One Simple Thing You Can Do This Weekend for Happy Houseplants All Year Long

As spring ushers in all the flowery feelings that accompany rebirth, renewal, and fresh signs of life, we’re going to turn our attention this weekend to the living decor that graces our homes: our plants. With the advent of the season that most houseplants will begin their growing seasons in earnest, the extra TLC we give them now will be repaid with lush, thriving greenery.

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Make a stop at each of the plants in your home. Examine each one to see if it appears to be struggling in any way. For instance, leggy stems or faded foliage could indicate that your plant isn’t getting enough light. Perhaps this is a consequence of weak winter light, but consider whether your plant might be happier in a sunnier spot. (And then get a new plant that’ll thrive in that darker space.)

If your plant seems to be growing so it’s tilted toward the light, it’s definitely time to rotate it so that your plant remains healthy, happy, and in a pleasing upright shape. But even if it’s not slanted, most plants will benefit from a little twist-a-roo, giving it’s darker side a bit more light.

While you’re rotating, take note again of any air conditioning drafts that might affect sensitive plants and move them accordingly.

Now is also the time of year to begin regularly fertilizing your plants. You could add an all-purpose water-soluble fertilizer to your water before you make your watering rounds. Or you could choose liquid fertilizer, which is especially easy to add to your watering can. Another “set-it-and-forget-it” option is plant food spikes, which provide slow-release food to your plants without you having to remember to fertilize weekly or monthly.

You can catch up with weekend projects right here. Share your progress with us and others by posting updates and photos on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #atweekendproject.

Remember: This is about improvement, not perfection. Each week you can either choose to work on the assignment we’ve sent you, or tackle another project you’ve been meaning to get to. It’s also completely okay to skip a weekend if you’re busy or not feeling the assignment.