This photo is mine !
-Use clay balls to drain the water. They can be placed in the potting soil at the bottom of the pot to prevent the roots from rotting in case of overwatering, and / or in a cup under the pot, for plants that need humidity. The balls under the pot will absorb the water and, by evaporating, balance the hygrometry around the plant (humidity rate.)
-Mist the substrate before watering a plant, then water gently, by touch : give the plant time to drink. She will drink better, watering will be more efficient and this will prevent rotting of the roots.
-Systematically use pierced pots to prevent root rot.
-Water until the water leaves the pot from below, wait for the water to drain well and empty the cup.
-If you are distracted like me, I advise you to set two or three alarms per week on your phone, so as not to forget to check that all your plants are fine ...
-Water with room temperature water. Leave in the watering can for a few hours. In addition, leaving the water on for a few hours will remove some of the limestone.
-Use soft water : it slows down growth and can stain misty leaves. You can use rainwater or demineralized water. Otherwise, to neutralize the limescale, you can let the water stand a few hours before watering (advise to water at room temperature as seen in the previous point) and / or add a few drops of vinegar or lemon juice (not tested)
-Clean the large leaves with a sponge, on both sides, to remove dust and allow better photosynthesis: this will also, like the fact of misting regularly, lower the risk of attacks by parasites (which often cannot stand the humidity).
-It is strongly discouraged to use a polish on the leaves, which can prevent them from breathing or carrying out photosynthesis properly.
-Surfacing is best for plants that are already heavy and difficult to handle, but also for vines or plants requiring rich soil, or preferring a small pot (if the roots do not protrude). Also for plants that require a constantly humid substrate: the moist substrate wears out quickly. Surfacing consists of removing as much soil as possible from the plant pot and replacing it with new soil (potting soil) to bring nutrients to the plant without necessarily repotting or administering fertilizer.
-Potting should be done as soon as the roots come out of the pot from below or from above; a good clue without checking the roots may be that the plant is developing smaller leaves than usual. Always use a pot barely larger, 2-3 cm more (see some exceptions depending on the speed of growth) and water well beforehand. It is also important to separate the roots (often tight in the previous pot) so that they can more easily and quickly invest their new space.
-Especially no direct sun on misted leaves : risk of burns.
-Most plants need light but fear direct sunlight. A transparent curtain may be a solution.
-The variegated leaves (pink, silver, white especially) will need more light than green leaves, because the lack of chlorophyll makes photosynthesis more complicated.
-Bring the plants closer to windows during winter to give them more light, but beware of drafts for all : too sudden temperature variations are really not recommended.
-Keep away from artificial heat sources (avoid radiators and fireplaces at all costs, which are too dry).
-Do not hesitate to cut the roots that are too old / damaged.
-Prefer terracotta pots to allow the plant to breathe. It will also be cooler in the summer than in a plastic pot, which heats up quickly. Also, this will allow the plant, in case of excess water, to '' sweat '' through the pot, which is porous, and this will reduce the risk of root rot. But obviously the pot must be pierced ! Prefer a pierced plastic pot to a non-pierced terracotta pot ...
-Regularly remove damaged leaves / flowers to avoid unnecessary loss of energy. (For the leaves, exceptions exist in winter for example: it is better not to strip the plant too much so as not to give it cold : this is the case of the dwarf banana for example)
-The plants can appreciate being outside between 21° (69.81F) and 25 ° (77F), without direct sun, even in the shade for some, or under light rains. (Be careful, no wind!)
-Never give liquid fertilizer on a dry substrate : this will burn the roots. Water a little, wait for the substrate to deflate, then administer the fertilizer. If you are using a liquid fertilizer, it is generally recommended to dilute 20ml in 2L of water; the caps serve as a measuring device.
-Your plants may appreciate, as a bonus, a foliar fertilizer : it is a specific fertilizer that mist directly on the foliage and allows faster assimilation of nutrients. But this is really a bonus!
-House plants like a possible addition of compost (if it is well decomposed).
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