When you have a plant inside the house, if you have enough space, what you would like most is for it to be large. However, in these cases, Do you know how to care for large indoor plants?
Although it may seem to you that it will be the same as with the small ones, the truth is that there are certain tricks that you should take into account to achieve a better result. That is what we want to talk about next. And it is that, sometimes, you have to experiment to get the plant forward in a way that is more appropriate to its size. How about we give you a hand and see what we're talking about?
Essential care for large houseplants: complete guide
When caring for large indoor plants, such as monsteras, ficus... There are certain aspects that you should not lose sight of. In fact, if you look at them you will be able to give it better options to grow and develop stronger. In what sense? We explain it to you.
Location and temperature
We start with the location. And obviously, a large houseplant will be inside the house. However, depending on the species it is, it will need more or less sunlight, direct or indirect.
Now, we are talking about a large plant. Imagine that you have a window and, next to it, you place your large houseplant. However, when the sun comes in it may only hit a part of the plant, but not all of it.
This can make you, over time, notice that the plant is sadder, without leaves or even dying, due to the lack of light in areas where sunlight does not reach.
Therefore, when caring for large indoor plants, You must be aware that you will need light throughout it.
Implying? Find a location where, for a few hours, you make sure you have full light throughout the plant. You will avoid leaf fall and deterioration from the plant itself.
Substratum
Depending on the large houseplant you have, one type of soil or another will be more suitable. But in these cases we are going to recommend that you apply some extra drainage so that there are no accumulations of water.
Do not be scared or think that by adding more drainage the plant will move or even that it can fall and get out of the pot (which can happen but is not usual).
You just have to see that the plant is secure and, if it is very large, use stakes or similar to give it the stability it needs.
Irrigation
One of the most common mistakes when caring for large indoor plants is the fact that to think that, because they are big, they need a lot more water. And we're not going to say no. But with nuances.
Not because they have a large pot are they going to need double or triple the amount of water than other plants. Sometimes it will be so; but many others may have nothing to do with it.
The first thing you should keep in mind is that they are inside the house. Which implies that they will need much less watering than with the ones you have outside.
Also, when watering, it is better to do it from below, and to absorb the water; than above, because that will only make the water penetrate through the roots and if the earth is compacted it will stay there for a while wreaking havoc on them.
A trick that is used is to check the soil and if it is wet or not. But the truth is that in very large pots sometimes it is not the solution. Another option is to establish a weekly watering period, in such a way that you know when to water each plant and, as long as they are not species that are stressed by the lack of water, it is better to add little than to overdo it (in the end they get used to it). Of course, at least once a week (except in summer, which would be at least two a week; and in winter, which can be every two weeks).
Humidity
Perhaps more important than irrigation is the environmental humidity of the plant. Many large houseplants need a minimum of moisture so that their leaves are not damaged. But, if you go too far with that humidity, you will cause the same problem as if you had watered more: root rot.
In general, the humidity should be between forty and sixty percent, although there are plants that require more than seventy or even eighty percent. Depending on what yours is, you should adjust to that figure.
To hydrate it, nothing like sprays or humidifiers.
Subscriber
Another of the key points when it comes to caring for large indoor plants is the subscriber. And it is that this plant, due to the fact of being inside the house, have more difficulty finding in the environment what they need to grow and develop.
That is why they are provided with a fertilizer that helps the plant to be strong and healthy.
We recommend that you put a little liquid fertilizer with the irrigation water. Of course, since you are going to add it throughout the year (unless you know that it hibernates at some point in your house), it is best that you do not apply the full dose, but rather a minimum one.
You can also add a bit of organic fertilizer in spring, which will help the plant shed its weeds much faster and grow more.
Pruning
In the case of pruning, it is something important, especially if the indoor plant you have is one of those that grows quickly. If that happens, it is possible that at some point you will find branches or leaves that are not where they should be. Or even that you find yourself with “territoriality” problems between two or more plants.
That is, they invade the land of other plants.
It is better to prune the branches and leaves that get in the way, even when they are new, because that way you make sure that it will continue with the training that you wanted to give it a priori. Otherwise, it will look sloppy and may even cause rejection.
Plagues and diseases
Although we cannot tell you about a specific one in a subject as generic as this, we are going to give you some keys that not many know.
And is that large houseplants can suffer quietly from pests and diseases that, if you don't notice, they will destroy the plant. That is why observation is one of the most important points.
In the case of pests, keep an eye on branches and leaves. It is common to see bugs running through the leaf (on the underside or on the upper side), but also threads of cobwebs (for the red spider). If that happens, there are quite effective insecticidal products that will keep them at bay.
Regarding diseases, look above all at the state of your plant. Do you notice it off? Sad? So there may be a problem, especially at the root level, but also with an excess or lack of water or light.
As you see, caring for large indoor plants is not too much of a mystery. But, due to its size, it is true that there are some indications that can help you to know if everything is going well and, above all, to prevent health problems in the plant. Can you give us any more advice?