The July Plant Edit
July is prime time for neglecting your houseplants. We get it. The long, lazy days of summer are filled with vacations, backyard barbecues, pool days, and just about everything except houseplants. But giving your green friends a little attention this month can make a huge difference—for both them and you.
Water Smarter, Not More
The most important accessory for your plants this summer is...water.
Busy summer schedules make it easy to forget the basics, but that doesn't mean your plants need daily watering. In fact, most houseplants would be much happier if you didn't.
Instead, make it easy to remember to check them. Keep a pretty watering can where you'll see it every day, or display a fun watering tool (like one of our Dripping Rain Clouds). Any visual reminder helps keep plant care at the front of your mind.
When it's time to water, don't just pour and walk away. Take a minute to check your plant. Is the soil too dry? Too wet? Is the top layer dry while the bottom of the pot is sitting in water because your decorative planter doesn't have drainage? These are all easy problems to fix.
What your plant really wants is even watering. When moisture is distributed evenly through the soil, roots stay healthier and plants grow stronger. And remember, most houseplants prefer to dry out between waterings rather than stay constantly wet.
Check Those Leaves
Leaves can tell you a lot about how your plant is feeling.
If they're looking dusty or dull, wipe them down with a soft cloth or a pair of leaf-cleaning gloves. Clean leaves don't just look better—they photosynthesize more efficiently, too.
My biggest summer challenge, though, isn't dust—it's too much light. My sunroom has huge windows that are perfect all winter long, but by July I have to keep an eye out for leaf burn.
Most people won't run into this with indoor plants, but if you've been supplementing with a grow light during the winter, don't forget that summer days are much longer. Sometimes your plants can end up getting too much of a good thing.
Vacation-Proof Your Plants
One of the biggest questions people ask this time of year is, "What do I do with my plants when I go on vacation?"
The good news is it's usually simpler than you think.
Most houseplants will be perfectly happy for about a week if you give them a thorough watering before you leave. For longer trips, I fill a bucket with water and run wicking cord from the bucket to my plants. It sounds a little strange, but it's surprisingly effective. I've used this method on trips lasting more than a month.
For vacations somewhere in between, asking a friend or neighbor to stop by works just fine.
The biggest worry is usually whether someone else will know how much water your plant needs. While I always say my Dripping Rain Clouds aren't designed as vacation waterers, they do make giving instructions incredibly simple: "Just fill the cloud once."
That way you know your plant receives a slow, measured four ounces of water—even if your neighbor's teenager doesn't know a pothos from a palm tree.
A Little Whimsy Goes a Long Way
This month's edit has focused mostly on plant care because, honestly, when houseplants struggle during the summer, they usually just need a little more attention.
But I'm also a firm believer that fun plant accessories are part of good plant care.
Nothing makes you more excited to check on your plants than adding something that makes you smile. That's exactly why I design whimsical plant accessories.
I don't think of my plants as green objects sitting in the corner. They're part of my home, part of my decor, and something I genuinely enjoy interacting with every day.
So give your plants a little summer glow-up. Dress them up, give them a drink, and spend a few extra minutes with them this month.
They'll thank you for it.
