Houseplant Checklist
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Toggle Selection status
Selection
Toggle Assess your light status
Assess your light
Know if the location for your plant receives bright, partial or low light.
Toggle Read the tag status
Read the tag
Plants usually have a care tag that will give information on required light, water and growth patterns.
Toggle Look at the leaves status
Look at the leaves
Before buying, look the plant over carefully. Examine the leaves for holes, insects, yellow or brown leaves, wilted or dead leaves. Pass up plants that look unhealthy.
Toggle Check the drainage holes status
Check the drainage holes
If the roots of the plant are growing out the drainage holes, the plant is root-bound and needs to be re-potted in a larger container. If the mass of roots is very large, the plant might be in poor health and not survive transplanting.
Toggle Smell the soil status
Smell the soil
Potting soil should have an earthy smell, not sour or unpleasant. There should not be insects, fungus or white crusts on the soil.
Toggle Regular care status
Regular care
Toggle Water when slightly dry status
Water when slightly dry
Check your plants daily by feeling the surface of the soil. Don’t wait until all the soil is dry and the plant wilts.
Toggle Water sufficiently status
Water sufficiently
When watering, slowly pour in water until it runs out the drainage holes of the pot. This thoroughly soaks the soils, and encourages healthy root growth.
Toggle Tepid water status
Tepid water
Water with tepid or slightly cool water. Very cold water can shock the plant’s roots.
Toggle Fertilize status
Fertilize
Feed your plants with a fertilizer specifically formulated for houseplants once per week spring through fall. Follow package directions for application, and don’t assume more fertilizer is better.
Toggle Tidy up your plant status
Tidy up your plant
Remove dead leaves by clipping with a scissor.
Toggle Rotate the container status
Rotate the container
Each week, turn your the container one quarter around. This will keep the plant growing straight, without bending towards the light source.
Toggle Keep pots above water status
Keep pots above water
Don’t let your plant sit in a tray full of water. The roots will rot.
Toggle Do use pebbles status
Do use pebbles
If your home is very dry, you can increase humidity by placing pebbles in the drainage tray, and moistening them with water. Make sure the pot is above the water level.
Toggle Mist status
Mist
You can increase humidity and freshen leaves by misting your plants with room temperature water.
Toggle Wash leaves status
Wash leaves
Rinse your plant’s leaves off in the sink occasionally to remove dust, or wipe with a wet cloth.
Toggle Prune status
Prune
Most houseplants need little pruning, but if your plant is getting too large or has an awkward shape, use a clipper to gently trim back to desired size.
Toggle Transplant status
Transplant
If your plant is large in its pot, and starts growing roots through the drainage holes, it is time to move it to a larger container.
Toggle Problems status
Problems
Toggle Insects status
Insects
Check your plant for insects weekly. Common houseplant pests include mealy bugs, spider mites, scale and fungus gnats. Pests can be treated with insecticide formulated for houseplant use.
Toggle Disease status
Disease
Most houseplant diseases are caused by over-watering. Watch for gray powder on the leaves, mushy or wilted stems, dropping leaves or a sour smell. These are signs of fungal infection, which can be difficult to treat. You can try a fungicide spray, but the plant may not recover.
Toggle Sunburn status
Sunburn
Plants kept too near a heat source can develop brown, crispy spots on the leaves. Move to a cooler location.
Toggle Under-watering status
Under-watering
Signs of under-watering include very dry soil, wilting leaves and eventual death and drying of leaves.
Toggle Cold temperatures status
Cold temperatures
Plants that are exposed to cold temperatures may develop yellow or brown leaf edges, or drop leaves. Move to a warmer spot.
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Presented by:
Michelle Tako
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Details
Growing plants indoors is a great way to bring the beauty and color of nature into your home. There is a tremendous range of plants that grow indoors, many with colorful flowers or foliage. Indoor plants help purify the air in your home, providing health benefits by increasing humidity, removing pollutants from the air and increasing oxygen levels. With all those benefits, what's not to love?
Tips
- Low light. Some of the best plants for low light are Chinese evergreen, corn plant and snake plant.
- Medium light. Good choices for medium light are pothos, palm and peace lily.
- High light. Your brightest location is a good spot for croton, umbrella tree and ficus.
Who it's for
This Houseplant Checklist is for anyone who wants a simple, practical way to get things done without missing steps.
- Avoid forgetting - keep all your Houseplant essentials in one place (external memory)
- Save time - start from a proven Houseplant structure instead of a blank page
- Stay on track - track progress, come back later, and keep momentum
- Coordinate with others - share the list and divide responsibilities
- Learn the process - follow the steps in a sensible order, even if it's your first time
How to use it
How to use this Houseplant Checklist
- Save Houseplant Checklist to your free Checklist account so your progress is saved and synced across devices.
- Customize it in the app: remove anything that does not apply, then add your own details for Houseplant (dates, sizes, addresses, notes).
- If others are involved, invite them to collaborate and divide responsibilities.
- Work through the list: check items off as you go, and set reminders for time-sensitive steps.
Rate this Checklist
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Scores 4.80 with 111 votes