Being a first-time plant parent can be overwhelming due to the various variables you need to consider to ensure your plants’ proper growth, such as lighting and watering. However, unlike pets or other animals, plants do not need constant care to grow healthy. Many plants are easy to take care of, only requiring regular watering and minor maintenances once in a while to stay healthy.
So, if you are considering making your garden beautiful with some flowers or keeping some houseplants, there are items you will need to take care of the growing plants. These items will help you nurture your plant, whether they are indoors or in the garden.
Water
The slogan water is life applies to all living things. Without water, your plants do not stand a chance of surviving. However, there is a need to ensure your plants get a proper water balance. Otherwise, you might end up giving them too much water to the point the roots start rotting or too little water to the point their dry out. I’ll admit it can be tricky to strike a balance of the specific amounts of water plants need.
The most efficient method to water your plants while avoiding water losses is drip irrigation. Drip irrigation manifolds are fast and easy to install. Also, they are flexible enough to allow watering systems addition and valve alignment. You can also use plastic watering can. It is cheap and no installations are needed.
Sunlight in Plenty
The plant needs sunlight to make its food through a process called photosynthesis. Therefore, the time, quality, and intensity of sunlight the plants get determine their growth. When furnishing your indoors with a houseplant or planting in the garden, ensure they get plenty of sunlight. For houseplants, avoid keeping them far from the window and under direct sunlight.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer acts as a supplement to soil’s nutrients. Fertilizer supplies nutrients to your plants to grow strong and healthy. Unlike outdoor plants, indoor plants do not get organic matter from the surroundings. For this reason, you need to regularly fertilize them every few weeks, preferably after 2-3 weeks.
The best mix of garden fertilizers to start with for most plants is the 6-12-6 or 10-10-10. The 3-number series stands for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (N-P-K). For a flowering plant, use a fertilizer high in Potassium and a fertilizer high in Nitrogen for a foliage plant.
Weed Killer
Weeds are plants’ arch-rivals. They compete with plants for food, sunlight, water, and space. They can sometimes harbor pests that can end up destroying your healthy plant. Therefore, regular weeding is essential to keep your plants healthy and growing. However, ensure the weed killer you use is environment friendly and safe to use near houses and humans.
Pruning Tools
Pruning is an essential maintenance practice for flowers, plants, and even trees. Pruning is done to enhance plant health and appearance. Pruning involves the removal of dead or dying branches, stems, and overgrown branches and stalks. It is also done to size down overgrown plants, prevent the spread of diseases and encourage fruit production.
There are various tools for pruning trees, flowers, and bushes, including pruning shears, ratchet prunes, and floral scissors.
