Maintaining a garden is never an easy task, and it needs a lot of patience to grow one.
Here are simple tips you might find helpful in maintaining a garden.
1. Water only when the top 2 inches of the soil is dry. Do not overwater.
Plants don’t need daily watering. You would know it needs watering when the soil is dry. Overwatering can cause the root to rot or shiver if it gets too little.
Getting enough water is the secret to growing healthy plants. Hobbyists suggest deep watering (but less frequently) as it allows the water to seep beneath the roots. Doing so encourages the roots to grow downward. Water until water comes out of the drainage holes.
For watering tools, a kettle sprinkler and garden hose are your options. If you prefer a hose, consider the length, diameter for water flow, and strength for water pressure. You may need a water hose reel to protect the life of your hoses from sun exposure and other outdoor elements.
Choose high quality hose reels worth the price. A water reel help prevents you from tripping or mowing over it. You can choose those that mount to a wall or a portable one.
2. Never put plants in full direct sunlight.
Not all plants thrive when exposed to sunlight the whole day. Some plants grow best when they receive direct sunlight on covered areas of the garden. Aroid plants, such as philodendron, monstera, and aglaonema, thrive indoors or in shaded areas. My son grows similar plants in a makeshift plant shade.
Aroid plants and ferns have not evolved to handle the harsh rays of direct sunlight, so they prefer medium light conditions.
Nonetheless, too much exposure to sunlight cause the plant to wither. They get a sunburn, too. Leaves get blotchy, wrinkled, scaly, or crispy.
3. Make sure the pot has drainage.
Before repotting or propagating your plants, make sure the pots have enough drainage holes in them.
Drainage holes allow excess water to seep out of pots after watering, ensuring that water does not pool at the base. The holes help to protect sensitive roots from rotting and acquiring fungus and bacteria.
There are plenty of things to learn in setting up your first garden.
As you grow your first set of plants, help it reach its full potential by keeping up with the garden routine.
