How To Have Lush, Healthy Houseplants With Less Watering

I don’t usually have a black thumb, but for some reason my philodendrons, spider plants and Pothos plants (in other words, hard to kill plants) were just not thriving. In fact, they had all the typical traits of an unhealthy plant.
But DIAPERS changed all of this!

Now I have lush, healthy houseplants and my watering has been cut in half if not more. If you've been wondering if this diaper trick really works, let this post be a confirmation.





You will need:
1 package of unused diapers (any size or variety)
Potting soil
Potted plant or flower of your choice (except succulents)
Watering can
Trowel
1 heavy,tip-proof bowl
1 large mixing container











Gently loosen the soil around the root ball with a trowel. Carefully lift the entire plant and roots out of the pot, using your fingers to push off the excess soil around the roots. To keep the roots from drying out while you work, drape the plant over a large, tip-proof bowl full of water and place the roots in the water.
If you discover the plant to be root-bound, gently uncoil and prune any thick, tough, choking roots.





Open up a fresh diaper and hold it under running water until completely saturated. Next, cut or tear open the cotton lining to reveal the gel inside.





To keep from making an absolute mess, empty the potting soil from your plant pot into a separate container. Next, add all of the gel from one diaper to the pot.





Pour in a little water if the potting soil is too dry and with your hands, mix the soil up good until the gel is completely combined.





Here is how my depleted potting soil looked before and after the addition of diaper gel.





Fill your pot one-third of the way with the amended soil. Remove your plant from its water bowl and carefully arrange in the pot, making sure the roots are evening placed. Evenly distribute the rest of the soil back into the pot. Thoroughly water the plant–you’ll be surprised how much water the soil will hold.





This small pot held an entire 4 cups of water without one drop leaking out the bottom! This may sound like you are drowning the plant but the diaper gel absorbs the water fast and then releases it SLOWLY as the plant needs it.
For this reason, you don't need to water as much.





Here is how my spider plant looked 15 days after its last watering.





Here are some pothos plants 19 days after their last watering.





And I can't remember the last time I watered the spider plant in my kitchen. And yet, the leaves are tender and green. Before the diaper trick, these leaves would be limp and pale by now.
For the full post, visit my blog below!






Original article and pictures take http://www.hometalk.com/10888668/how-to-have-lush-healthy-houseplants-with-less-watering site