What's not to love about summer?! If you're loving hotter weather, outdoor fun and plenty of food and drink, you're not alone! Just like humans, houseplants can continue to thrive in summer. But beware, if you don't get your houseplant watering right, your plants may become dehydrated. Fertilizer in summer is also important, so check out these top tips on how to use houseplant fertilizer along with your summer watering regime. You’ll be a pro at keeping those houseplants refreshed and nourished as we move into fall!
Why Is Summer Different For Watering (and Fertilizing) Houseplants?
Ok, so let's dive into why watering and fertilizing your houseplants in summer is a bit different from other times of the year. During June, July and August, several changes come into play:
- The evaporation of water is increased. Just like the sun can make water puddles evaporate, skin dry and sweat disappear, the heat can cause water in the soil and plant tissue evaporate faster than other seasons.
- Houseplants tend to grow more in summer: lots of houseplants love to go through a growth spurt during the hotter seasons like summer. It means that they need more water and nutrients to fuel that new houseplant leaf or stem.
- There can be more houseplant stress: if you're in really hot parts of the country, the summer heat can actually cause unique stress for your houseplants. This can make the right fertilizer and watering regime crucial.
Now that you know why summer is a bit different to other seasons when it comes to your houseplants, let’s dive into how to keep them well watered and well fertilized!
Tip 1: Check Your Houseplant Soil Every Week
It sounds simple, but actually checking the soil of your plant is important in summer. Try sticking your finger about an inch into the soil of your houseplant—if it is feeling dry, and the soil doesn't stick to your finger, it’s time to water your houseplants. If it’s still a bit damp and you notice that soil is sticking to your finger in clumps, you're best to wait. Often, plants from the hardware store can come in peat moss, which acts like a sponge and can waterlog your houseplants, so be extra careful here.
We the Wild Tip: Different houseplants need different watering regimes, so it's important to know what your plant needs. For example, succulents like their soil to dry out completely between waterings, while ferns prefer to stay consistently moist. Try reading the tag when you buy your plant, or think about where they're from. If they're a desert plant, odds are they will hold up to hot, dry weather more than your tropical houseplant friends.
Houseplant Fertilizer Tip: Since summer is a growth period, this is the perfect time to keep using your houseplant fertilizer. Use a chemical free, organic houseplant fertilizer like We the Wild's Grow Concentrate, rather than synthetic fertilizers that are easy to burn or overdose houseplants.
Tip 2: Water Your Houseplants Deeply, Not Just Frequently
Houseplants need a good soaking to grow happy and healthy in summer. If you're giving your plants a little sprinkle of water every day, it will encourage your houseplant's roots to stay shallow. You're also in danger of underwatering your plants, as the heat of summer increases the evaporation. It's much better to water deeply. Deep watering encourages the roots to grow deeper into the soil, making your houseplants stronger, sturdier and more able to stand dry conditions.
To water your houseplant deeply, pour water slowly over the soil until it starts to drain out of the bottom of the pot. You'll see water trickling from the bottom of the plant. Let it drain before putting it back in its planty position!
We the Wild Tip: Does your pot have a saucer or drip tray? It's a good idea make to empty it after watering. Otherwise, your houseplant will sit in water, which can lead to root rot- no thanks!
Houseplant Fertilizer Tip: Use a bioavailable, slow release houseplant fertilizer like We the Wild's Enrich Powder before your deep water your plants. By sprinkling this on the top of the soil, the water will transport the beneficial microbes and root building fungi throughout the soil and into the root system, which is exactly what you want!
Tip 3: Water Your Houseplants in the Morning
Have you noticed that the day gets hotter as time goes on? If you water your houseplants in the peak of the afternoon sun, it may not have time to drink it up before it evaporates. Try watering your plants in the morning instead. It will give it plenty of time to absorb the water before the heat of the day sets in. It also can prevent sneaky issues like mold or mildew from setting in.
We the Wild Tip: If you're like us, and have busy mornings full of kids and work prep, try setting a reminder on your phone! Watering your plants can be a great way to practice mindfulness before the craziness of the day sets in!
Houseplant Fertilizer Tip: If you’re using our Grow Concentrate houseplant fertilizer, it's totally fine to use every time you water your plants.
Tip 4: Adjust for Humidity and Air Conditioning
Summer can have different impacts on your plants, depending on the area of the country that you live. If you’re in a humid area like Florida, your houseplants might not dry out as quickly, so your watering schedule will be easier than a place like Arizona, where dry air can dehydrate houseplants quickly.
BUT, there's one thing we all have in common; airconditioning and heating. Both of these can dry the air and therefore, dry your plants. Move your plants away from airconditioners and heaters to keep them happy and healthy.
We the Wild Tip: do you know that grouping plants together during the summer can improve the humidity around leaves? It's because plants emit moisture naturally, so it creates a little ecosystem.
Fertilizer Tip: It's a good idea to keep your houseplants well protected from dry, harsh air. Combine your houseplant fertilizer with a houseplant leaf spray like Protect Spray with Neem. It will add extra protection during summer.
Tip 5: Watch Your Houseplants For Wilting Leaves
Wilting is a good way to know if your plant is thirsty. Peace lily plants are a queen when it comes to wilting; they will literally flop overnight! Other houseplants have more subtle ways to show you that they are starting to wilt. If leaves are just looking a little thin, droopy or curling in slightly, it could be a sign that they need a good drink.
We the Wild Tip: larger leaves like the Monstera leaves will start to curl, whereas other plants like succulents will start to pucker and wrinkle. Both are signs that your plants need a good drink.
Fertilizer Tip: Enrich Powder is a great way to regulate your plant's resilience to underwatering. It contains premium worm castings, which are actually used in areas experiencing drought, to help keep agricultural plants thriving!
Tip 6: Keep an Eye on the Weather and Watch Out for Heatwaves
During periods of intense heat, like during a heatwave, your plants might need a little extra protection and TLC. Move them away from glass or dark walls that can absorb and emit heatwaves that will burn plants. Mist plants regularly to keep the temperature down. Monitor soil more frequently than usual.
We the Wild Tip: Look at your local weather forecasts, which can differ to national or state wide forecasts!
Fertilizer Tip: During extreme heat, it’s best to skip plant sprays and fertilizers and just let the plant get through the heatwave before resuming your care regime.
So there you have it, this comprehensive guide to managing your houseplant watering and fertilizer regime during the summer months should give you all the main things you need to know to keep your houseplants healthy and thriving as you move into fall!
