As the Weather Changes, You Should Adjust Your Plants' Care

We have finally made it into Spring, at least by the calendar. While we still have snow on the ground in Southern Ontario, I saw my first robin yesterday - and that to me is the surest sign that Spring is here.
We have talked about the affect that the longer daylight days have on your indoor tropical plants' growth..
With the milder temperatures and increased humidity that accompany Spring, how much and how often you water your plants will change.
We are experiencing more days of dampness right now because of quickly melting snow and more rain. Even if you have a well-sealed building, which most aren't, some of that outdoor humidity is making its way indoors.  As well, you are not running the furnace as high or as much because of the milder outdoor temperatures. This has the effect of increasing your indoor humidity levels.

Inexpensive temperature & humidity meters

It is easy to monitor the humidity with one of theses simple meters, available from your favourite hardware store. The blue meter indicates relative humidity as a %.  The grey meter is a thermometer. Each of these will cost about $5. The dual dial meter if a combination of the 2 in one case and will cost about $15. Ideally, for most of your indoor plants, we would like to maintain a relative humidity between 30 and 60%. This is also healthier for humans than too dry or too moist. These low cost humidity meters have an accuracy of +/- 7% . This doesn't sound very accurate; but it is good enough for monitoring purposes.
With increased humidity, your indoor tropical plants are not giving off as much moisture through transpiration.
The overall result is that your plants, right now, will not need as much water. Check your plants at least once a week and adjust water/feed as required.

The Longer Days Make a Big Difference

For me, the psychological turning point of the winter season is December 21st, the shortest daylight day of the year.  From that date on it's a downhill ride to longer and warmer days.
It not only affects me mentally and physically, it has a significant effect on your indoor plants. The leaves of your plants can process more of the light energy. The result is larger, thicker leaves and healthier plants. I shot this short video last night of a pothos hanging plant.  One side of the plant faces a north window and the other side of the plant faces inward to the room and no natural light.  See the difference in the size of leaves from one side of the plant to the other.

The larger leaves measure 8" long by 6" wide and the smaller leaves measure 4" long by 3" wide.  That's about 3 times the size.  The larger leaves were noticeably thicker, as well.
Take advantage of your plant wanting to grow - continue your feeding programme and you may need to water more and/or more often.
Let the sunshine in and enjoy the new plant growth made possible in part by the longer daylight days.

You can download a free pdf that details the "Nutrient Application" feeding programme that we, at Plants ForAll, use in our commercial plant maintenance accounts.

I'd love to here your comments and about your plant successes.