In the sweltering summer months, adding a few potted plants indoors can bring a refreshing touch of nature into your home. Here are some suitable indoor plants for summer and essential tips to keep them healthy and thriving. Orchids, Jasmine, Green Radish, and Spider Plants are excellent choices for summer planting, while Cacti also make great additions.
Summer brings high temperatures, so it's important to pay attention to a few key details when caring for your indoor plants:
1. Avoid direct sunlight on blooming flowers. Instead, place them near a window or balcony, and use a sheer curtain to filter the light. This way, they get enough sunlight without being scorched.
2. In air-conditioned rooms, the humidity is usually low, which can cause leaf edges to become crispy. Place your plants away from air vents and open windows when not using AC to let them breathe in fresh air.
3. Plants like Peace Lily and Green Radish have warm roots but don't require frequent watering in summer—once every two to three days is usually sufficient. Cacti, on the other hand, only need water once every half a month.
4. Many plants grow rapidly during summer. To maintain their shape and encourage more blooms, regular pruning is necessary. Plants such as Geraniums, Fuchsias, String of Red, and Chrysanthemums should have their tops pinched back once they reach a certain height to promote bushier growth and more flowers. Also, remove any unwanted shoots that appear on stems or branches to prevent unnecessary nutrient loss.
Some foliage plants benefit from occasional trimming to encourage new leaf growth. For example, Chrysanthemums and Roses should have excess flower buds removed. Similarly, for fruit-bearing plants like Kumquat, Pomegranate, and Bergamot, it's best to remove extra small fruits when they're about the size of soybeans. After flowering, be sure to deadhead spent blooms to help the plant focus its energy on growth rather than seed production.
With proper care, your indoor plants can thrive even in the heat, bringing beauty and freshness to your living space all summer long.