How To Care for Shade Plants
Even if you may be the most forgetful plant parent, always bear in mind trees are living things and need a little care. It doesn’t matter whether they are tolerant species that can take any level of neglect; still, you should make an effort to provide the best growing conditions for plants that don’t need sun.
Water
The exciting news for you is that the watering needs for plants that don’t need sun are pretty relaxed,10 unlike those of species like the maple tree. They stay shaded throughout the day, which means that they are shielded from the scorching sun, which is the main cause of dehydration.
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If you are busy and rarely find time for watering, the best thing you can do for your trees is to invest in self watering planters. A mist for plants will also be a lifesaver to help keep your plants hydrated every single day.
Soil
Many plant owners forget that soil is one of the most crucial things to consider when growing shade plants. Getting that right means that your plants can grow more comfortably, even when deprived of other needs.
Always check that the soil is well-draining and the pH level is suitable based on the tree type, and lastly, avoid overwatering, else you will unknowingly promote root rot.
Temperature
As you must have noticed by now, many indoor plants are tropical in nature. This only goes to show that they prefer warmer conditions, preferably levels of 65-75 degrees (F).5
It helps that this is easily achievable for indoor plants, but it may be a problem for outdoor shaded trees, particularly when winter strikes.
Planting Tips for Hard To Kill Plants
What owners appreciate about hard-to-kill plants is that they are easy to plant in comparison to other species. If you want to test the waters by planting your own, the following are the planting tips for plants that don’t need sun.
- When planting a shade tree outdoors, and wanting to be sure that it has all the space it needs, you can start by digging a hole almost twice the size of the container it was planted in.
- Even though it is hard to kill plants, you cannot ignore that the tree should also grow in a warm spot. Indoor setups prove more conducive for many owners because the temperatures are warmer. But if you must plant outdoors, consider planting during spring and completely avoid planting in winter.
- A common mistake that you may have previously made is over or under-watering during planting. The soil should never stay extremely wet or dry because the plant will struggle to grow, which you want to avoid.
- Most hard-to-kill plants don’t mind growing under shaded spots but would still love occasional direct sunlight but only if you don’t detect warning signs like discoloring leaves.
- When picking a tree for planting, remember to do your due diligence first about its preferred growing conditions, from its soil pH to other particular requirements.
Pests of Shade Perennials
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You may have done everything within your power to keep your plant alive, and it may come as a shock when you suddenly see withering and discolored leaves. This time, it is not your fault, only that the common pests of the plants that don’t need sun are to blame.11
Aphids are the most diabolical pests, hated by gardeners and plant lovers alike. Not only do they feed on the lush leaves of indoor and outdoor shade trees, but they also leave them curled and withered.
Scales are also infamous for leaving hideous bumps all over the plant.
As if that is not enough, the females also take advantage and lay numerous eggs all over the tree. Also, watch out for mealybugs, which, as you can tell from their name, are disgusting, icky soft-bodied insects that suck the life out of your plants.
Spider mites and thrips are also causes of concern for your tree because they feed on the succulent parts, leaving hideous spots that force you to sadly chop off the affected parts.
How To Stop Pests of Plants That Don’t Need Sun
Since you are dealing with delicate plants, you want to be very careful when dealing with pests; for instance, if visible like aphids, you can gently wash them off, which should basically do the trick.
Alternatively, if you are brave enough, you can manually remove the bugs using a Q-tip or scrape them off, but the last thing you want is to physically contact them.
Pesticides are also a foolproof method but if you are eco-conscious, you can opt for natural pest control for plants that don’t need sun where you spray the trees with a mixture of dish soap, neem oil, and garlic.
Diseases of Shade Plants
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Unfortunately, even plants that are hard to kill are not immune from diseases, and it is usually not your fault when that happens because fungi can spread through the wind. The most lethal diseases that should cause panic are namely, powdery mildew, rust, and canker.
They are some of the most lethal that you likely have no hand in. They are fungi that spread between trees, and you can detect them through discolored leaves; keenly watch out for brown and white spots on the leaves and curling and withering.4
It doesn’t mean that all shade tree diseases are sporadic, sometimes the disease is a result of your own doing. For instance, overwatering is famously known to lead to root rot, which is probably one of the leading causes of the death of indoor plants.
How To Stop Shade Tree Diseases
It is normal to want to know how to stop plants that don’t need sun disease because you want to keep your plants alive at all costs. For starters, the best remedy when dealing with fungal infections is to chop off the affected parts to avoid spreading to the entire plant and other trees nearby.12
Applying fungicide may also help to some extent, but it doesn’t guarantee that the disease will not reoccur. If the case is severe and has extended to most parts of the tree, I hate to break it to you, but it means disposing of and destroying the entire plant for the well-being of the others.
From basic science knowledge, you know that the sun is one of the most vital elements that help plants grow. But what happens in the case of indoor plants that don’t have the luxury of full sunlight access, do they all wither and die?
It is good to know that some species can survive under little and indirect light. Therefore, you are free to place one in your dimly lit or windowless space without worrying that they are sunlight deprived.
You may not have a green thumb or have previously killed a few of your cherished plants, but there are plenty of plants that don’t need sun that you can try, both indoors and outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions About Plants That Don’t Need Sun
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor
