Keeping office plants alive might seem like a daunting task. You have to carefully water them, fertilize them, prune them, and clear dust from the leaves as well as occasionally having to repot them or rotate them so they do not all grow to one side or the other. Perhaps that is the reason that some employers will not allow plants in the office. However, plant maintenance does not have to be a daunting task. If you need to know how to properly maintain your office plants, then read on for some simple tips.
Watering
Watering is a very important step in keeping office plants alive. However, you cannot just dump water on a plant’s leaves and call it done. There are certain procedures to follow in order to water a plant. Firstly, the way you water a plant depends upon how the plant would naturally get water in its environment. Some plants need a period of dry soil for days or weeks between each watering, while others do best with only a couple of days of dry soil between each drink, and still others prefer constantly moist soil. Be careful to check the water levels in your soil. If your plant is small, pick it up before and after watering to test the weight. With practice, this method, along with checking other signs of vigor or weakness in the plant will help you ensure proper watering. Early signs of dehydration include leaves that get dry and brown around the edges, lower leaves that yellow and curl up, and leaves that are translucent. Signs of overwatering include young and old leaves dropping at the same time, as well as flowers molding and rotting roots. If you can get your plant’s watering needs down, you will have plants as beautiful as this Rhapis Palm.
Lighting
Keeping office plants alive also involves knowing what sort of light your plant needs. Most plants need at least some light, but the amount varies from needing almost constant direct light exposure to needing almost none at all. Knowing how much light to give your plants may seem daunting, but it just requires a little research on your part. Most nurseries will be happy to advise you on the light needs of plants. Furthermore, some plants come with instructions for care on tags stuck in their pots. This sansevieria likes direct light, but will also tolerate shade quite well, making it an example of a plant that will thrive in both direct and indirect light.
Hiring Help
Though taking care of plants on your own is not daunting, there is another option. Gaddys Plant Hire has over thirty years experience in the plant hire industry. We will come into your workplace and help you choose the best plants for your space. Then, our specially trained maintenance technicians will drop by periodically to water, fertilize, prune and rotate the plants. If a plant needs replacing, we will do that as well. These services are offered free as part of our standard plant hire package.
Providing proper care for house plants does not have to be the daunting task it seems. All it takes to accomplish is a bit of research and patience on your part. The rewards are definitely worth it. Healthy, attractive foliage and bright, fragrant flowers are a benefit to any office space.