Simple plant care tips to help your green friends thrive
Gardening shouldn't feel like a chore. Here is practical advice from our boutique to help your plants stay healthy, especially during our unpredictable Bangalore seasons.
The monsoon season requires special attention for your plants. Here are my collected tips to help your indoor and outdoor garden navigate the rainy weather and stay healthy.
Monsoon Care Tip 1: Good drainage is crucial during the rainy season. Ensure your pots have holes so that excess water can escape easily, preventing root rot.
Monsoon Care Tip 2: Avoid overwatering by checking the soil moisture regularly. Even with the rain, indoor plants might still need a drink, but it's easy to give them too much.
Monsoon Care Tip 3: The best time to water your plants during the monsoon is in the afternoon. This gives the leaves time to dry before the cooler evening, reducing the risk of fungal diseases.
Monsoon Care Tip 4: Protect your desert dwellers. Cacti and succulents are sensitive to too much water, so it's best to move them indoors or to a sheltered spot during heavy rains.
About My Plant Care Tips
The biggest mistake we see isn't just watering, it is ignoring drainage. We formulate our own proprietary soil mixes using cocopeat and perlite specifically to prevent root rot in our humid climate, but your pots need to do the heavy lifting too. If your plant is sitting in a plastic nursery pot without proper drainage holes, it is already fighting an uphill battle against the monsoon moisture.
Bringing Plants Home
When you pick up a plant from our Malleswaram store, the journey has just begun. We believe plants make people happy, but only when they are thriving. That is why we focus heavily on the 'how-to' after the purchase.
Why Soil Matters
Most store-bought plants come in standard soil that holds too much water, leading to root rot. We use an upgraded blend of garden soil, cocopeat, and organic compost for our indoor plants, and a highly porous mix for our succulents. If you are struggling with a plant, the soil is almost always the culprit. If your plant looks unhappy, bring it by the store; we can check if it needs a repotting into a better medium.
Monsoon and Seasonal Challenges
Bangalore weather can be tricky. During the monsoon, humidity spikes and sunlight drops. We recommend:
- Drainage Check: Ensure water isn't pooling in the tray beneath your pot.
- Watering Routine: Stop following a strict schedule. Check the top inch of soil with your finger before watering. If it is damp, wait.
- Light Placement: Move light-loving plants closer to windows during the gray, rainy days to prevent them from getting leggy.
We Are Here to Help
Gardening is a journey of trial and error. Whether you are raising a delicate Monstera or a hardy succulent, do not stress if a leaf turns yellow. Reach out to us, send a photo, or drop by the boutique. We are here to help you troubleshoot your plant parent journey.
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