Many Americans have picked up gardening as a hobby during the pandemic. However, this means that there are more amateur gardeners than ever. Gardening can be a pretty challenging hobby, especially if you’re new to it. Some might get disappointed the first time they see their plant die. Many might get discouraged about how much work it needs.
Starting as an amateur gardener means a lot of trial and error. Sadly, not many of the current generation have the patient for this. Thankfully, this article will be covering all sorts of gardening tips you need to know, so you don’t have to go through the painful process of trial and error. Of course, the first thing you need to know is not to overwater your plants.
Stop Overwatering Your Plants!
If you’ve been watering your plants to the point that its pot is filled to the brim, then you’re doing it wrong. Overwatering your plants can be deadly because you’re suffocating them. Plants, much like human beings, require oxygen to survive, and when you’re filling your pots to the brim with water, then they can’t get the oxygen they need to survive. Your plants will then start to wilt and die.
When watering your plants, make sure that you only moisten six inches of soil. This is where the roots are, and it can absorb all of those water without suffocating your plant. If you have the habit of going behind that, consider purchasing high-quality pots. These pots have holes underneath them to help disperse extra water from the soil.
If you want to completely avoid overwatering your plants, then you should consider having your watering system automated.
Automated Watering System
Automated watering systems have saved the lives of countless plants living under an amateur gardener. However, if you don’t want to go through all the trouble of watering your plants, then consider installing one.
Many automated watering systems can keep an eye out on your plant health and water them only if they need it. When you have a robust irrigation system installation alongside it, you can save a ton of money on water and make the entire system a lot more effective. If you want to take a hands-off approach to your gardening or simply don’t want to spend too much time in the garden, then this option is for you.
Compost!
Forget about purchasing in-store fertilizer. Those will cause more harm to your plants than good. Instead, consider doing your fertilizer by composting.
Composting is the process of using biodegradable matter as fertilizer. It’s a fairly simple process, but it’ll require you to do some trial and error beforehand. However, it’s so good that it’s safe for your plants and safe for the environment. Your plants are also going to love you more because of it.
To compost, you’re going to need a three to five feet cube and a couple of organic waste, both green and brown. Green waste is for nitrogen, and brown waste is for oxygen. Both are required to grow healthy plants. Moreover, if you can’t find a cube to contain your compost, consider using a trash can instead.
Once you’ve stored your compost in the composting bin, you’ll have to keep an eye out for its temperature and keep it moist, but not too moist. The ideal temperature for composting is around 130 Fahrenheit, and moisture should be kept at an optimal level. Essentially, if you see the top part of your compost drying up, water it.
After a week or so, you should have compost ready for your plants. Do the same process again, and you have a sustainable way to keep your plants fertilized.
Ensure That Your Plants Have Access to the Sun
The sun is an essential part of every plant life. All plants can’t live without sunlight. So make sure that your plants have ample access to sunlight wherever they are. If you see a plant wilting or dying, place them under the sun so it can recover.
Put Indoor Plants Outside Once in a While
If you notice that some of your indoor plants are wilting, then it’s time for them to get some fresh air. Indoor plants, no matter what they are, will require some outside exposure to survive. You can do this once or twice every two to three weeks, and they should stay healthy. A smart way to do this is to put your indoor plants into rotation. When you put an indoor plant outside, replace them with another, and you can ensure that all of your indoor plants stay healthy.
Gardening is no easy hobby, but it’s very rewarding once you know what to do. By following these tips, you can become an experienced gardener in no time.
