April 28-May 14, 2020
Plant Care as Self-Care
Looking for something to do during quarantine? Consider buying a few plants and looking after them, as it is good to take care of something living, and they may boost your morale while you are stuck inside. They don’t necessarily have to be outdoor plants, like tulips, lilies, or hostas. Some indoor options include succulents like aloe (which you can make into hand sanitizer), a hens and chicks plant, a Christmas cactus, or burrow’s tail, or flowering plants like peace lilies, orchids, or hanging baskets.
One of the many issues people often face with indoor plants is proper care and maintenance. For succulents, water only when the soil feels dry to the touch (not slightly damp, I mean bone dry). When the plant appears to become “leggy” (babies are sprouting off in several directions), you can cut the sprouts off and leave the “wound” to heal. Once the cut dries up after a few days, you can stick the sprout you cut off in soil and make a new plant.
Orchids are the most finicky of the house plants I mentioned, but if they are given proper care, you will have beautiful, full blooms year-round for many years. Orchids are not meant to be grown in soil and can be seen in the wild growing in trees. Their roots absorb moisture from the air and do not need any other nutrients (in general). The best way to water these plants is to either take an ice cube or two, set it on top of the “roots,” and let them melt over time, or spray the “roots” with water from a spray bottle. Either method should be repeated once a week or once every other week.
Regular potted house plants are generally simple and should be watered only when the soil feels dry to the immediate touch. They should also be re-potted when they appear to be getting too big for their enclosure, or if they start to go dormant.
If you don’t already own some plants, I recommend visiting a local greenhouse. They are open for business, though limited due to COVID-19. While some of the plants mentioned can be found at Walmart, I personally recommend Erik’s Garden Center, located off Hwy. 41 at 1932 US-41, Marinette. Plant shopping is a great way to get out of the house for just a little bit without coming into contact with a lot of people and will help support local businesses.
Some excellent books for advice on growing house plants can be found on the internet. One of the best websites for books is Thriftbooks, which offers many houseplant care books for under $10.
—Emily Burns