It might not be all sunshine and blue skies just yet where you are, but the daylight hours will start to increase. That means our plants are starting to ‘wake up’ from their winter snooze.

New season, new growth; this is your spring care checklist.

A fresh pot to settle into

Give your plants a springtime reset by refreshing their soil, making sure they're not too rootbound, and/or repotting them into a larger pot. This gives ample space for your plants to grow this season and to wiggle your Sensor into their soil, keeping those soil moisture readings on point. 

Repotting in spring is perfect because it’s not too hot or cold, reducing the repot stress, so your plants can focus on settling in nicely and get ready to grow over summer.

Brocc’s Hot Tip: Many plants prefer to be kept slightly rootbound and won’t like to go too big too soon, so only upgrade your pot  4 to 8cm (2-3 inches) up in size

Give your plants a fresh cut

Noticed long, leafless runners on your vines this winter? That’s your plant searching for a better spot to grow. Yellow or browning leaves? Plants just don’t like the winter cold. Sparse trees or bare stems? That means it’s time for a trim.

Snip vining runners back to the last healthy leaf with clean scissors or secateurs. For trees, trim back the bare sections to keep them even. A little pruning now means much healthier growth later!

Your plants will also appreciate a wash, as any dust build up blocks the light and inhibits photosynthesis and respiration. To clean, support the underside of the leaves with one hand, and wipe with a clean damp cloth. You may wish to make use of a neem oil leaf shine to help keep them clean and prevent pests.

Hungry (or hangry?) houseplants

Your plants are waking up from their winter hibernation – and this might have them feeling a little hangry! It’s a good idea to get back in the fertiliser game if you took some time off over winter. Fertilising regularly will keep your plants on their best game over the growing season.

If you have re-potted one or two of your plants with new potting mix, these plants likely won’t need more food.

Brocc’s Hot Tip: Our app’s Fertiliser Schedule will tell you exactly when it’s time to fertilise based on your plants’ needs. Simply select if you’re using liquid or slow-release fertiliser and Willow will do all the calculations for you!

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 to get more sunlight or perhaps to avoid drafty windows to protect your sensitive plants.

As the days become longer and the intensity of the light increases, particularly south or west-facing windows, ensure your plants are shifted accordingly. Take it as an opportunity to do a little restyling.

Small prep steps go a long way

Taking these small care actions now will pay off for you and your houseplants in the coming months. 

You’ll notice Willow sending you plenty more watering alerts for your plants than it did in winter. Make sure to keep on top of watering as it warms up to avoid any leaf burn or dried up roots.

Summer can be tough for our plants: drier conditions, hotter & harsher sunlight. If you get them prepared in the temperate times of spring, it gives them a much better chance of making it through the heat.