Spring is almost upon us! The bulbs are growing restless underground, the density of the ice is beginning to loosen, and it’s got us thinking ahead to the much-needed spring clean-up. Often when ‘spring cleaning’ comes to mind, we think about everything from clearing out our closets to getting the veggie garden prepped for the season ahead—but what about your houseplants?
As we head toward a change of seasons and spring cleaning is top of mind, it is also important to remember that your houseplants could also use a little TLC. Now, of course, you have been tending to them throughout the winter, but the spring season is an excellent opportunity to reorganize, repot, and refresh your houseplant collection.
How Do You Prepare Indoor Plants for Spring?
One of the best places to start with your houseplant spring cleaning, particularly if you have added to your collection in recent months, is to review what you have. Taking an inventory of your plants will also help you determine which plants may need to move into a bigger pot or which ones you might want to move outdoors for the spring and summer to get a little fresh air.
With the changing seasons come changing light conditions, so take some time to assess what plants you have in your home and make sure they are placed appropriately according to their light requirements. The sun gets a lot stronger and lasts a lot longer in the summertime, so plants that you may have moved closer to the window this winter to optimize the number of hours the sun was up may need a new place to live for the fair weather seasons. If you are opting to move any of your houseplants outdoors for the summer season, be sure to do so gradually to avoid shocking them.
How Do You Clean Plants In The Spring?
We advise giving your houseplants a good cleaning in the springtime, particularly if you didn’t keep them as fresh over the winter as you would have liked. Cleaning your houseplants can be wrapped into a weekly or monthly practice, but it feels great to provide some extra care at the turn of the season. Dust and other buildup can reduce the amount of light that a plant can absorb, making them a little less vibrant over time. With that said, not every houseplant needs to be soaked to freshen it up.
A houseplant version of a sponge bath is more similar to what we would recommend for waxy-leaf plants. Simply take a damp cloth with a smidge of dish soap and wipe down the leaves and stems. Pat dry lightly to prevent any rot.
For those houseplants that have fuzzy leaves, you can just brush the dust and dirt away with a dry cloth or a soft brush. If your cacti have any debris stuck between their needles, you can utilize one of those compressed air bottles that you use to clean a computer keyboard to blow it away.
Ensure Your Houseplants Are In Good Health
Seasonally cleaning your houseplants also provides a great opportunity to ensure that each of them is in good health before they come out of dormancy. Houseplant health checks should include:
- Pruning away any dead matter
- Checking for disease
- Checking for pests (especially if you introduced new plants into your home over the winter)
- Checking to see if you need to repot your plants
There are a few telltale signs that your plant will give you if it needs a bigger container. Its roots may be poking out of the drainage holes, it may be lifting out of the pot, it may be thirstier than you remember it ever being, or its growth may have slowed. If you notice any of these signs, your houseplant is telling you that it needs some more space to stretch its legs!
Even if your houseplant doesn’t necessarily need a bigger container, some can benefit from being repotted in fresh soil every few years. Spring is an ideal time to do so since your houseplant will have the entire spring and summer season to re-establish itself before going back into dormancy.
Your first house plant spring cleaning is complete! Assuming that you maintain your house plants regularly throughout the winter, it shouldn’t take too much time at all. Have indoor plant care questions or concerns? Don’t hesitate to stop by Plant Perfect to chat with our knowledgeable staff! We are always happy to help!