Houseplants can be a great addition to any room to help brighten it up – however they are at serious risk during the hot weather and all homeowners should do one thing to help protect them
As Britain basks in sizzling heat, and temperatures are expected to soar as high as 30C in the coming days, homeowners are urged to make one change to their houseplants.
While plants need sunlight in order to grow and stay healthy, houseplants are at risk during the heatwave. Houseplants can help brighten any room, and as well as looking pretty, they are also crucial in removing pollutants from the air, so it’s important to look after them.
However, during the day when the sun is shining through, Connor Towning, lead horticultural expert at Beards & Daisies has urged all homeowners to make sure they provide shade and avoid sun scorch on their beloved plants and flowers.
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It’s important to move plants from direct afternoon sun, especially near south and west-facing windows. The expert advised to use light blinds or sheer curtains to help and said: “Treat plants like people – you wouldn’t sit in full sun midday, so shift them into indirect light or shade zones to prevent scorching.”
It’s a well-known fact that keeping plants next to windows is ideal for helping them to grow and get enough sunlight, but during the hot weather it could lead to plants scorching in the direct sunlight next to the glass.
This is echoed by experts at Gardeners World, who also advised keen plant lovers to be careful and said: “Ensure house plants are not getting scorched by summer sunshine. Either move further from the window or choose house plants that will thrive in a sunny spot.”
The experts also suggested you could put your houseplants outside for the summer in a warm, sheltered spot to enjoy the fresh air and extra light and to give them an extra boost.
It’s also important to water house plants more frequently as the temperatures warm and light levels increase. The experts also advised people to check the soil before watering as well, especially if the plant looks wilted.
It’s also important to start feeding your houseplants once a week with liquid fertiliser throught June all the way until autumn, as well as wiping the leaves as some house plants such as snake plants are particularly prone to collecting dust on their leaves.
You should also try and keep your houseplants clean and wipe away any dust and dirt from the leaves. Alex Rorrison-Leech, a cleaning guru from Marigold, shared with the Express: “While cleaning houseplants might not seem like a necessity, it is one of the most important jobs when taking care of indoor plants and giving them the best chance to flourish.
“Houseplants gather dust very easily and should be cleaned regularly to promote healthy growth. This will allow them to absorb more light to convert into energy, breathe better and look their best.”
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