In a brief moment of reflection looking around my home yesterday, I noticed an undeniable and somewhat upsetting theme: all my plants were looking a little sad.
By a little sad, I mean eight out of the 11 have dried up completely, dropping leaves at the hint of a slight breeze.
And yes, the irony is not lost on me as I sit down weekly to write about our readers’ luscious growths, cultivated with passion and dedication, when mine are, for lack of a better word, shrivelled.
My plants had always accompanied me through our journey, pushing through in the knowledge that at least once a month they would be remembered with a reasonably heavy-handed delivery of water.
Perhaps even a slight shift into some indirect sunlight.
From the monstera to the devil’s ivy, heck even the succulents, they have just about (well and truly) given up.
If you too are struggling with having a few leafy dependents, owner and manager of Riverside Gardens Larry Smith ran through the top tips for keeping indoor plants not only alive, but thriving.
“A lot of it comes down to correct watering; most people overwater indoor plants, so the trick is to keep them slightly on the drier side,” he said.
“Each plant will need different water requirements, it also varies depending on the position of how much heat and exposure to sunlight they are getting.”
While these tips are not exactly groundbreaking in the plant community, they come with an umbrella rule.
One that may be (is) my downfall: consistency.
“Monitoring your plants regularly is key to their health; if you put a finger in the soil and there’s still moisture, it’s fine to go another day without water,” Mr Smith said.
“Another thing people often miss is cleaning the foliage, whether it’s with a leaf shine or wiping them down to remove dust, the plants need to be able to breathe through their leaves.”
I don’t mean to throw anyone under the bus but in a feat that makes me feel less alone, when The News’ editor was promoted he received a seating change along with a new addition of a rather large peace lily.
It was not until some time later the office plant-carer realised the mistake they had made, a pot that once contained a flourishing peace lily was now home to a flat, lifeless plant.
In a swift and quiet move, it was replaced with a plant less than half the size of its predecessor, and hopefully half the work.
Unfortunately for our editor, it appears he killed the unkillable, Mr Smith deeming peace lilies to be among the most hardy and “bulletproof” plants.
The suggestion of a fake plant has been floated in the office.
But Mr Smith also said, as a rule of green thumb, if you could sit comfortably in a space and read a book you could grow a plant in it.
“They are so beneficial, they bring clean air, and of course they’re very calming,” he said.
“Good quality potting mix will make all the difference, especially with regular small amounts of fertiliser.”