Keeping houseplants alive is no mean feat. You must ensure they have the right amount of water and sunlight for starters.
Cleaning the plant is something that is often forgotten but this too is an important job to do.
Scandi lifestyle expert at Contura Catharina Björkman shared doing this will “keep your plants looking and feeling fresh”.
She explained: “Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air in order to grow, releasing oxygen in the process.
Houseplants can get sunburnt
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“However, dusty and grimy leaves can’t absorb as much carbon dioxide or release as much oxygen into the air, negatively impacting both the plant’s health and the air quality. Therefore, dusting your plants is crucial.”
Houseplants need tending to regularly, so don’t forget to prune and dust your plants if you want them to live longer and thrive.
Dusting once a month is a good place to start, but you can do this more often if needed.
The expert continued: “If you have plants with large leaves, it’s also worth cleaning them once a month.
“A clean, damp cotton pad, cloth or paintbrush run along the top and underside of the plant’s leaves will do the trick.
“Regularly pruning your plants, removing dead or dying leaves and branches to allow for new growth, and opening windows to let air in – so that they are able to breathe in fresh air and pump out even more oxygen into the space – will also help keep your plants healthy.”
Temperatures can drastically change throughout the summer and it is important to be aware of this when tending to your plants.
Plants that are sat in the sun for too long can get “sunburnt” which will cause the leaves to wilt away.
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Some plants are easier to care for than others
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Catharina added: “Just like us, plants can suffer from sunburn if they are exposed to too much sunlight.
“Whilst prevention is better than cure, if an unexpected few days of sunshine has ‘burnt’ your plant, you will notice that the leaves exposed to the sunlight, have turned yellow or white, and might even be brown and crispy around the edges.
“Cacti and succulents love direct sunlight, so if you want to keep plants on a sunny windowsill year-round best opt for these.”
