Summer brings many good things: good temperatures (at least sometimes), long days in which we can enjoy more free time, flowers and life. Our indoor plants are no strangers to these changes; in fact, they take advantage of this good weather to grow stronger. But that is precisely why we have to pay a little more attention to them.
And if there are other living beings that are also very, very alive, they are fungi and insects, many of which are enemies of plants, such as the red spider or the cottony cochineal for example. So here are a few tips that will be useful to you to know How to care for indoor plants in summer.
Avoid direct sunlight.
Although this should be taken into account throughout the year, it is during the summer that we should pay more attention to it. Indoor plants are native to tropical or subtropical regions of the world, so they need -some more than others- a lot of light to be able to grow. Now, If we put them next to a window facing east, which is where the Sun rises in the northern hemisphere, or west - if we live in the southern hemisphere - they will burn. quickly.
We can prevent this from happening by drawing the curtain, but only if it is white, as it lets in more light; that is, if it is a dark colour, we will protect them from the sun's rays, but we will also prevent them from growing in bad conditions.
Beware of drafts
During the summer we make a lot of use of fans, air conditioning,… we even tend to keep the windows open to ventilate the house. This is normal, and often necessary to cope with the heat. But If we have indoor plants, we must keep them away from air currents, especially from air conditioning and fans., as they are the ones most likely to cause the tips of the leaves to dry out.
And if we do nothing to prevent it, in the end all the leaves can end up bad. In addition, It is highly, highly recommended to avoid placing them in passageways and narrow hallways., since we ourselves can brush against them when we walk by; and if we do this once nothing happens, but if we do it every day, these leaves will end up breaking. For this same reason they should not be placed 'glued' to the wall.
Irrigation should be more frequent than in winter
Of course, the soil dries out more quickly, but the plant also grows more and, consequently, needs more water. But You have to know when to water to avoid problems of over- or under-watering. To do this, I recommend taking a stick, either wooden or plastic, and inserting it to the bottom of the pot.. This way, when you remove it, you will be able to see if it is wet or dry. In the first case, you would not have to water it, but in the second case, you would.
Another trick that can work is to pick up the pot right after watering it, and do it again after a few days. Since dry soil or substrate weighs much less than once it has absorbed water, this difference can be a good guide to know when to water.
Moisten the whole earth
When you water, you have to moisten all the soil in the pot well. It is not enough to add just a little water, since doing so can cause many roots - those that are deeper - to be left without water and dry out.. Always, always water until the water comes out of the holes in the pot. If you have placed a saucer underneath them or they are in a pot, remember to empty them after watering, since the water that remains stagnant increases the risk of rot, first of the roots, and later of the leaves and stems.
Use rainwater for irrigation, or failing that, water suitable for human consumptionIf you live in the Mediterranean, for example, it is likely that tap water is not drinkable and could kill your indoor plants (I live in Mallorca and if I watered my plants with tap water, I would soon run out of them), so it is much better to water with bottled water.
You can't unless it's necessary
In summer, plants spend a lot of energy growing and some also spend a lot of energy flowering. For this reason, They should not be pruned because with each cut we risk losing a lot of sap and/or being affected by a pest in the near future.. We will only cut the parts that are already dead, that is, what is no longer green (or the natural color of the plant). This applies to both indoor and outdoor plants, such as bougainvillea, of which I leave you this link in case you want more information about it:
However, if you have to prune, remember to clean your tools thoroughly to avoid problems. You never know if your tool could be contaminated by fungal spores, so it is best to clean it before each use.
Fertilize to reduce the risk of pests appearing
One thing must be made clear first: fertilizer is one thing, insecticide is quite another. But if I have learned anything since 2006, the year I started growing plants, A plant that is watered when it is due and fertilized with a certain frequency is unlikely to have pest problems., and if he does, I can tell you that it will be easier for him to recover.
Therefore, before choosing a fertilizer, you must first know what type of plant you are going to fertilize. Nowadays, you can find fertilizers for almost any type: palm trees, cacti, orchids, etc.; so We will only have to buy the one that interests us and follow the instructions on the package.If we want to fertilize different types of plants, we can use a universal fertilizer, except if we have orchids and/or carnivorous plants: the former require a much milder fertilizer than the universal one, and the latter should not be fertilized since they absorb the nutrients from their prey through the leaves, and not the roots.
Have your pest and fungal products ready
All these living beings will do everything possible to attack your plants, especially if they are not going through their best moment. Red spider, scale insects, aphids, fungi such as rust or fusarium... can cause a lot of damage. Therefore, It doesn't hurt to inspect the leaves and stems every day or every few days., see if they have any pests, or any fungus, or anything that catches our attention (stains that shouldn't be there, for example).
If you live with pets and/or small children, it is very, very important (I would even say mandatory, although obviously it is not) to use natural products that are not toxic to them. For example, I really like to use diatomaceous earth for pests.It is what has given me the best results for mites such as red spiders, aphids and others. For the cochineal, I recommend you put into practice my mother's trick: moisten the leaves with beer. (Of course, keep your animals and small children away from the plant for at least a day.) But for fungi, it is better to use a fungicide, since it is the only thing that can combat it.
I hope you now know better how to care for indoor plants in summer. If you have any questions, we are here for you.