Have you had trouble growing plants indoors during the summer?
Many people rely on air conditioners to keep their homes cool during the summer heat, but most aren’t sure if their house plants will cater well to the sudden, cool air.
All plants differ from one another, and some depend on certain temperatures to grow. This can make it difficult to consistently grow indoor plants because of various needs.
Continue reading to learn about how AC units can affect common indoor plants, and what you can do to protect them.
What Do Common Indoor Plants Rely on?
There are several things that plants need to grow, but there are two that are directly affected by AC units: light and temperature.
Light
If you have an air conditioner that is placed on a window sill, you will block some of the natural light that passes through the window. This can be a problem for those that don’t have UV lamps installed.
Temperature
Temperature plays a key role in the growth of plants. Air conditioners are designed to make the temperature of a room much cooler than it is. The inconsistent temperatures can disrupt some plants, potentially killing them.
What an Air Conditioner Does
Air conditioners function by removing heat from the air and turning it into cold air. This is done by using liquid, gas, and a series of mechanisms within the air conditioners.
In modern times, homes are often equipped with ventilation systems that use both heaters and air conditioners. They are made to keep a house at a certain temperature at all times.
Most external ACs must be placed on window sills, requiring the window to be open with the back of the AC hanging out. The reason for this being that the AC spits back outside the hot air that it produces.
How You Can Protect Your Plants
While many things can harm plants, there are also several things that can be done to ensure they continue living:
Leave the Plants Out of Streams of Air
Window ACs are often designed to blow the air directly forward. Plants can freeze if they come into direct contact with the cold air, and it will prevent them from receiving water and nutrients as their pathways are blocked.
If space is tight at home and you can’t move your plants to a new location, you can work with AC services to determine the best AC for your home.
If you place your best plants around an AC unit, they will not only freeze but will also lose their moisture. If you want to avoid having your house plants die, you must avoid putting them near your AC.
For homes that use ventilation systems for cooling, keep your plants away from any vents. This will prevent them from getting smacked with cold or warm air throughout the day.
Mist Them
Natural humidity varies each day, and air conditioners are designed to remove to humidity from rooms. Along with losing its moisture from being hit with cold air, a plant can lose moisture when it isn’t exposed to much humidity.
When your plant is lacking moisture, you can mist them to provide them a layer of water on their surface. You can grab any old spray bottle and add water to do this.
Consider a Terrarium
Terrariums are highly popular amongst people that don’t want to spend too much time maintaining their plants. Terrariums keep plants in controlled environments made of glass.
They are useful because their humidity levels stay the same, they prevent your plants from experiencing any drafts of air, and they don’t require a lot of watering because they don’t allow for much evaporation.
If you’re someone that changes the temperature of your home all the time, or simply don’t enjoy the maintenance that comes with common indoor house plants, consider making a terrarium.
Monitor Your Plants Often
The most important thing that you need to do to protect your plants is by monitoring them. You need to make sure that your plants are healthy at all times by looking for any indications that they’re lacking something.
Signs That Your Plants Are Dying
Here are three signs that your plants aren’t getting what they need and are beginning to die.
Withering
Plants often wither when they’re lacking water and sunlight. The lack of nutrients causes them to lose their strength. You can avoid this by watering your plants whenever the soil is dry, and letting them take in sunlight.
Lack of Surface Moisture
Some plants display their life by producing a moist surface. It’s important that you study the types of plants you have, and understand how moist they should be. If your plant lacks moisture on its surface, it could be that it’s dried out.
Discoloration
The discoloration of plants is often caused by overwatering your plants. Overwatering can lead to your plants producing various shades of color, such as yellow, brown, and appearing to be rotted.
Keep Your Indoor House Plants Safe
While your home can be hot during the summer, you have to remember that your plants will have a hard time making it if you don’t take the precautions.
Most of the common indoor plants can survive and coexist with air conditioners providing that you don’t expose the plants to them. Start thinking about how often you change the temperature and consider your options.
Feel free to browse our blog for more posts about plant life and gardening. We have plenty of tips that will help you with your plants!
