With your plants coming out of their dormant winter period, it's the perfect time to take stock of their overall conditions. To get ready for the months ahead, and have your plants truly thriving, we’ve put together our top spring plant care tips.

Makeover time: trim, prune & clean

Let’s face it, sometimes our plants just don’t like winter and come out the other side needing some TLC. Spring presents the perfect opportunity to take out the secateurs and trim off any sad leaves that may have yellowed or browned. For any vined indoor plants, prune back any stems that have grown long and leggy with little growth.

Your plants will also appreciate a wash, as any dust build up blocks the light and inhibits photosynthesis and respiration. To clean, use a damp cloth and while supporting the underside with your palm, wipe the surface of both sides of the leaves. You may also wish to make use of a natural leaf shine like neem oil to help keep them that way and prevent pests.

Ramp up the water

Yep, just as you adjusted your watering regime for when your plants growth slowed in the cooler winter months, now is the time to begin ramping it back up. You’ll find your plants are now a lot thirstier and that your water will evaporate more quickly from the soil. To avoid overwatering, make sure to increase the volume and frequency of water gradually.

Now is the time to repot/potup

As your indoor plants awake from winter dormancy, they are keen to stretch their legs and start producing new growth. Repotting now when your plant is actively growing and will fill out their new space quicker will reduce the risk of root rot and shock. Remember, many plants prefer to be kept slightly rootbound and won’t like to go too big too soon, so you should very rarely increase your new pot size by more than a few centimetres.

It's feeding time

You’ll likely have stopped or greatly reduced your fertilising in the past few months, but now is the time to hook yourself up with a quality fertiliser. With the extra sun and warmer days, it’s time to kick start your plant’s growth by giving them an energy boost. Note, that if you have re-potted one or two of your plants with new potting mix, these plants likely won’t need more food.

Check your lighting conditions

As the sunlight starts to creep back into our homes (yeeesssss!), you will need to consider the positioning of your plants. You may have moved your houseplants around slightly to get more sunlight or perhaps to avoid drafty windows or doors to protect your sensitive plants. As the days become longer and the intensity of the light coming in the windows increases, particularly those north or west-facing, ensure your plants are shifted accordingly. Take it as an opportunity to do a little restyling.

So there it is fam, five suggestions to ready your plants for this spring.