I’m a wannabe plant lady. I love the look of real over faux plants any day, but keeping them alive is a struggle. Luckily, I’ve stumbled across one little care tip that has catapulted me into indoor plant success. That’s saying a lot. I’ve killed my fair share.
If you have ANY indoor plant tips, please comment below because I’d love to hear them all. This is my small contribution to the indoor plant friends in the crowd. ???? The idea started when my girlfriend got put in charge of her mother in law’s plants for an extended period of time. Her MIL had a whole watering schedule for her plants and the interesting part was it was based on ice cubes. Yep.
Ice Cubes are plant magic.
I took it up a notch though.
You see, we used to own a landscape company and my husband knows a thing or two about plants…of the outdoor variety. So naturally I’ve learned a thing or two as well. I’ve learned that bad water is not your friend and there is no substitute for God’s water, aka rain. ????????
Where we used to live the water had a high sodium content and the water would literally burn the leaves of plants. We couldn’t grow a lot of flowering plants I would have liked. All this to say, this idea about good water still lingers in my mind and I thought rain water would be better than tap water for my ice cubes! BTW – if you want to share your wannabe plant lady status with the world, grab this cute T-shirt from the Mercantile and tell ’em about it. No shame in the wannabe game!
I’m like a crazy lady when it rains, filling buckets and gathering water. (I really need a water barrel.) I fill some cheap dollar store ice cube trays with my liquid gold and save them in a plastic bag labeled in large letters RAINWATER so my kids don’t eat them. ☔️????????
To make sure I stay consistent in watering my indoor babies I add ice cubes to my potted indoor plants every Wednesday. Because Wednesday and water both start with W and that is how I remember. ???? Fancy right?
Anyway, it has been working like a charm and all the plants are happily floating along. I can’t lie. I’m kind of proud of myself. You should try this easy little tip if you are plant challenged like me! Here is a recap.
Indoor Plant Care Tips
- Harvest rainwater. If you skip this step that’s ok, especially if you have good tap water in your area! When I run out of rain water I use tap water.
- Make ice cubes from rainwater. Or use the ones in your freezer if you skip the rainwater step.
- Stay consistent. Pick one day a week to add ice cubes to your indoor plants. I choose Wednesday—>W is for water.
- Adjust the amount of ice cubes accordingly. This trick really helps you to not over-water and the ice melts slowly so the soil can absorb the water better. Just lay the ice cubes like little Easter eggs in your potted plants! My cat tries to lick them sometimes so it can be an entertaining chore as well. ????
- Enjoy the beauty and accomplishment of LIVE indoor plants.
- BTW – if you happen to have a cat that likes to use your houseplants as a litter box, here is a whole list of ways to stop that!
Hope this little tip helps and don’t forge to tell me all your plant keeping secrets please and thank you! Be my bestie and Pin this before you go will you!? That way other plant killers can find this trick. Thanks a bunch XOXO
Rosemary Parker says
I read a article to put your hair in the plants so im trying it after i brush my hair i started digging a hole to put my hair in the hole they are starting to look good something about the nutrients in your hair
Kim at Salvaged Living says
wow – hadn’t heard that one yet, but sounds like a good idea, you’ll have to keep me posted!
BPS says
You know I love me some rain water! I love the idea and will give it a shot. Xoxo
Jauquetta says
I live in Iowa and it’s WAY to cold to use ice cubes in my plants, even indoors. It can get to 9 outside! Winter has come early here! I have a bonsai that needs care every 2 to 3 days. I have a Spath a.k.a. Peace Lily, it was getting a bit of mold or fungus on it’s dirt so I liberally sprinkled it w cinnamon. Before I moved I had 9 African Violets and I did this to them. We used to live in Oregon and the air was damp. The cinnamon worked wonders. I have 3 mini orchids that require care and again, ice cubes wouldn’t work for them, they don’t like the cold on their roots as a great many are of the aireial type (exposed). Glad you found things that work for your plants. Mine seem fussy but since they are like my kids I don’t mind too much. We haven’t traveled more than over night since my daughter sent me the bonsai so not sure what I’ll do with it when we do!
ColleenB.-Tx. says
Hello Jauquetta. Former Iowan here but now a Texas gal.
I used to have house plants and would always water mine with distilled water. We also have water tanks to collect the rain water of which we use for my out side potted plants along with our newly planted trees.
As for having house plants; I just don’t have the right light conditions, plus don’t have the room for large plants.
Carol says
I talk to mine. They usually listen! LOL!!
Kim at Salvaged Living says
They are such good listeners;)
Lu says
Any suggestions for taking care of an Easter Lily? My leaves keep turning brown.
Kim at Salvaged Living says
I would guess it might be getting too much water – cut back and see what happens, possibly try a different spot and see if it needs more light as well! Best of luck!