Your Spring Cleaning Checklist: Houseplant Edition
Penned by Katlyn Daoust, founder of Plants By Her.
We’re all familiar with the concept of spring cleaning. Some of us even look forward to an annual excuse to pop the windows open, clear out clutter, and scrub from sun up to sun down while listening to 90’s throwbacks (or is that just me?). What many of us aren’t as familiar with is the concept of seasonal houseplant maintenance, aka spring cleaning for your indoor plants.
If you have outdoor gardens then you know how important this time of year is for preparing vegetable beds and soil, and laying the foundation for a fruitful growing season. This preparatory time is just as important for your indoor plant collection. The steps you do or don’t take now could be the difference between seeing your plants struggle or thrive in the months ahead.
So, what can you do to ensure your indoor plant collection is set up for success as we embark upon the growing season? So glad you asked.
Houseplant Spring Cleaning Checklist
Seasonal rearrange
As the Northern Hemisphere moves into spring and summer, we start receiving more daylight hours. This is a huge shift for your houseplants, which have been largely dormant all winter long due to less light availability. Typically this shift in light duration and intensity affects houseplants positively, but there are also negative side effects that you can absolutely avoid by engaging in a seasonal rearrange. Let’s say you had a rubber tree in a east-facing window all winter long and it was perfectly happy because the sunlight was never too fierce or long lasting. However, come summer, that same west-facing window is going to receive a lot of intense afternoon sunlight that can easily scorch leaves that aren’t suited for that much direct light, your rubber tree included. In this scenario, rearrange by moving your rubber tree a few feet away from the west-facing window or, better yet, relocate it to an east-facing window. The same goes for any plants you may have situated closer to direct light sources right now: evaluate how your light availability is shifting as we gain daylight hours and be sure to rearrange your plants based on their specific needs. These little tweaks can save your plants from leaf scorch (aka plant sunburn), or worse.
2. Up-Potting & Repotting
‘Tis the season for growing, which means your houseplants may need more room to spread their roots, or fresh soil to feed on, or both. That makes spring the best time of year to repot or up-pot your plants. Not sure what the difference is? Let’s break it down:
Repotting is when you refresh your plant’s potting soil without moving it to a larger pot. This is a great option if your plant/root ball is still appropriately matched to the size of the pot, or if you haven’t given your plant fresh soil in the last 2-4 years. Fresh potting soil is full of nutrients your plants need to feed, and is an excellent way to fertilize your plants without having to use liquid or solid fertilizers (which can do more harm than good if you aren’t sure how to use them properly).
Up-Potting is when you move your houseplant up to a larger pot size because it needs more room to spread out. You’ll know if this is the case if the root ball is compacted or growing out of the drainage holes in the bottom of its current planter. As a rule of thumb, only size up about 2” in diameter to your new pot size. For example, if your rubber tree is currently in a 6” pot, plant it in a new pot that’s either 7” or 8” in diameter. Going any larger will introduce more soil mass than the root ball can handle, which stresses the whole system and can lead to root rot.
Whichever situation you find yourself in, be sure you’re using planters with drainage holes to ensure a proper escape route for excess water. There’s no quicker way to kill a plant than by drowning it. If this still feels nebulous, shoot me a note and I’ll send you my Potting 101 e-workshop so you know exactly how to tell if your plants need to be up-potted or repotted, which potting and drainage materials you should be using, and how to tackle the process with help via my step-by-step tutorial.
3. Adjust Your Watering Routine
With increased daylight hours and temperatures comes increased photosynthesis. In other words, your plants will need more water to stay hydrated and keep up with new growth in the spring and summer. Make sure you adjust your watering routines based on how quickly your plants are drying out. You might find that a plant you watered every 10-14 days in the winter now wants weekly drinks. Pay attention so you know if you need to increase watering frequency. If your plant is having a hard time absorbing/holding water, it might be an indicator that it needs a deep soak or new soil. Old potting soil doesn’t retain moisture well, so it could be time to repot. If you recently potted your plant and the soil is less than 2 years old, consider giving it a bottom drink. Simply fill your bathtub or sink with a few inches of water, then place your planter in the basin to let it drink from the bottom drainage holes for a few hours. This is an awesome way to saturate soil that’s having trouble holding moisture.
4. TLC
No, not the iconic 90s hip hop trio, though I’ve got lots of love for them too. This stop on our checklist refers to basic plant maintenance. It should really be part of a year-round plant care routine, but spring is a great time to hit “reset” on each of your plants. Spend time pruning any dead, crispy, or dying foliage from your plants. Wipe leaves to clear dust, as build-up makes it harder for your plants to photosynthesize and easier for pests to move in. I use a simple mixture of warm water, a tablespoon of Neem Oil and a few drops of gentle soap to clean and shine foliage. Be sure to use a microfiber towel or gloves so you don't leave tiny fibers behind while cleaning. If you want to go one step further, consider incorporating a plant probiotic into your routine. These liquid or powder-based solutions foster healthy roots, boost water absorption and encourage healthier growth. I prefer this to using fertilizers because it’s more gentle and will give your houseplants a little zhuzh. All that’s left to do now is turn up TLC (yes, the iconic 90’s hip hop trio) while you get down and dirty with your plant cleaning.
Plant parenthood is supposed to be enjoyable, stress-reducing and mood-boosting. Following this checklist will help you and your plants transition into the season ahead with confidence and ease. Be patient with yourself, remember that there’s a lot of trial and error involved, and don’t hesitate to chat with a plant coach (that’s me!) if you find yourself in a need of some help. Happy houseplant cleaning, plant fam!
Katlyn Daoust of Plants by Her
Plants By Her was founded by Minneapolis-born, Seattle-based planterior designer, Katlyn Daoust. Combining a knack for styling live-able spaces with her reverence for indoor plants, she created Plants By Her to bring the benefits of botanicals indoors — from restaurants and fitness studios to corporate offices and residential settings. Katlyn also leads corporate workshops, offers plant coaching on her hotline, and is always looking for new partnership and collaboration opportunities. Follow along with @plants_by_her on Instagram, or at plantsbyher.com.
