Monty Don shares his efficient houseplant watering method to help keep your leafy friends happy this month
Don't abandon your houseplants this season, they still need plenty of watering as the weather begins to change
What with the unusually hot weather and nationwide hosepipe bans, it's been all too easy to solely focus on keeping our garden plants alive. But houseplants are in need of a little TLC this time of year too, and who better to help us through that than Monty Don?
Whilst you may have mastered how to water your garden plants properly through the summer and multiple heatwaves, our houseplants can be similarly affected by the heat and need some more attention because of it. So although your houseplant watering routine has worked in the past years, your plants may need some more thorough watering thanks to the warmth of this summer.
With that in mind, we spotted that Monty Don had shared his brilliant houseplant watering method that ensures your leafy friends are properly hydrated, all without any water waste.
Sharing his wisdom on BBC's Gardeners' World, Monty explains that along with the daily tasks of caring for indoor plants, they will need a more thorough watering every now and again. Especially with the hot weather being so persistent this year.
"Although houseplants should be misted daily, it's a good idea now and then to give them a really good drink," starts Monty.
"Fill a container full of water, plunge the pots in below the surface and hold them down until they cease bubbling. Then drain them thoroughly, and when you've finished, you've still got water that you can use on your favourite plants outside," he adds.
Keeping in mind this year's drought, knowing how to water your plants amidst a hosepipe ban is becoming increasingly important, and that includes your houseplants too.
Collecting rainwater is a great sustainable houseplant hack as well as being a crucial backup when these rules do get put in place. In the same way Monty encourages gardeners to use the leftover water on their garden plants after watering houseplant varieties, any rainwater harvesting in the garden can be brought inside.
Again, this isn't just a way to save money and reduce waste in the garden, but your houseplants will thrive more than if you used tap water thanks to the lack of fluoride. It's a win-win!
If you are interested in rainwater harvesting, we recommend exploring clever garden solutions to help you collect rainwater. That way, your plants can still be watered when the drought arrives again next summer.
