Everyone gets excited for the summer, including your plants.
While you enjoy longer days, ample sunshine, and fun summer activities, you may also start giving your outdoor vegetable garden a lot of attention. Although the summer is the time for your outdoor garden to shine, if you also have a year-round indoor garden, don’t forget to continue to give your houseplants some light, potting soil, and plant seed this summer.
Your indoor houseplants continuously need attention – like an LED grow light, nutrients, and watering cans – even in the summer months. In fact, you may even need to tweak the way you take care of your indoor plants in the summer versus the winter. With the help of a few indoor plant supplies, you can provide your indoor garden with the care it needs without too much additional work. Keep reading to learn what these supplies are.
The Top Indoor Plant Supplies You Can’t Go Without
As the weather gets warmer, the needs of your plants change. Depending on the type of indoor plants you have, there’s an assortment of supplies and accessories that you should have ready to go for your plants when the heat hits.
Here are the essential indoor plant supplies that are must-haves for your indoor gardening needs this summer.
Houseplant Fertilizer
The first item on our list of essential indoor plant supplies is houseplant fertilizer.
It’s a common misconception that your indoor plants only need fertilizer in the winter. Although it’s important not to overdo the fertilizer in the summer, it is still an important component of indoor plant growth, particularly for potted plants in general.
For a hassle-free summer, it’s a good idea to choose a slow-release fertilizer that can give your plants consistent nutrients for the entire summer. These types of fertilizers tend to last between three and four months, with some lasting up to six months.
Neem Oil
Another essential that every indoor plant garden needs is neem oil. You may have heard of this type of oil amongst plant enthusiasts, but what exactly does neem oil do?
Neem oil is a naturally occurring pesticide that’s made from seeds of a neem tree. This oil works as insect repellant and a pest control substance, making it excellent for keeping pesky summer pests away from your indoor plants. It’s great to use for indoor gardening because it’s natural and non-toxic.
You can purchase neem oil that’s ready to use, or you can make your own plant mixture by combining a small amount (one teaspoon) of neem oil concentration with equal parts mild liquid, dish soap, and a liter of water. Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle, shake well, and lightly spray it onto your plant’s leaves while utilizing a grow light.
It’s important to note that neem oil generally has an unpleasant odor that some describe as a mix of garlic and sulfur, so a little goes a long way.
Sticky Glue Traps
Next on our list of indoor plant supplies are sticky glue traps.
These traps serve the same purpose as neem oil, in that they’re meant to catch any annoying insects that want to crawl onto your indoor plants. Sticky glue traps are particularly effective for ants or gnats.
These sticky plant glue traps are easy to use and are made from eco-friendly material. Insert them directly into your plant’s soil and let them work their magic for your houseplants.
A Good Watering Can
One essential that you should have year-round, but especially in the summer, is a good watering can.
Depending on where you live and the type of houseplants you have, frequent watering is a necessity in dry summers. Combined with the increased sunlight and your plant’s rapid growth, you may find that your plant’s soil becomes dry more often and that it requires more consistent watering.
The best watering can for your indoor garden is one with a thin spout to better direct water to the exact area that your plant needs it. This WhaleLife Indoor Watering Can does just that to ensure that your plant’s water is well distributed and is exactly where it is needed.
Plant Mister
Most plants like humidity. Depending on your location, humidity may decrease in the summer. However, your plant will still require that same level of humidity, so it’s up to you to replenish the moisture in the air during these hot, dry months.
This is why a plant mister is among the most important indoor plant supplies for the summer. All you have to do is get an inexpensive mist bottle and mist the air around your plants as well as their foliage with water.
This plant mister is a great choice as it sprays a continuous, fine, and even mist for full coverage and without over-saturating your plants.
Plant-trimming scissors
The summer is the time where you’ll see significant plant growth, and you must monitor your plants to keep that growth under control.
That’s why it’s important to have a pair of good plant-trimming scissors in the summer to trim your plants and keep them healthy and looking great. These CastleGreens plant-trimming scissors are a good choice as they are comfortable to use and have an ultra-sharp blade to get a clean cut for your indoor plants every time.
Propagation Vessels
Late spring to autumn is the best time to propagate your houseplants, so it may be an activity that you may eventually end up doing in the summer.
Early summer is the best time to take cuttings from new growth for propagation. Mid-summer is a good time for semi-ripe cuttings, which sees the base of the shoots hardening while the tips are still nimble.
No matter when you decide to propagate your houseplants, make sure that you have the right propagation vessels immediately ready to go, such as glass tubes. Not only are they one of the top indoor plant supplies for healthy propagation, but these tubes also give you a stylish way to display your new propagated houseplants.
Plant Humidifier
If you live in a dry climate, then chances are that your indoor plants aren’t getting enough humidity. This is amplified during hot summer months where heat becomes a significant factor as well. Thankfully, you can supplement the lack of humidity with a plant humidifier.
For best results, use a cool mist humidifier to increase the humidity in the room your indoor plants are in. You can do this while also lightly misting your plants’ foliage, but be sure not to overdo it with the humidity and moisture, or else you may cause damage such as root rot in your plants.
Bonus: New Summer Flower Pots
As mentioned, with summer comes rapid plant growth, which means that your plants may end up needing to be repotted sooner rather than later. Considering this occurrence, it’s a great time to choose new summer pots to house and show off your favorite plants for the summer.
You have several options when it comes to choosing the best planters for your indoor plants, including:
Tips for Your Plants in the Summer
Here are a few additional tips for taking care of your plants with indoor plant supplies this summer:
- If you mist your plants’ foliage directly, make sure that their leaves are not in direct sunlight or else they may burn.
- As their surroundings heat up, plants need more water. Be sure to check your plants’ soil every day to ensure that it isn’t too dry.
- To prevent further summer dryness, be sure to keep your plants away from any vents or air conditioners. We may love a cool breeze in the summer, but plants don’t!
- Your plants risk collecting more dust in the summer months. Make sure that you keep the leaves clean for optimal photosynthesis.
- Take advantage of the nice weather and give your indoor plants some time outside from time to time. Just make sure that the outdoor location you choose is similar to your plant’s indoor location. If your plant isn’t used to direct sunlight indoors, don’t place them in direct sunlight outside.
Conclusion
Taking care of plants in the summer is just as important as nurturing them in the winter. These eight essential indoor plant supplies will ensure that your plants thrive this summer, and be prepared for your plant to thank you with substantial growth!