5 expert tips to take care of your plants this summer

We have seen heatwaves across the country and while it has been brutal on us the plants in our homes have been taking a hit too Most experts say that the health of the soil is key to making sure that your potted friends make it through the heat so we focused on its wellbeing We found five ways to ensure your indoor plants stay nourished and donrsquot lose their sheen this summerMulch awayAn important part of the soilrsquos optimum health is mulching but how to add mulch to a potted plant ldquoYou can add other things that will feed the soil from inside the potrdquo says Preeti Patil cofounder of Urban Leaves ldquoYou can just add dry leaves swept up from the building premises that are otherwise burnt If you have the time fill a sack with them and stomp stomp stomp Another good addition can be hay easily found in mango boxes Or just request the fruit seller for some Its high fibre content is great for the soilrdquoHumidifierYes thatrsquos right a humidifier that is often our goto for human respiratory concerns helps plants as well says Diipti Jhangiani who works as a farm consultant at Edible Garden India ldquoKeep a humidifier in the vicinity of your plant This particularly helps in avoiding your plants from drying out as the plant can take water from the humidifier if it needsrdquo she saysKnow your rootsAn infected plant is not a lost cause says Preeti ldquoWhile yoursquod have to trim the infested stem or leaf I would suggest addressing the root causerdquo she says ldquoTo replenish the health of the soil till one inch away from the roots spray some water and add compostrdquo Patil suggests the finger test ldquoPush down your index finger in the soil If it goes all through to the bottom of the pot the soil is healthyrdquoChoose your plantsApurva Karthik a teacher and plant enthusiast from Bengaluru insists on repotting right before the summer for aerating the soil ldquoThe soil must breathe and I add compost when I repot so the plant has fresh new ingredients to choose from If your plant has been in the same pot for sixeight months before summer the soil will get compact and squeeze out the life from the rootsrdquoTop itDiipti loves this trick Replacing the top soil of your pot with a mulch mat easily found in the market ldquoThis mat is made of coirrdquo she says and helps in retaining the moisture from the compost and soilrdquo Itrsquos one of the handiest ways to solve multiple problems lack like of nutrition and impact of our watering causing them to wither away in April and May