If you missed our ultimate spring care guide, start there first. You’ll find advice on how to repot and clean up your plants, along with tips for adjusting your watering routine.

Summer Houseplant Care Tips

Let’s jump in—here are our top tips for summer plant care!

Tip 1: Double-check your routine

You’ve probably noticed a big change in your care routine over the past couple of months! Plants naturally respond to their environment. As we near the summer equinox, days become longer than any other time of the year. More light plus higher temperatures and increased humidity equal a prime growing environment for your plant.

With all this fuel for growth, you’ll need to make a few changes to your routine:

• Water plants more frequently: Simply put, faster growing plants use more water. Always water plants deeply until excess water drips from the drainage hole. Troubleshoot your watering routine by learning about the common signs of over- or under-watering plants.
• Adjust for seasonal light changes: Houseplants can be susceptible to sun-scorch from the intense summer rays. Affected leaves may become bleached in color. If you see this, move your plant away from the window and consider removing the damaged leaves, which will not recover.

Tip 2: Cut back plants

If your previously tame plant went wild with a spring growth spurt, it might be time to cut that plant baby back! Cutting back plants (also known as pruning) has many benefits:

• Size control: Unexpected growth spurts can mean your plant quickly outgrows its spot! Trim any out-of-control branches with a pair of sharp snips, taking care to remove no more than 25% of the leaves.
• Shaping: A growth spurt can also cause a previously manicured plant to become shaggy and undefined. It’s easy to refine the shape by shearing with a sharp pair of pruning scissors.
• Rejuvenation: Has your plant become tattered and weary, with leggy or sparse growth? It might be time for a rejuvenation prune! This is a more extreme approach that includes removing  most or all of the leaves to make way for fresh, new growth. If you’re nervous about taking drastic measures, reach out to the Grow-How Team^® for advice!
• Reblooming: For blooming houseplants, it can be beneficial to remove old flowers once they begin to fade. This allows the plant to put energy into producing new blooms rather than seed.

For a crash course on all things plant pruning, check out this article on how to trim your plants.

Tip 3: Fertilize!

Fertilizing plants is necessary to help them thrive. This is especially important during times of active growth, since the potting mix can become depleted of essential nutrients. You’ll find everything you need to know in our fertilizing 101 guide, but here are some key takeaways:

• Most houseplants appreciate a fresh application of fertilizer 1-2 times per month. For specifics, check out our A-Z guide.
• Fertilizing is easy! Just mix and pour as if you are watering the plant.
• Don’t ever apply fertilizer to dry soil. We recommend a thorough watering 1-2 days before you fertilize.

There are many types of fertilizer out there. An all-purpose fertilizer, which has an equal balance of macronutrients, is great for most houseplants. If you grow plants for flowers or fruit, use something like our houseplant special fertilizer that’s high in phosphorus. There are many speciality fertilizers available, like palm fertilizer high in potassium or air plant fertilizer meant to be sprayed on the foliage.

Tip 4: Scout for problems

Like it or not, pests and disease go hand-in-hand with nurturing a houseplant. If you pay a little extra attention, you might catch problems early. This will ultimately make treating the problem faster and more effective.

• Pests: Open windows can bring a welcome breeze, along with unwanted insects to your plants. Pests can also hitch a ride on pets and people coming in from the outdoors. While no one wants to deal with bugs in their home, pests are a completely normal houseplant issue. They’re easily controlled, especially if you catch them early.
  • Common houseplant pests include spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, whitefly, and thrips.
  • Fungus gnats, springtails, and millipedes are also common. Since they love moisture, their presence may indicate you are watering too often.
  • Scale are another common, but sneaky, pest. The adult insects don’t move and typically look like small, raised brown bumps on the stem or leaf.
• Diseases: Fungal issues can be common in the summer thanks to high humidity. Air conditioning tends to keep humidity down. If you’re dealing with high humidity indoors, providing gentle airflow and keeping the leaves dry can go a long way in preventing these issues. Place your plant near an open window or a fan, and avoid misting or splashing water on the leaves.

We recommend keeping an insecticidal soap or Neem oil on hand to treat most insects, and a copper fungicide around for fungal issues. Reach out to the Grow-How Team^® to help diagnose your issue and identify the best treatment. We’re here to help you get your plants back on track!

Tip 5: Consider putting plants outdoors

Allowing houseplants to summer over outdoors is a surprisingly effective tactic to encourage some seriously impressive growth. Warm temperatures paired with high humidity are what most houseplants crave! They’ll reward you with an explosion in growth. And while it’s true that plants are exposed to more pest and disease pathogens outdoors, a healthy and thriving plant is actually less susceptible to damage.

We share many tips for moving plants outdoors, including these important considerations:

• Plants need more water outdoors: Higher temperatures and wind means that plants living outdoors in pots will need to be watered more often.
• Houseplants need protection outdoors: We recommend using a shaded, protected area outdoors. Limit the amount of direct sun a plant receives to only the morning or evening hours for most houseplants, and acclimate those sun-loving plants over the course of a week or two. Finally, be sure to protect plants from strong winds that can tear the leaves and knock pots to the ground.

Shop Plant Care Essentials

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What do you gift the dad who has it all? Switch up the same old Father’s Day routine this year and give Dad a gift that grows. Whether he’s new to the plant life or already a certified Plant Dad, here are our favorite picks for Father’s Day. And as a bonus, if you order from Bloomscape, they’ll ship straight from our greenhouse to your house, saving you a shopping trip!

Monstera

Monstrous in size but not in maintenance, the Monstera plant originates from the tropical rainforests of southern Mexico and is extremely adaptable to indoor conditions. It loves medium to bright indirect light, and doesn’t require any added humidity. Monsteras love to climb, so as they grow, they’ll naturally send out aerial roots that can be trained to climb a moss pole. With age, new leaves develop more and more holes that give it its signature tropical look. This impressive plant is also tolerant of an occasional missed watering, making it ideal for dads on the go.

Pet-Friendly Favorites

The perfect pairing of beauty and pet-friendly features, our Pet-Friendly Favorites—the adorable Mini Money Tree and fun Ponytail Palm—were hand-selected by our team for their easy care and adaptability to different lighting conditions to ensure a worry-free environment for your pets. With regular pruning, these plants will continue to thrive and enhance any home or make a thoughtful gift for another pet-loving family. These plants are not only stunning but also low-maintenance, making them an ideal gift for dads who want to spend more time with their furry companions.

Bird of Paradise

Make a statement with your Father’s Day gift by choosing the Bird of Paradise. This plant commands attention with its oversized leaves and upright stature. Adaptable to indoors or out, the Bird of Paradise is perfect for dads who like to spend their summers outdoors. Choose a bright, sunny spot to help this plant thrive, and keep its leaves free of dust and debris with an occasional wipe-down or shower. For plants placed outdoors, be sure to slowly introduce them to more sun day-by-day. Learn more about moving indoor plants outside for the summer.

Tough Stuff Trio

Give the gift of ease with the Tough Stuff Collection, featuring a trio of our most-gifted and lowest-maintenance plants. If your Dad wants some green without all the fuss, this trio, including a Snake Plant, ZZ Plant, and Hoya, will be instantly appreciated. He’ll love that these plants are adaptable to almost any spot in his home and that they can go a long time between watering. Perfectly sized as a desk-or tabletop accent, the distinctive forms of each plant pair well together or can spread out around the house.

Money Tree

The Money Tree is perfect for dads seeking a low-maintenance plant that brings life to any space. With its distinctive braided trunk and lush green leaves, this resilient plant thrives in a sunny spot with occasional watering. Originally from Asia, the Money Tree adapts well to different conditions, making it a worry-free choice even when Dad’s attention is elsewhere. Its unique appearance adds a touch of style and charm to any room.

More Gifts for Dad

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Soil gnats, also known as fungus gnats, are a common pest to find on houseplants. These annoying pests can multiply if left untreated, and you’ll find yourself swatting them away left and right. The Grow-How® Team is here to help you learn how to treat and how to prevent soil gnats in the future. Read on to learn more. 

What Are Soil Gnats?

If you own houseplants and you have been swatting away teeny flying insects throughout your home, chances are they’re soil gnats. Otherwise known as fungus gnats, they are tiny flies that are attracted to organic matter, such as potting mix. They are a common houseplant pest and are often mistaken for fruit flies. In their adult form, they are approximately ⅛ to ¼ of an inch in size and they are brown or black with translucent wings. 

Adult soil gnats lay eggs in the soil of houseplants. These eggs turn to larvae, which feed on the organic matter in the soil. The larvae will grow wings and turn into their adult form, and the life cycle begins again. They can multiply quickly if the environment is humid and houseplant soil is staying overly moist.

Soil gnats are understandably a nuisance for plant parents. As frustrating as these pests can be, they rarely damage the plants themselves. Typically, they only cause damage to houseplants if the infestation is very severe and there are a lot of larvae in the soil. The larvae can feed on the roots, which can affect the health of the plant in the future, but this isn’t very common with well-established houseplants.

If you think you have soil gnats, don’t fret! They are easily treatable and you can get rid of these pesky insects in no time. 

How to Treat Soil Gnats

Plants can be treated to get rid of a fungus gnat infestation. The Grow-How® Team has put together an effective treatment. Just follow the steps below to treat your plant for soil gnats:

Step 1: Control the adult population

You will want to first start trapping the adult soil gnats. This will help to slow down reproduction. You can use yellow sticky traps like these to help control adult populations. Soil gnats are attracted to the color yellow, and once they fly onto the sticky trap, they are stuck for good!

Step 2: Treat the soil

Next, you will need to treat the soil to kill the larvae and eggs. Pick one of the following options:

1. Soap & Neem Oil Mixture: Pour or spray a mild soapy water and Neem Oil mixture into the top of the soil to kill the larvae. We suggest using 1 tsp of Dr. Bronner’s Baby-mild Liquid Soap per 1 liter of water. For the neem oil, follow the dilution rate on the bottle if it has one, but if it does not mention a dilution rate, using 1 tsp in the same liter of water is a good rule of thumb. This should be effective after a few treatments. Neem oil works great to kill houseplant pests and has a residual effect. Be sure to cover the entire top soil surface with the mixture.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide: Mix one part 3% hydrogen peroxide with four parts water. Allow the top layer of your soil to dry, and then water your plants with this solution as you normally would. The soil will fizz for a few minutes after application; this is normal. The fungus gnat larvae will die on contact with the hydrogen peroxide. After a few minutes the fizzing stops and the peroxide breaks down into harmless oxygen and water molecules. Repeat weekly as needed to break the gnat’s life cycle.
3. Mosquito Bits: Another good option is Mosquito Bits! Simply measure out how much you need according to the label, then add it to the water you are using to water the plant. Mosquito Bits use a naturally occurring bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis v. israelensis, to kill mosquito and fungus gnat larvae before they mature into breeding adults. The larvae of these insects die within 24 hours of nibbling on the baited bits. Always read the direction on the label. 

Step 3: Repot if necessary

If the infestation is already out of control, you may want to consider repotting your plant with new, dry soil. Gently shake as much soil off of the roots as possible during this step. This will remove the eggs and larvae. The larvae could still hatch and mature in the soil after you remove it, so make sure you take it outside to the trash. To learn how to repot your plant, check out the Grow-How® Team’s blog here. 

Tips to Prevent Soil Gnats in the Future

Avoid watering too frequently

Soil gnats are attracted to consistently damp soil, so if your plant can tolerate it, let the soil dry out a little more between waterings. This helps prevent overwatering and soil gnats from becoming a problem. If you are unsure how much you should be letting your plant dry out, check out our plant care guides.

Treat new plants right away

Since soil gnats are common in houseplants, they are also very common in the greenhouses in which they are grown. When you purchase a brand new plant, you can help to avoid future infestations by treating the new plant just to be safe. 

Keep an eye out for gnats in the future

Continue to watch out for gnats. Even after they are eradicated, they can come back in the future. Since plants are living things, they can still attract these pests while inside your home. Gnats are small, so they can fly in through an open window or door. The best way to keep the infestation minimal is to treat your plants as soon as you see any signs of gnats.

Need More Help?

When you purchase a plant from Bloomscape, you have access to free one-on-one expert advice from our Grow-How® Team throughout the life of the plant. If you still need help with your pest infestation or have another question about your plant, reach out to us — our team is here to help!

The post Grow-How® Tip: How To Spot and Treat Soil Gnats appeared first on Bloomscape.

Possible Causes of Yellow Leaves

Watering Issues

A good portion of the time, yellow leaves are caused by watering too often. However, some plants can also get yellow leaves when they are underwatered, or watered too infrequently.

It is important to maintain ideal soil moisture for your plant. Finding the right balance between watering too frequently or not frequently enough is easier when you know how much of the soil should dry out for your specific plant. Check out our care guides for specific information on how much your plant prefers its soil to dry between waterings.

To keep your plant full and lush, water evenly all the way around the pot. Water thoroughly until it drips out the bottom of the pot into the saucer. After a few minutes, discard any excess water to avoid soggy soil and ‘wet feet’ which can lead to root rot. Check out Grow-How® Team’s blog post 6 Tips To Properly Water Your Plants for some more watering how-to’s.

Improper Lighting

Many plants can tolerate low light areas, but if the light is too low, this can cause the leaves to turn yellow. Not enough light means the plant can’t photosynthesize efficiently. This causes growth to slow, meaning the roots take up water much more slowly, and often leads to overwatering symptoms.

If you suspect your plant is not getting enough light, try moving it to a spot with bright, indirect sunlight. Bright indirect light can be found next to an east-facing window or a few feet back from an unobstructed southern or western window. If the southern or western window has something like a sheer curtain or natural shade from a tree or building outside, the plant can be placed a little closer. 

If your plant loves the sun, you may want to acclimate it to a spot with direct sunlight. Direct light is when your plant gets 6 or more hours of direct sun a day. You will find this kind of light next to unobstructed southern or western windows.

To learn more about indoor plant lighting, check out our lighting guide here! Our care guides detail lighting preferences for your specific plant. 

Pests

Yellowing leaves could be a sign that there are pests lurking on your plant. Pests such as mealybugs, spider mites, and aphids feed on the sap from your plant’s leaves which weakens the plant and can lead to discoloration. 

Keep an eye out for signs such as fine webbing, thin black dots or clusters of small white dots on the underside of the leaves, cotton-like tufts, hard bumps on the leaves or stems, and sticky residue on the leaves. If you see any of these signs, start pest treatment immediately. Many plant pests can be treated with neem oil or a spinosad treatment. 

Nutrient Deficiency

With severe chlorosis, the leaves, affected branches or the entire plant may die. The most common nutrient problem associated with chlorosis is a lack of iron, but yellowing may also be caused by manganese, zinc, or nitrogen deficiencies. 

If your plant is putting out new growth, fertilize during the growing season. Any balanced indoor plant food with micronutrients should work just fine! You can use one like this one here or here. Always follow the directions on the label. Get fertilizing tips from the pros in our Grow-How® Team’s guide to fertilizing.

Rootbound

Another thing to consider is whether your plant is outgrowing its current pot. If so, it may be becoming root bound. Root bound conditions can happen when the plant has grown so many roots that there is no more room to expand. This means the roots are taking up too much room in the current pot that there is not a balanced soil-to-root ratio. This inhibits your plant from taking up the proper amount of water and nutrients it needs which can lead to discolored, yellow leaves.

To tell if your plant is root bound, look for roots creeping up along the top of the soil or growing through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. Another sign that your plant is root bound: if when watering your plants, the water rushes through the pot and out the drainage hole. You can also pull the plant out of the pot to closely inspect the roots. Read the Grow-How® Team’s blog on How to Repot Your Plants.

Normal Leaf Life Cycle

Some yellowing is normal! If there is new growth on your plant and the yellowing leaves are older, particularly at the bottom of the plant, this yellowing is natural. Your plant sheds its old leaves and sends energy to new growth! You can simply trim any old leaves off to help your plant focus its energy on new and healthy growth.

Get Your Plant Back on Track

Your plant should be able to recover once you figure out the culprit that is causing the yellowing leaves. Adjust your care accordingly and prune off any leaf that is more than 50% discolored using a pair of plant snips. Avoid removing more than 30% of the affected leaves at one time. Pruning the leaves can help your plant focus its energy on new and healthy growth.

When you purchase a plant from Bloomscape, you have access to free one-on-one expert advice from our Grow-How® Team throughout the life of the plant. So if you are still not sure why your plant has yellow leaves, reach out to us — our team is here to help!

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If you’d like to invest in some pet-friendly houseplants that won’t pose a risk to your dog or cat, here are our top 15 plant picks that can peacefully coexist with your furry friends. 

Our Favorite Pet-Friendly Plants

Money Tree

The Money Tree is a favorite of plant parents and pet parents alike. This lush, living good-luck charm is said to bring positive energy and abundance to the owner.

Bamboo Palm

For a classic palm with a tropical twist, meet the Bamboo Palm. This statement non-toxic houseplant won’t pose a risk to your dog or cat and will lend a staycation feel to your home or apartment.

Bromeliad Pineapple

Good news: the adorable Bromeliad Pineapple and your fur babies can happily coexist. This plant produces one pineapple fruit per plant. Although this variety is not grown for edible consumption, it’s still safe to have around your pets.

Neon Prayer Plant

The Neon Prayer Plant boasts striking patterned green leaves that are an eye-catching addition to any room. Most importantly, these attractive plants are non-toxic to both cats and dogs.

Ponytail Palm

If you’re a frequent traveler, the Ponytail Palm is for you. This hardy, drought-tolerant plant requires minimal attention and won’t pose a risk to any furry family member who stays behind with the pet-sitter.

Blue Star Fern

The beautiful and dramatic Blue Star Fern will spruce up your space while also being pet-safe. This elegant beauty is adaptable and can grow quickly in a spot with bright indirect light. 

Red Prayer Plant

For a slightly more understated prayer plant, opt for the red varietal. Like its neon counterpart, the Red Prayer Plant is beautiful, low maintenance, and safe for your fur babies.

Bromeliad Aechmea Pink

For a beautiful, flowering plant, consider the Bromeliad Aechmea Pink. This bromeliad boasts a light pink bloom and won’t pose a health risk to your pets.

Parlor Palm

The adorable and pet-friendly Parlor Palm is essentially the handheld version of your favorite palm plant. With its lush, full fronds, it’s the perfect addition to any side table, desk, or windowsill.

Prickly Pear Cactus

You won’t have to give up your love for cacti when bringing a new pet into your space. The playful Prickly Pear Cactus is a no-fuss, non-toxic plant, but be mindful of spines and thorns.

Stromanthe Triostar

The colorful Stromanthe Triostar features striking white, pink, and green leaves and will add a vibrant splash of color to your home. Best of all, this plant is non-toxic to pets.

Bromeliad Summer

For a uniquely beautiful plant that is safe for any pet-filled home, look no further than the Bromeliad Summer. With a bright and cheery magenta flower, this is a low-maintenance plant that adds warmth to your space. 

Chinese Fan Palm

The tropical Chinese Fan Palm is full and compact, showcasing large, dramatic fronds that resemble a folded paper fan. This gorgeous plant is non-toxic for the whole family, but be aware that it has sharp barbs on the stems of its fronds.

Calathea Freddie

Bring in the beautiful Calathea Freddie to your home. With a tropical look of light green leaves and dark green striping, this charming plant won’t pose a risk to your curious puppy or kitten.

Kangaroo Fern

Lively and easy-going, the Kangaroo Fern has unique deep green fronds and grows long, fuzzy roots known as rhizomes. Not only is it adaptable, but this stunning houseplant is safe for cats and dogs. 

Bloomscape Has The Purrfect Pet-Safe Plants

Bloomscape is always looking out for you and your furry friends. Check out even more pet-friendly plants on our website. If you want to check out a list of toxic plants, visit the ASPCA for their comprehensive list of non-pet-friendly plants. 

When you purchase a plant from Bloomscape, you have access to free one-on-one expert advice from our Grow-How® Team throughout the life of the plant. Reach out if you have questions about our pet-friendly plants — our team is here to help!

The post 15 Pet-Friendly Plants Safe for Cats and Dogs appeared first on Bloomscape.

Burgundy Rubber Tree

The robust and dramatic Burgundy Rubber Tree offers a moody color palette and easily makes a statement in any space. Not only does it offer a beautiful, eye-catching decorpiece, but it also represents wealth, abundance, and happiness. Bringing this low maintenance plant into your home can come with some positive luck into your life.

This plant is native to the rainforests of India and South America. To care for the Burgundy Rubber Tree, provide it with bright indirect sunlight like near a sunny east window. Given enough light, ample humidity, and with mindful watering, it will thrive in your home and can grow to an average of 6-8 feet tall. That’s a whole lot of luck!

Golden Pothos

The Golden Pothos is another great example of a stunning plant that happens to bring some lucky energy into your life. This charming, trailing plant looks lovely cascading down a shelf or windowsill. It has variegated heart-shaped leaves and is believed to attract wealth and prosperity, minimize negative energy, and reduce anxiety. 

The Epipremnum genus, which includes pothos, is native to the tropical Solomon Islands. These plants can grow huge leaves if given something to climb on and are found in the wild growing on trees. Pothos can adapt from lower lighting to indirect light. Water when the soil is mostly dry. Pothos are simple to propagate through cuttings, so you can share the luck with your friends and family.

Money Tree Braid

The Money Tree Braid (and any other money tree for that matter) is one of the most popular symbols of luck in the plant community. This plant offers an intricately braided trunk that sports bright green, palm-like leaves. This tropical charmer is believed to bring forth positive energy, good luck, and prosperity. 

With a native range from Mexico to northern South America, the Money Tree is also very popular in Taiwan and other East Asian countries. This charming plant is easy to care for and can be placed in a variety of lighting, from low to indirect bright light. Water when the soil volume is half dry and keep the gorgeous leaves looking their best with regular dusting. Buy this one for a friend or keep the luck all to yourself!

Lucky You!

When you purchase a plant from Bloomscape, you have access to free one-on-one expert advice from our Grow-How® Team throughout the life of the plant. Reach out — our team is here to help!

The post 3 Plants That Will Bring Luck Into Your Life appeared first on Bloomscape.

Possible Causes of Dropping Leaves

Watering Issues

Plants can drop leaves from watering-related stress. It is important to maintain ideal soil moisture for your plant. Finding the right balance between watering too frequently or not frequently enough is easier when you know how much of the soil should dry out for your specific plant. Check out our care guides for more specific information on what percentage of soil volume should dry out for your plant variety.

To keep your plant full and lush, water evenly all the way around the pot. Continue adding water in small amounts until it drips out the bottom of the pot into the saucer. Wait a few minutes to allow excess water to drain into the saucer. Be sure to  discard water that collects in the saucer to avoid soggy soil and ‘wet feet,’ which can lead to root rot. Check out the Grow-How Team’s blog post 6 Tips To Properly Water Your Plants for some more watering how-to’s.

Too Little Light

Many plants can tolerate low light areas, but if the plant is in too low of light, this can cause leaves to drop. If a plant is not getting enough light, it is not able to photosynthesize properly and might conserve its energy by getting rid of some of its leaves. Often, the plant will shed its oldest leaves first (those closest to the base of the plant).

If you suspect your plant is not getting enough light, try moving it to a spot with bright, indirect sunlight. Bright indirect light can be found next to an east-facing window or a few feet back from an unobstructed southern or western window. If the southern or western window has something like a sheer curtain, natural shade from a tree or building outside, the plant can be placed a little closer. 

If your plant loves the sun, you may want to acclimate it to a spot with bright, direct light. Direct light is when your plant gets 6 or more hours of direct sun a day. You will find this kind of light next to unobstructed southern or western windows.

To learn more about indoor plant lighting, check out our lighting guide here! Our care guides detail lighting preferences for your specific plant. 

Drafty Area or Low Humidity

Low humidity or areas with cold drafts can encourage leaf drop. Make sure your plant is not in a drafty area, such as a drafty window in the winter, or in the direct path of any open air vents.

If your plant is a humidity lover, try giving the plant a boost of humidity by misting frequently, adding a pebble tray, or placing a humidifier nearby. You can read more about humidity in the Grow-How® Team’s blog here. 

Pests

Another cause of leaves dropping could be something lurking on your plant leaves and stems — pests! Pests, such as mealybugs, scale, and spider mites could be causing your plant to drop leaves. These pests feed on the plant, which weakens the plant and can lead to discoloration of the leaves as well as leaf drop. 

Keep an eye out for signs such as fine webbing, thin black dots or clusters of small white dots on the underside of the leaves, cotton-like tufts, hard bumps on the leaves or stems, and sticky residue on the leaves. If you see any of these signs, start pest treatment immediately. Many plant pests can be treated with neem oil or a spinosad treatment.

Rootbound 

If your plant is outgrowing its current pot and becoming root bound, this could cause leaf drop. Root bound conditions can happen when the plant has grown so many roots that there is no more room to expand. This creates an imbalanced soil-to-root ratio, meaning your plant can’t access the proper amount of water and nutrients it needs. In order to conserve energy and water, the plant may respond by dropping leaves. 

To tell if your plant is root bound, look for roots creeping up along the top of the soil, or see roots growing through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. Another sign that your plant is root bound is if when watering your plants the water rushes through the pot and out the drainage hole. You can also pull the plant out of the pot to closely inspect the roots. Read the Grow-How® Team’s blog on How to Repot Your Plants.

Shock, Stress, or Normal Leaf Drop

Shock and stress to the plant can cause the plant to drop some leaves. Generally, houseplants don’t like change. They can be cranky for a few days or even a few weeks after a move to a new location within your home, after repotting, or after some other stressful experience like extreme temperature changes. Usually, plants can bounce back on their own when other care requirements are met.

Another thing to consider is normal leaf drop. A few dropping leaves here and there may be normal and nothing to worry about. Plants can drop leaves as the seasons shift or when they are pushing out new growth. Your plant sheds its old leaves to send that energy to new growth! So, keep in mind that there could be nothing wrong at all.

Get Your Plant Back on Track

Your plant should be able to recover once you figure out the culprit causing the leaf drop. Sometimes, there could be a few problems to fix.  Adjust your care accordingly and your plant will be back on track in no time!

When you purchase a plant from Bloomscape, you have access to free one-on-one expert advice from our Grow-How® Team throughout the life of the plant. So if you are still not sure why your plant is dropping leaves, reach out to us — our team is here to help!

Shop Bloomscape Care Tools for Everything You Need

The post Grow-How® Tip: Why Is My Plant Dropping Leaves? appeared first on Bloomscape.

Spider mites are a common pest to find on both indoor and outdoor plants. These sap-sucking pests can harm your plants if left untreated. The Grow-How® team is here to help you learn what to look for, how to treat, and how to prevent spider mites in the future. Read on to learn more. 

What Are Spider Mites?

Spider mites are teeny tiny arachnids that feed on plants. They can be found on both indoor and outdoor plants and can cause some serious damage if not detected and treated early on. Since they are so small (roughly 1/50th of an inch), they can be difficult to spot. You’re likely to notice the signs of these pests rather than the pests themselves.

The hard-to-see spider mites use their sharp, piercing mouthparts to feed on the sap of leaves and stems. When they suck the sap from a plant, it causes a tiny spot of discoloration. These tiny spots add up quickly as a spider mite population grows and thrives on your plant, and eventually weakens the plant. This can cause serious health issues down the line. 

If you think you have spider mites, don’t fret! They are treatable and you can get your plant back on the right track in no time. Let’s learn about the signs of spider mites. 

Signs of Spider Mites on Your Plants

Spider mites are difficult to see. Usually, by the time you clearly can identify the infestation, the plant may already be heavily damaged. Here are some signs to look out for: 

• Fine webbing
• Small dots on the underside of leaves (especially moving dots)
• Mottled discoloration on leaves
• Bleached or bronzed color on leaves
• Dirty or dusty looking leaves
• Dropping leaves

How to Treat Spider Mites

Plants can be treated to get rid of the infestation, especially when caught early on. The Grow-How® team has put together an effective treatment so you can get your plant back on track. Follow the steps below to treat your plant for spider mites:

Step 1: Quarantine your plant

As with any infestation, when you first spot a problem, begin pest treatment immediately. The first thing to do is quarantine the affected plant so that you can prevent pests from spreading to your other indoor plants. Try keeping it in a different room, but if that is not possible, make sure it is at least several feet away from other plants until the spider mites are eradicated.

Step 2: Trim heavily infested leaves

Trim heavily-infested leaves from the plant with a pair of plant snips and discard of them. Already-damaged leaves won’t bounce back from spider mite damage, and removing heavily-infested areas can eliminate a large majority of pests on the plant. Be sure never to remove more than 30% of the leaves from a houseplant at one time.

Step 3: Spray the plant off with water

Bring the infested plant to the sink or tub and spray the plant down with lukewarm water. If it is warm enough in your area, you can also do this outside with a hose in a shaded area. Spraying the plant down helps knock off a majority of the pests.

Step 4: Clean the plant with soap

Thoroughly wash the leaves and stems with a mild soapy water solution then give the plant another good rinse. You can pick one of the following:

1. 1 tsp of Dr. Bronner Mild Liquid Baby Soap per 1 liter of water
2. Store-bought insecticidal soap (always follow the directions on the bottle)

Keep in mind that some soap can damage the plant, so it’s best to test it on a few leaves before spraying the entire plant.

Step 5: Treat the plant with a control product

Both neem oil and spinosad treatment are effective ways to kill spider mites and control the infestation. You can pick one of the following:

1. Spinosad Treatment contains a naturally occurring bacteria that when eaten by spider mites, kills them with a residual effect. Typically once consumed, the pest will perish within 48 hours of consumption.
2. Neem Oil also has a residual effect to keep the pests from coming back quickly. Derived from the Neem seed, Neem Oil kills pests, eggs, and larvae on contact. Neem oil can make your plant sensitive to sunlight. It’s best to avoid direct sunlight for a few days after treating your plant.

With any control product, we suggest to always follow the directions provided on the label. With either of the options above, be sure to thoroughly coat the entire plant, but focus your spray on the undersides of the leaves, as this is where spider mites lay their eggs.

Step 6: Keep an eye on it and repeat treatment if needed

Keep in mind you will most likely need to use this treatment process several times to fully break the spider mites’ life cycle. We recommend retreating once every 5-7 days for at least two weeks. If there are no new spider mites found after several weeks of inspecting the plant, you can add it back to your collection.

Tips to Prevent Spider Mites in the Future

Frequently check your plants

The best way to avoid heavy spider mite damage to your houseplants is to check your houseplants on a regular basis for any signs of problems and start treating the plant as soon as you discover any pests.

Make sure your plant care routine is on point

Plants are more susceptible to a pest infestation if they are already stressed, so it’s important to provide proper care to your plants to keep them happy and healthy! If you need help caring for your plant, check out our plant care guides. 

Provide a humid environment

Since spider mites thrive in dry conditions, keeping the air around your plants humid will help prevent infestation. Keeping your plant far from air vents, adding a humidifier nearby, or placing the plant on a pebble tray can help to boost humidity and prevent spider mites. Read more about humidity in the Grow-How® team’s blog here.

Need More Help?

When you purchase a plant from Bloomscape, you have access to free one-on-one expert advice from our Grow-How® Team throughout the life of the plant. If you still need help with your pest infestation or have another question about your plant, reach out to us — our team is here to help!

The post Grow-How® Tip: How To Spot and Treat Spider Mites appeared first on Bloomscape.

Many plants go dormant over the winter, allowing them to conserve energy during the months they can’t function efficiently. Dormancy can be triggered by a few different factors, including temperature, soil moisture, and day length. For houseplants living in a controlled environment like our homes, shorter days in the autumn are often what initiates dormancy.

We’ll note that many houseplants don’t go dormant in the winter. Indoor heating, regular watering, and the use of grow lights or even normal household lights can be enough to keep your plant actively growing. Even so, with the changing seasons, your plant will likely experience a growth spurt, so these spring care tips still apply!

As days get longer the closer we get to spring, you can expect your houseplants to wake up from their winter dormancy. Read on to learn about the spring care tips we recommend to help your plants adjust, which are best done anytime from late winter to early spring.

Start With The Roots

First things first—let’s get the dirty work out of the way! It’s easy to forget about roots, but they are a critical part of your plant’s overall health. Even if your plant is thriving, it’s best to take a peek at least once a year.

To check the roots, gently slide your plant out of its pot. If you see roots winding all the way around the outside of the rootball or see more roots than soil, it’s time to repot!

For larger plants, it may not be easy to remove the pot. A few signs that repotting is in order: roots are creeping along the top of the soil, roots are growing out of the drainage hole, or water rushes through the pot when watering. Most plants won’t need to be repotted more than once a year, and some can go three or more years between. If repotting isn’t needed this year, skip ahead to the next section.

Ready to repot?

Here are a few items we recommend:

• Fresh potting soil formulated for houseplants
• A new pot that’s an inch or two wider than the current pot and that has a drainage hole
• If you prefer to keep your hands clean, a pair of garden gloves will help do the trick
• A useful soil scoop to help you move soil and repot your plant with ease

One tip we’d like to share—disturb the roots as little as possible! Root systems are complex, and damage can be stressful for your plant. For healthy plants, there’s no need to break up the rootball; simply transfer it to the new pot and backfill with fresh potting mix. There are a few exceptions to this rule: if you find rotten roots, carefully cut them out with clean snips, or if root growth is dense with little or no soil, gently unwind the outer roots before repotting.

For a step-by-step tutorial on how to repot your plants, check out this article.

Spring Cleaning For Your Plants

We all love a fresh start in spring, and your plants are no exception. Set aside a few hours to tackle the dust, debris and other mess that collects on and around your plants over the winter. Your home will feel refreshed and your plants will be primed for more light and new growth!

Our spring cleaning list:

1. Clear plants out of their spots and wipe down the floor or surface they were sitting on, along with the outside of the pot and saucer.
2. Remove dead leaves and other debris that has collected on the soil surface.
3. Grab some plant snips and remove any leaves that are yellow or brown. Trim away brown leaf tips and edges, which often plague houseplants over the dry winter months. This is also a great time to tackle any shaping or pruning! Here are some tips for how to trim your plants.
4. Carefully examine remaining leaves for signs of pest and disease. Any bumps, splotches, or sunken yellow or brown areas are a potential sign of problems. A copper fungicide spray for disease and insecticidal soap for pests are good basic treatments to have on hand. If you’re not sure what you’re dealing with, reach out to the Grow-How® Team for help!
5. Finally, wipe down each leaf using a wet cloth or dusting gloves. Leaves can gather a layer of dust that limits their ability to function effectively, so cleaning not only makes them look more beautiful, it also helps them grow faster.

Seasonal Light Changes

Next up, lighting! As the northern hemisphere moves toward summer, the days get longer and the sun passes at a higher angle in the sky. This means a few things for your indoor plants: they’ll receive longer stretches of light throughout the day, and the pattern of direct sunlight streaming through your windows will change. Check on your plants at different points through the day and adjust their placement to ensure they’re getting the ideal amount of light.

Another consideration is whether you have trees outside your windows that lose their leaves in the winter. Once they leaf out in the spring, they’ll block sunlight that may have been shining indoors over the winter. If this is the case, you may want to move those plants closer to the window to maximize the amount of bright, indirect light they receive.

Brush up on your lighting knowledge with Indoor Plant Lighting 101.

Watering Adjustments

With brighter light, warmer temperatures, and growth gearing up, your plant is getting all the signals that tell it spring is on the way. You can jump start spring growth by paying close attention to your plant’s soil moisture. You’ll notice your plant beginning to use water more quickly, thanks to its roots, stems, and leaves all experiencing a flush of growth. This means that you’ll need to begin watering it more frequently.

Always be sure to water deeply and thoroughly, allowing water to soak into the soil until it begins to drain out the hole at the bottom of the pot. Be sure to remove any excess water that collects in the saucer which can cause root rot. It’s important that your pot has a drainage hole so that you can water thoroughly without fear of overwatering.

Master your watering technique with 6 Tips To Properly Water Your Plants.

Nurturing New Growth

A sure sign your houseplant is experiencing all the spring feels is the welcome sight of fresh, new growth. If you’ve followed the steps in this guide, your plant will be on the brink of a growth spurt!

Signs of new growth can be alarming to the uninitiated. If you notice new growth emerging or unfurling at the ends of stems or from the soil at the base of your plant, that’s a sign of a healthy and thriving plant. See a few examples of new growth in this guide.

Once you spot new growth, it’s time to start fertilizing. We recommend a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer like this one. Always follow the directions on the label. If you’re nervous about over-applying fertilizer, it’s OK to dilute your mix to half-strength by doubling up on the amount of water. This approach ensures your plants get the nutrients they crave in smaller doses.

Almost every potted plant requires fertilizer to sustain its growth, but each type of houseplant has its own preference for fertilizing frequency. Check out our plant care guides for the specifics, and read more tips on how to fertilize your plants.

Shop Spring Care Essentials

The post The Ultimate Guide To Spring Plant Care appeared first on Bloomscape.

Sansevieria

Starting with one of the hardiest plants around, the sansevieria is our go-to recommendation for winter foliage. Otherwise known as the snake plant, this plant is sure to spruce up your space. 

Beyond just being generally hardy, the snake plant actually prefers the type of dry, hot air produced by furnaces and fireplaces. This is because snake plants are native to dry climates and need very little moisture to survive. They only need water when the soil is fully dry. Plus, they are happy in a variety of lighting.

Pothos

One of our favorite indoor plants for beginners is the pothos plant. Despite its delicate, glossy leaves, the pothos is actually extremely durable and forgiving. It can withstand cooler temperatures and it doesn’t mind dry air. 

Place your pothos in a hanging pot or put it on a bookshelf and watch its elegant vines cascade down. The pothos is happy in bright, indirect sunlight and prefers to be watered when the soil volume is half dry.

Bromeliad

Even in the wintertime, you can make your home feel like a tropical vacation with a bright and cheery bromeliad. Bromeliads add a pop of color to your space with their bold, unique, and long-lasting flowers. They are adaptable and easy to care for, making them the perfect addition to your collection this season. 

In nature, they get most of their moisture from the rainwater that the center of the plant catches, known as the “vase.” Keep their vase filled halfway with water at all times, place them in indirect bright light, and watch these tropical beauties thrive in your home.

Jade

Jade plants are known for their low-maintenance indoor care needs. They are one of the most beloved succulents, known for their plump leaves and easy-going nature. Jades can handle drought and dry climates, so the dry air in your winter home won’t bother these plants.

While jade plants are tolerant of varying temperatures and low humidity, they can be picky about lighting. They will be happiest receiving bright indirect to direct light. Allow their soil to dry completely between watering.

Ponytail Palm

Yet another low-maintenance, hardy plant, the Ponytail Palm makes an excellent choice for winter foliage in your home. This desert-dwelling plant is popular for its whimsical leaves that sprout from its sturdy, water-storing trunk. 

The ponytail palm does not need a humid environment to thrive, just some bright, direct sunlight from a south or west-facing window. It’s quite forgiving of irregular and infrequent waterings, making it perfect for the beginner plant parent.

Winter Plant Care

If you need help caring for your plants this winter, the Grow-How®Team has you covered with the blog How to Help Indoor Plants Survive the Winter. When you purchase a plant from Bloomscape, our Grow-How® Team is here to help you with any question you may have along the way.

The post Top 5 Houseplants To Buy In The Winter appeared first on Bloomscape.