How to keep your indoor plants happy and healthy

Indoor plants transform any room into a more positive space, and they’re credited with many benefits, from cleaning the air to improving our mood. Repay the favour by keeping your indoor plants happy and well cared for with these tips from our experts.

At All Green, we take pride in offering customers a huge selection of thriving indoor plants, and our in-house horticulturalists are always on hand to offer you expert advice. Let us help you find the perfect plant for every room in your home.

Top tips for keeping healthy indoor plants

Pots

Get your indoor plant’s journey off to the right start by choosing the perfect pot as its home. It should look good but also be functional with a stable base, plenty of drainage holes, and a matching saucer.

• As a general rule, it’s best to start with a pot slightly bigger than the one your plant came in.
• A pot that is too big will look out of proportion until the plant has enough time to grow.
• If the pot is too small, the plant will tend to tip over and need frequent watering.

Additionally, pots offer flexibility in placement. This means you can easily move your indoor plants to different areas of the home, ensuring they receive optimal light conditions and temperature. Pots also prevent root overcrowing, allowing plants to develop strong root systems and thrive. With various sizes, shapes, and materials available, pots can be customised to suit the specific needs of different plant species.

Potting mix

Potting mix plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of indoor plants by providing essential nutrients, proper aeration, and moisture retention. A well-balanced potting mix ensures that plant roots have access to the nutrients they need for growth and development. Additionally, the mix allows for adequate drainage, preventing waterlogging, which can lead to root rot and other diseases.

• Some plants like a coarse, sandy soil that drains very well.
• Others prefer a rich, damp mix or organic material.
• Flowering plants such as orchids, need a specialised substrate.

Re-pot your indoor plants with fresh potting mix at least every two to three years in spring to keep them strong and healthy.

Position

Most indoor plants like good ambient light but will burn if exposed to too much direct sun through glass.

• Keep them out of draughts and away from radiators and air conditioners.
• Many beautiful plants (such as cymbidium orchids) thrive when kept outdoors and then brought inside for occasional visits.
• Moving indoor plants out into the rain is a great way to get rid of accumulated dust.

You can move plants around until you find where they are happiest, and you may find this changes with the seasons.

Hint: Look your plant up online, read the tag from the nursery, and chat with our team of indoor plant experts to learn more about your plants. Their origins will give you clues on how best to treat them.

Watering and feeding

Ironically, many indoor plants die from too much attention. As a rule, watering less frequently and more deeply is better than constant light watering, which can cause root rot.

It’s not essential to fertilise your plants. A premium potting mix will contain enough plant food to last several months.

After that, you may consider light feeding with a liquid plant food or a slow-release fertiliser in spring and summer.

Pests

Even the happiest and healthiest indoor plants can occasionally come under attack from insects.

Keep a close eye on your plants, especially around young growth, and act as soon as you notice a problem. Common indoor pests include scale insects, mealy bugs, and aphids.

Apart from pesticides, you can try organic solutions such as Neem oil or essential oils and preparations of chilli or garlic to keep these pesky insects at bay.

The benefits of keeping your indoor plants happy 

Keeping indoor plants offers a multitude of benefits for both physical and mental well-being:

• Air purification: Indoor plants absorb pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide, improving indoor air quality and reducing the risk of respiratory issues.
• Stress reduction: Studies have shown that simply being around indoor plants can lower stress levels, promote relaxation, and improve overall mood.
• Enhanced productivity: Having plants in indoor spaces can increase focus, creativity, and productivity, making them ideal additions to home offices or workspaces.
• Humidity regulation: Plants release moisture through a process called transpiration, helping to increase humidity levels in dry indoor environments, which can alleviate dry skin, sore throats, and respiratory discomfort.
• Noise reduction: Some indoor plants can help absorb sound waves, reducing noise levels and creating a more peaceful atmosphere.

Wondering what the best indoor plants for your space could be? Drop into All Green, where we’ll point you towards the perfect house plant for your area.

What if I don’t have time to care for plants?

Solution: low-maintenance indoor plants

Some of us seem to have a hard time keeping indoor plants alive. If you can relate, then try these really hardy specimens.

Mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Also known as the snake plant, it has striking yellow and green foliage, is very hardy, can go for long periods without water and will tolerate low light levels.

Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)

The Chinese evergreen requires little care, provided it has the right growing conditions. Don’t leave it in full sunlight and don’t overwater, especially in winter.

Money tree (Pachira aquatica)

The money tree is often sold with braided trunks to "lock in" luck and fortune. It doesn’t need much light but it’s a swamp plant, so don’t let it dry out.

Air plants

Air plants are about as low-maintenance as you can get. Protect them from full sun. Mist once or twice a week with a spray bottle, and give them a good soaking in the sink every now and then.

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis Exalata)

‍Boston ferns are really tough in a spot with high humidity and lots of indirect light. Keep their roots damp but well-drained, and mist the foliage occasionally.

Peace Lily plant

Peace lilies not only add beauty to indoor spaces with their elegant white flowers and lush green foliage but also help purify the air by removing toxic chemicals.

Snake plants

The snake plant is a good indoor plant to have due to its resilience and air-purifying properties, making it ideal for beginners and those with busy lifestyles who seek a low-maintenance yet beneficial addition to their indoor spaces.