A Day for Houseplants

We love our houseplants!

 Today is Houseplant Appreciation Day. I think every day is Houseplant Appreciation Day, but I realize that people who aren't obsessed with them like I am, probably could use a day like this. I have researched this day and found that Bob Matthews of Gardenersnet.com came up with this day. Why? Because he felt that after the holiday rush our plants could use some attention. The decorations are down and put away and its time to turn our attention back to our neglected houseplants. What a great idea! Thank-you Bob!
Why do we need to appreciate our houseplants? Because, they are cleaning our air, giving us life-sustaining oxygen, and making us happy. So we need to show them how much we appreciate them by taking care of them. Today is a day to show our plants how much we love them. How do we do that? Here a few ways you can show your houseplants some love and also some things not to do. 
First, give them a shower in the sink or in the bathtub if you can get them there. Dust is a huge detriment to plant growth, (as are dirty windows!). Hopefully you washed your windows last fall when you brought any houseplants in that were summering outside. So, back to showering your houseplants......
Nothing is more unattractive than dirty, dusty houseplants. Plants get their food from light, sun or artificial. When plants are dirty, the light can't get through to the leaves, so they need to be kept clean. If your plant is too big or heavy to be moved to the shower or sink, a sponge and a bucket of warm water is the next best thing. Washing your plants also helps get rid of any unwanted visitors that may be lurking, as well. 
After washing your plants, do we spray some nice plant shine on them to make them pretty? Absolutely not! I am NOT a proponent of gooping up plants with shine. It is not natural, unless you use Neem oil, which is also a wonderful pest control product, by the way. Anyway, I have never used plant shine and do not plan on starting. A natural clean plant is the best way to go.
Another practice that should not be done, is fertilizing your plants at this time of year. At least here in the frozen north, our plants aren't actively growing at this time of year, and so do not need fertilizer. I normally start fertilizing my houseplants in early March, or late February. I wait to see some new growth before adding any nutrients.
Some people think you should talk to your plants. That's up to you. I don't talk to my plants, but when washing them and grooming them, you are breathing on them, which gives them the carbon dioxide they need. So if you talk to them while you are near them you will provide them with even more CO2, so start talking. 
Remove any dead or yellowing leaves. These leaves may have a fungus or disease, so by removing them you will be helping stop the further spread of any diseases.  

Make sure your plants are watered, clean, and have any yellowing leaves removed and it will be Houseplant Owner Appreciation Day.