13 Things to Do This Spring for Happier Indoor Houseplants

If your plants are rootbound – meaning the roots have become tightly wound around the pot with nowhere to grow – it might be time to repot them to give them more space. Because of warmer weather, more sunshine, more humidity, and the start of the growing season, now is a great time to repot your plants, especially finnicky plants like fiddle leaf figs. As a rule of thumb, choose a new pot that’s no more than 2 inches larger in diameter than your plant’s current pot.

The dry winter air can dry out your plants’ soil, causing it to pull away from the sides of the pot or leave more space than necessary at the top, so top up your plant with a fresh layer of soil before you next water it. What’s the best soil for indoor plants? Any high quality potting mix works well for most plants, but tropicals will benefit from the added drainage of a tropical soil.

If you grow herbs in your home, you already know that pruning a plant can actually encourage it to produce new growth. Wondering how to prune plants? Just use a pair of sharp, sterile scissors or shears to snip some cuttings or a branch or two from your plant.

If you’re considering pruning your plants, why not propagate the cuttings you take? Stick your cuttings in water or moist soil until they form roots to propagate new baby plants.

It’s not uncommon for plants to be a bit thirstier in the warmer months. Now is a great time to adjust or implement a watering schedule to avoid overwatering or underwatering your plants. This can be as simple as setting a reminder notification on your phone.

After a cold, dark winter, take advantage of the sunnier weather by moving plants to a brighter spot, like the sunny window in this bright and modern living room.

For plants that live in low light farther away from a window, why not add a grow light to your space? Full spectrum grow lights come in all different shapes and sizes to fit your home, and can help give your plant the light it needs to thrive without having to move it near a window.

When it comes to fertilizing your houseplants, the rule of thumb is to avoid fertilizing in the colder months, when plants tend to go dormant. As plants wake back up for spring, restart your fertilizing routine to give your plant the nutrients it needs to thrive.

Another way to happier houseplants this spring is to rearrange them, and particularly to arrange them in groups, like in this chic plant-filled kitchen. Grouping your plants together allows them to create a humidity field around themselves, which can lead to happier plants overall, especially if they’re humidity-loving plants like calatheas.

Minimalism can be nice, but sometimes, more is more…especially when it comes to plants! As garden centres open for the spring season, now is a great opportunity to get more plants. If you’re worried about keeping up with all your plants’ different needs, consider sticking with easy to care for indoor plants to keep maintenance to a minimum.

As the weather gets nicer, why not enjoy some of your indoor plants outdoors? Use your plants to create interest on a patio or deck and create your own plant-filled outdoor oasis. Be sure to pay attention to their light needs, and gradually acclimate easily-burned plants like monsteras to the sunlight.

You may love your favourite ceramic pot, but does your plant? All plants are happier with drainage holes at the bottom of their pots. These holes allow excess water to drain off rather than pooling at the roots and causing root rot, which is bad news for your plant. If you’re repotting your plants anyways, consider drilling a drainage hole into the bottom of their pots. If you’re not a DIY fan, pot your plant in a plastic nursery pot and hide the nursery pot in a ceramic pot or basket for visual appeal.

With spring temperatures comes spring humidity, and most plants will thank you for it. If you need a humidity boost now, though, consider adding a humidifier to your space, especially if plants like calatheas and peace lilies have dry, crispy leaves.