Houseplants are pampered pets compared to their outdoor cousins. Even in air conditioning, these pets can be feeling the effects of summer in a number of ways.
Summer Light
Summer light quality is more intense. The quantity is greater too, although that’s changing as we head towards autumn.
Have you noticed? Sun may shine in windows that are not sunny the rest of the year. Some houseplants may even get sunburned. This shows as dead patches in the middle of an otherwise healthy leaf. If you see such scorched spots, move plants out of direct light.
Some homes have less light in summer due to shades or sun screens (ours does). In this case, move your houseplants to where they will get enough light. Low light levels cause weak spindly growth as plants stretch towards light. This etiolation is not reversible.
Word Nerd Shares
Long skinny weak growth is termed etiolation (ee-ti-o-lay-shun). The plant growth becomes “etiolated.” It’s easy to see on this cactus, but you can also see it when stems have a long distance between flowers. Etiolated plants are stressed plants and thus are more susceptible to pests.
Summer Heat
If you have a thrifty nature (or perhaps a thrifty spouse), the thermostat may be set higher during the summer. Saving energy is a good thing, but such higher household temperatures are keenly felt by some species of houseplants. A mere ten degrees may not seem like much to us warm-blooded creatures, but to some houseplant species the difference is extreme. 85F can be too hot for some! Do check the water needs of your plants more often in summer.
Air Flow
Air that is moving will dry plants out. Air conditioning, ceiling fans, floor fans, evaporative coolers – all of these can dry houseplants out. Check the water needs of your plants more often in summer.
Water
Depending on light, heat, and airflow, you may have to water more – or less (!) – during the summer. Don’t simply water every day without checking on the needs of your plants.
Elements of Gardening
To return to my underlying theme of the “elements of gardening,” note that it holds true for houseplants as well. We have just looked at Fire, Air, and Water with respect to houseplants in summer. That leaves Earth.
Repot
Given more light, and higher temperatures, summer is the active growth phase for many indoor plants. Thus summer is the right time to repot them. Ideally, the new pot should be around an inch or two larger in diameter. Don’t go too much larger all at once as it can lead waterlogged soil and root rot.
Fertilizer
The longer days of summer generally encourage plant growth. To help ensure the new growth is healthy, you can fertilize your houseplants.
Almost any brand of fertilizer is good for indoor plants – in moderation. Excessive fertilizer can kill plants directly, or lead to salt build-up in the soil, killing plants slowly.
I prefer to use compost as fertilizer. Remove about a half inch of potting soil and replace it with a layer of rich compost. Watering brings the nutrients in the compost down to the roots. Repotting a plant does the same – offering fresh, fertile soil to the plants.
If you repot a plant, wait two weeks before you give it fertilizer. This advice – to not repot and fertilize at the same time also holds true for planting plants in the landscape. It’s best practice any time you move a plant out of any pot. Unpotting creates some torn roots. Sometimes more than a few. Fresh fertiilzer on those wounds, no matter how tiny, can hinder healing, and has been proven to retard growth for some species.
Prune
The active growth phase is ideal for pruning or shaping your houseplants. Clipping off the growing tips of most plants encourages them to branch and thus become fuller in form. Plants forgive a great deal of abuse, but over-pruning can kill them. Remove a maximum of one third of a plant at one time. Less is just fine.
If you are wondering how pruning fits in with the four elements – this is the element of human care for our plants. The fifth element if you will.
Plant R & R – Rest & Relaxation
Houseplants are refreshed by a cool shower. The rain-like experience washes off house dust and debris that can clog pores and ultimately harm plants. Put plants in the tub or on a well shaded porch for their rinse. _Cool_is the operative word here. Ideally the water is around 75 degrees. Since at my home it comes out of the tap at about 85 degrees, this is not something I do in summer. Spring is better for my plants.
Houseplant Pests
Pests are not usually a problem on healthy, well maintained houseplants, but that’s not to say that you couldn’t ever get any. If you notice plant pests, quarantine the affected plant before the infestation can spread. One of the safest insecticides to use is insecticidal soap. Mixed correctly, it clogs the breathing pores of most insect pests and kills them. Do not use insecticidal soap on succulents like jade plants, aloes, or cacti, it is indeed soap, and it dissolves their waxy protective coating and makes it easier for the pests to kill them.
Moderation
Moderation is key. (Where have we heard that before?!) Avoid doing too much to any one houseplant at any one time.
If you move it, give it a chance to get used to it’s new site (acclimate) before pruning it.
If you repot a plant, wait two weeks before you give it fertilizer.
Give any plant several weeks to stabilize after repotting before you prune.
Houseplants in Summer
Here’s my little reassuring little poem I made up on the topic. (And aren’t you glad I stick to prose not poetry?)
Houseplants will do just fine,
even in the summer time.
All they need from thee,
is a little “TLC.”
More Houseplant Basics
Five Houseplant Selection Tips
Orchids as Flowering Houseplants
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Thanks for reading
Jacqueline
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