# maintaining

# caring for your plants

Plant care is all about managing light, humidity, temperature, water, and nutrients. Get those things right and plants will have no choice but to thrive. Finding that optimum and coordinating it with all the plants across your home requires careful observation and patience. Adding changing temperatures, weather conditions, and pests to the mix sometimes makes maintaining health plants a challenge. This section will provide a broad overview of how to manage these elements. For more details, check out guides for specific plants in the plant index and different methods in the techniques section.

# grooming

Take time to clean plants of dead leaves and observe their appearance. Plants naturally shed leaves and dead leaves and be a place for pests.

# cleaning

Clean plants not only look better but perform better too. Dusty leaves block photosynthesis and transpiration.

# large leafed plants

Clean large leaf plants by wiping its leaves by hand with a soft cloth or sponge and some warm soapy water. Use one hand to support the leaf while wiping it with the other. This is a good time to get up close and personal with the plant, and given time you could find it to be a therapeutic activity.

# small leafed plants

If you have an outdoor area, spraying leaves off with a pressure sprayer. Spray from all sides. Wait 10 minutes and spray again. Shake off water and allow plant to dry out of direct sun.

To clean the plant indoors, you can spray them in either the shower or sink. Be careful not to spray too harshly.

# fine haired and hair leafed plants

You can submerge the foliage in a large container of water or sink. Protect the potting medium by wrapping it tightly with a plastic bag or towel.

# cacti

Use a cotton swab to remove dirt and dust after spraying with water.

# pruning

pruning is necessary

pruning can be done any time of the year. best to prune after or before growth season. Worst is right after new growth.

train young plants by training. Angle the cut towards the direction you want the new growth to happen.