The first day of spring is only a few weeks away, so naturally I’m getting into the spring cleaning mood. But spring cleaning doesn’t only have to be about bagging up old clothes or vacuuming the overlooked corners of each room. Your houseplant needs a little extra love, too, as it comes out of its winter dormancy. Here’s how to give it:

1. Give your plant a bath
If you have a houseplant with large leaves, like the fiddle leaf fig, it’s more prone to collecting dust that can block the sunlight. Using a washcloth or sponge dampened with warm water, gently wipe each leaf. You may be surprised to find how much dust has actually accumulated, even if you can’t see it! Plants with many small leaves, such as the golden pothos, still need some attention. Just be careful as these leaves can easily snap off.

2. Turn your plant toward the sun
Longer days and warmer weather also mean the sun will shine brighter and longer. If you notice some of your plants have leaned toward the window to catch scarce winter sun, give them a turn. Putting your plant on a rotating schedule ensures it continues to grow straight and that all leaves receive the proper level of sunlight. Similarly, if you have plants that don’t require as much bright light, move them to more shaded parts of your home so they don’t burn.

3. Feed and water your plant properly
During the warmer months, your houseplant will naturally need more water to stay fully hydrated and healthy. Spring is also the perfect time to begin fertilizing it, too. Keep a close eye on the moisture levels of the soil by testing how dry it feels about one inch below the surface. Dry soil means it’s time to water! Slowly begin adding fertilizer to your watering schedule, following the recommendation for each plant. This will give them a nutritional boost as they put on new leaves!

4. Make use of your pruning shears
If you notice any dead leaves or stems on your plant, be sure to remove them to make space for new growth. If stems look spindly, damaged, or diseased, prune these back to allow for healthier stems to grow instead. For vine plants like the golden pothos or philodendron, cut stems just before a leaf node for propagating. For large stems, cut as close to the main stem or the base of the plant as possible. If in doubt, don’t cut! Pruning shouldn’t turn your plant into a skeleton.

5. Improve the humidity level
If you live in a dry climate, you can still keep a tropical plant indoors. You don’t have to set up a humidifier by your houseplant though. Place a single layer of pebbles in the bottom of a plastic saucer and fill it with warm water, then put your plant pot on top. As the water evaporates, it will become its own humidifier around your plant. This process, along with misting your plant with warm water every few days, will keep it happy without the risk of root rot.

Ready for your own spring cleaning?
The last thing on your mind this spring might be spending a few extra minutes with your houseplant. But it’ll be happier and healthier after you’ve completed this checklist! Do you already give your plants some additional TLC in the spring? Tell me in the comments!

XO,
Micah

Anyone who knows me personally also knows that many a succulent has met its unfortunate end while under my watch. What a way to start a blog on tips for growing succulents, am I right? This month, I attended a workshop all about succulents, which included a long list of care tips from the hostess. I left with a whole lot of inspiration and motivation. Not to mention a pretty fab pot of succulents I pieced together myself (see photo above).

It’s a goal of mine in the coming months to keep these succulents alive. But not just alive… happy and healthy, too. There’s a difference! If you’re new to growing succulents, or if you’ve struggled to keep them alive in the past, this post is for you. I’ll be growing right along with you.

Tip 1: Choose the Right Pot
You want to be sure that the pot you choose has a drainage hole. This is one of biggest mistakes that first-time succulent growers make. If you purchase a succulent already planted in a pot with no drainage hole, repot as soon as possible! Terracotta clay pots are always a safe bet if you’re overwhelmed by the selection at a garden center. Along with having numerous sizes, these pots are budget-friendly and can be purchased with a matching saucer. If you don’t like the tan color, they’re easy to paint!

Tip 2: Use a Specialized Soil
Succulents have their own unique needs when it comes to soil. Choose specifically a cactus and succulent soil when potting your plant. This soil is much lighter, allowing water to drain quickly without retaining extra moisture. Succulents retain most of their water in their leaves. Once they’re done soaking from the roots, they won’t need additional moisture from the dirt for a couple of weeks.

Tip 3: Plant a Healthy Succulent
This may seem obvious, but choosing a healthy succulent to plant means a greater chance of success. Pick a succulent that has full foliage, a good color, and is free from dead or dying leaves. Fill your pot 1/3 with soil, then pack a little of it around the sides. Gently remove your succulent from the plastic and place it in the pot, then pack additional soil around the base. Leave a quarter-inch between the soil level and the top of the pot to make watering easier. Once planted, remove any leaves that die and keep an eye out for insects.

Tip 4: Water with Caution
Over watering and under watering succulents are two mistakes that many people make. I’m clearly included in this percentage. Water your succulents only until a little water drains into the saucer, then remove this excess. You won’t need to water your plant again until the soil feels completely dry and crumbly. This could be one week or three weeks, depending on the climate and temperature. Puckering leaves means it’s time to water, but soggy and wrinkled leaves mean the soil is too wet.

Tip 5: Optimize the Natural Light
The majority of succulents prefer bright, indirect sunlight. Keep them in areas of your home that receive at least 4-6 hours of morning light each day. Afternoon light is often too harsh for these plants, which can also fall victim to sunburn. In the winter, when light is scarce, you may want to consider a grow light that can provide the necessary amount of light during these months. If your succulents are outside, be sure to house them indoors when the temperature gets cold, too.

Tip 6: Don’t Forget to Fertilize
Succulents naturally create their own food through photosynthesis, but you can also give them a nutritional boost with fertilizer. How often you need to fertilize your succulent depends on the type, so be sure to do a little research to know what your succulent needs! (Many succulents thrive if fertilized about once a month.) Then, simply incorporate the recommended fertilization to your normal watering schedule.

Which Succulent Is Right for You?
Now that you know a few basic tips for growing succulents, you may be wondering which type is right for you and your home. These five succulents are all great for first-time growers and have different benefits:

1. Zebra Plant: handles low sun and low water well
2. Aloe Vera: loves bright light and infrequent watering
3. Rainbow Elephant Bush: forgiving to over waterers
4. Panda Plant: thrives in dry climates and bright light
5. Gasteria: tolerates sporadic watering and low light

Succulents add a pop of fresh color to your home, without being too demanding. In fact, most succulent casualties probably occur due to too much nurturing. Just give your succulent a little space, and you should have a thriving plant long-term! Have you been successful with succulents? Or are you like me? I’d love to know!

XO,
Micah

You might be wondering why snake plants (also commonly referred to as “mother-in-law’s tongue” or “Saint George’s sword”) would be good plants for your home. After all, every nickname they’ve ever gotten hasn’t exactly been … complimentary.

Thankfully, what remains positive is the excellent reviews plant parents give about this chill, low-maintenance houseplant. Snake plants have striking colors and twirling, spiked leaves, which is where many of their nicknames derive from. Their unique design also often makes them the plant of choice for modern, trendy homes. And due to their hardiness, snake plants have a great reputation around those who find it difficult to keep anything alive. If you tend to neglect your houseplants or travel often, this plant is for you! Here’s why:

Sun and Water
Snake plants don’t need much water to survive and can thrive in various levels of light. Just be sure it’s potted in a planter with a drainage hole and saucer. Over-watering and root rot are the most common problems in these plants. Let the soil completely dry out between each watering or about every 2-6 weeks. Like many plants, they’ll be happiest in bright, indirect light, though they won’t suffer too much with minimal sunlight. If the leaves start to droop and look dull, it’s time to give it some sun!

Pro Tip: When watering your snake plant, be careful not to get the leaves wet. They won’t mind an occasional misting though.

Temperature
Not surprisingly, snake plants aren’t too picky about the temperature. (They won’t tolerate frost or snow, but what does?) Snake plants are native to tropical climates of West Africa, so they will thrive in places (such as bathrooms) where humidity is the highest. They’ll adapt to almost any temperature above 40 degrees, however, even in low-light conditions. If you travel often and keep your home at a cooler temperature, your snake plant will still be happy.

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Air Purification
All plants help purify the air, but snake plants are especially good at it. In general, plants do an excellent job of ridding the air of organic pollutants, including formaldehyde, benzene, and nitrogen oxides. Snake plants specifically, like pothos plants, are pros at removing these toxins, making the air you breathe in your home cleaner and healthier. Even if you forget about your plant for a few weeks, it’ll still be clearing your indoor air of pollutants. Not a bad trade-off!

Pro Tip: Snake plants have low toxicity to people but are dangerous for cats and dogs. Keep out of reach of your pets!

Propagation
If one snake plant in your home isn’t enough, there are three simple ways to propagate it! You can cut off a leaf at the base, then cut the leaf into 2” sections and place them bottoms-down in succulent and cactus soil. Or you can cut the leaf at its base and place either the leaf cuttings or the entire leaf in water, then repot in soil when roots form. Or you can divide your plant by taking single leaves (with good root systems) and repotting them individually in their own pots. If you’d prefer a visual reference for propagating snake plants, YouTube is a great resource!

No Green Thumb?
If you’ve been unsuccessful in keeping plants alive in the past, snake plants are a good option for you. The only thing you’ll need to worry about is over-watering, and if you’re naturally neglectful of plants, this shouldn’t be a problem. Have you owned a snake plant or think you might now? I’d love to know!

XO,
Micah