Indoor plant care for everyone: Budget-friendly hacks
What's the story
Caring for indoor plants is a rewarding hobby but often appears daunting for beginners.
Luckily, there are several budget-friendly hacks that make plant care accessible and straightforward.
These tips help keep your plants healthy without burning a hole in your pocket.
From using household items to understanding basic plant needs, these strategies ensure your indoor garden thrives with the least investment.
Natural fertilizer
Use coffee grounds as fertilizer
Coffee grounds make an excellent source of nitrogen, which is vital for plant growth.
Rather than throwing away used coffee grounds, sprinkle them on the soil of your plants. This enriches the soil, improves drainage, and aeration.
However, use them sparingly to avoid over-acidifying the soil.
Water recycling
Reuse water from cooking
Water used to cook vegetables or boil pasta is a treasure trove for watering plants once it cools down.
This nutrient-rich water, having leached essential minerals out of the food, can do wonders for your plants.
However, it is important to ensure that the water is free of any salt or oil before using it to nourish your indoor garden.
It keeps your plants healthy and vibrant.
Humidity boosters
Create DIY humidity trays
Many indoor plants flourish in humid conditions, where the humidity is higher than what most homes naturally provide.
To easily increase humidity, try placing a shallow tray filled with pebbles and water just beneath your plant pots.
As the water slowly evaporates, it subtly increases moisture around your plants.
This way, you boost humidity without the risk of overwatering your roots, keeping them healthier.
Calcium source
Use eggshells for calcium boost
Shells are a great source of calcium carbonate, which strengthens the walls of plants and helps them grow strong.
Crush clean shells into small pieces and mix them into potting soil, or steep them in water overnight to create a calcium-rich solution for watering your plants.
Pest control solution
Make your own pest spray with soap
To battle common pests such as aphids and spider mites, you can also prepare a homemade pest spray using dish soap and water.
Mix one tsp of mild dish soap with one liter of water in a spray bottle and apply directly onto affected areas of the plant every few days until the pests are gone.