way to describe bright indirect light is to think of the light as being intercepted or diffused by an object. The light will still cast a shadow over your plant if you were to place your hand in front but is not coming directly through the window as this will burn the leaves like a magnifying glass.
Indoors plants that thrive in bright indirect light include the Fiddle Leaf Fig, Monstera, Ficus and the ever-popular Peace Lily.
If you have a darker space in your home why not try a ZZ Plant, Sansevieria – Snake Plant or even a fern which can happily tolerate lower light levels.
Rock Solid Rock Stars
If your journey into the indoor plant world has been off to a rocky start, then I highly recommend starting off with the ever-reliable Pothos. These little gems are tough yet stunning making them the perfect beginner indoor plant to boost any new plant parent’s confidence. Whether trailing down a bookcase or climbing up a totem the Pothos will add instant jungle vibes to any indoor space.
So what are you waiting for… It’s time to pop down to your local Garden Centre and begin your journey into The Great Indoors today. People may think us CIPPAS are nuts for taking care of our indoor jungles, but little do they know our indoor jungles are in fact taking care of us.
