5 Best ways to keep your low light plants happy
5 Best ways to keep your low light plants happy
As busy moms running a small business we don’t usually make time for fussy plant tricks. Yes, some of them work….but long term we like to keep it easy. We keep our plant care hacks low fuss and high reward. Here are our best tips for pampering your houseplants - especially if they’re in lower and indirect light.
Keep plant leaves clean
Clean houseplants = less pests and more sunlight reaching the leaves. Keeping your low light plants dust free allows them to maximize every bit of light that reaches their foliage. Our two favorite plant care strategies for dusting are a dusting mitt or a good ‘ol shower. For plants with delicate leaves like ficus, swiss cheese, or even euphorbias - a quick and gentle shower does the trick!
It’s all about the light - know what indirect really means
All plants need light! Indirect light still means there is light - just that you are further from the source then direct light (actual sunbeams). Bathrooms without windows, deep hallways, and rooms where the blinds are always closed - are not going to have enough light for plants. We’ve seen fiddles loving life near HUGE north facing windows, and hoyas struggling in southwest windows with deep porches. When assessing the light in a space - step back and think about total hours, distance from the source, and how much is coming in.
Grow lights do work
There are so many grow lights available now - and we’ve found they really do work in helping plants through our PNW winters. We have a great telescoping grow light with a simple timer that we sell at the shop and use in many plant maintenance accounts. From keeping corners a little brighter through winter for low light plants to rehabbing a bird of paradise - a little extra light can really help when indirect light is low light.
Don’t forget the fertilizer
Even plants in less light need nutrients! If your plant hasn’t had a soil refresh since you brought it home a few years ago - or it had a growth spurt and now has slowed down, you may need a fertilizer. Joyful Dirt (made locally!) is a gentle combination of nutrients and microbes to support growth and soil health. We use it year round on our most happy plants and is an important piece of an easy plant care plan.
Don’t forget they’re tropical & keep it warm
Topical houseplants that are cold are generally not happy for long. They don’t photosynthesize as effectively and some varieties can become more susceptible to fungus. Plus, any stress makes your plants more susceptible to pests.
Less light = less water
When winter approaches or you move a plant to an area with less light, slightly decrease how much water you give it weekly to avoid overwatering. This is why when customers buy plants, we can’t tell you “how much water” they’ll need. The same plan in bright or indirect light will behave totally differently.
If you keep your plant pampering simple, you’re more likely to do it often. Keeping leaves clean, fertilizing, and matching watering to the light will help make sure your plants thrive in your space.