Tips for Thriving Indoor Plants and Flowers

As a long-time plant mom and flower nerd, cultivating life is one of my favorite pastimes. Whether I’m taking care of my potted companions, arranging fresh cut flowers from the local farmers market, or growing produce with my community garden friends in the warmer months, nurturing something beautiful has always been a meditative and fulfilling experience.

Tending to living organisms is a true simple joy in all seasons of life, but is particularly great this time of year to combat the doldrums of these shorter, darker days. Plus, houseplants aren’t just a feast for the eyes. They also provide many health benefits, including increased oxygen and improved air quality in your home.

There’s just something special about having splashes of green and color around you with the scent of soil and flowers. However, if you don’t properly care for your sprouted buddies and lush bouquets you will encounter a host of problems that can put a damper on the fun, such as seeds that won’t sprout, yellowing leaves, moldy soil, bug infestations, and wilted blooms. Here are some of my tried-and-true methods for keeping potted plants and cut flower arrangements verdurous and prospering.

Starting From Seed + Maintaining Your Plants and Succulents

• Research the type of plant you want to grow and see whether your seeds require light to root. If so, place them atop the moistened dirt. If not, use the end of a wooden spoon to make little craters and then cover over with a thin layer of soil. For seeds that need illumination, be sure to invest in a full-spectrum plant lamp to mimic the sun, especially for brief and dreary winter days. Consistent light, preferably a minimum of 14–16 hours during the day, will help strengthen growth and accelerate germination.
• Don’t plant your seeds too close together. Overcrowding causes them to stifle one another and compete for the same nutrients and water.
• When starting seeds, it’s optimal to keep the soil damp, but not drenched. I’ve found the best approach is to wring out a towel from above, giving them a rain-style watering.
• Seeds also enjoy a humid environment. Create a greenhouse effect by putting a clear covering atop your pot. Once you start to see sprouts, begin to ween your plant off its cover by partially removing and allowing air to circulate. Remove it fully once leaves begin to grow.
• Construct a comfortable microecosystem for your seeds with temperatures around 60–85°F/15–30°C. I’ve found seeding during the winter to be most beneficial because you can leverage floor heating vents and radiators, instead of investing in expensive, and sometimes unsafe, indoor heaters. Place your pot atop the heat source overnight. When you awake in the morning, your ceramic holder will have absorbed the warmth and you will find the underside of its covering dripping with condensation. During the daytime, put your pot back in its normal resting place to give your plant environment a break and prevent your pot from getting too toasty. Plus, light germinating seeds will want to return to their spot on the windowsill. Repeat the cycle until growth has occurred and the covering has been completely removed.
• Whether you’re starting with seeds or repotting a grown plant, having the right soil mix is essential. But, don’t feel like you have to go hog wild and spend oodles of cash to get specific products for each plant type. Pretty much every plant I have worked with has thrived from a combination of these three essentials: a quality household potting mix, perlite, and orchid bark. And for my succulents, I use a cactus mix. Just keep things simple.
• Utilize pots with a drainage hole on the bottom, this helps prevents water saturation and root rot.
• For established plants, water them based on the soil and not a schedule. If you set up an arbitrary timetable, you will end up overwatering, i.e. yellowing leaves and root rot, or underwatering, i.e. dropping leaves and shriveled stems. Research and keep a list of each plant you possess with the type of watering style they enjoy. Use it as a reference and employ the correct method based on daily look and feel. Also, bottom watering is your friend. This prevents the overwatering of only the top of your plants and it fosters stronger roots.
• You can fertilize plants with your own food waste compost or by directly adding certain everyday organic materials to the soil, such as ground eggshells, used coffee grounds, and more. If you want to make direct additions to your dirt, check that the item is compatible with the soil needs specific to that plant type. You want to be certain that any action you take will have a positive effect on alkalinity/acidity levels and nutrient requirements.
• If you want a great natural fungicide and pest repellent, sprinkle cinnamon atop your soil.
• Different types of light can encourage your plants in specific ways. For example, blue light ensures strong stems and rooting while red light encourages blooming. Utilize the settings on your plant light to help plants along.

Succulents from Cuttings and Propagation

• Replanting succulents from cuttings is best for the stem succulents, such as kalanchoe. Trim 2 to 3 inches down from the top and remove leaves from the bottoms layers. Let the root dry out and callous over for a few days. Plant in soil and don’t water until roots begin to form.
• Leaf propagation works best for growing new fleshy succulents, such as echeveria. Loosen a leaf with fingers on either side, keeping the base intact. Let the broken off end scab over and place the fleshy bit on damp soil. Mist the soil regularly and, when you see roots form where the succulent was cut, cover them with soil. Eventually the parent leaf will wither and die off and the new plant will fully take over.

Prolonging Cut Flower Arrangements

• When making your arrangement, snip about an inch off the bottom of each stem at a 45 degree angle, so that the tip sits pointed in the bottom of your vase. This helps improve water absorption.
• Cut off all the leaves on your stems. This helps your blooms linger longer, as the water and nutrients will only be feeding the flowers at the top and not expending energy to nourish other offshoots. Also, leaves left below the water line will rot and contaminate the water with bacteria, killing your flowers faster.
• Replace the water in your vase every day and remove any wilting or decaying pieces to help the healthier blossoms thrive.
• Fresh cut flowers don’t need sun. Keep your bouquet out of direct sun and excessive heat to preserve them longer.
• Give your flowers a drink…and I’m not talking about water. Add a shot of vodka to your flower water. It not only helps kill bacteria, but it also hinders ethylene enzyme production, slowing aging and allowing them to stay fresh for an extra day or so.
• Certain type of flowers, such as hydrangeas, can be revived after they have begun to wilt by suspending the blooms upside down in water overnight.