June Houseplant Checklist: Division, Fertilizing, and Vacation Care

Divide Overgrown Ferns

Split a Boston fern into quarters; plant two quarters in each of two hanging baskets. They'll look great in four weeks.

Creative Container Gardening

Recycle shoes, wagons, or wooden crates—just ensure good drainage.

Fertilize Outdoor Houseplants

Constant summer watering leaches nutrients; fertilize regularly.

Vacation Care with Plastic Bags

Soak soil, drain, place plant in a plastic bag with skewers to support the bag. Move out of direct sun.

Amaryllis Bulb Care

Do not mulch after blooming; keep the neck of the bulb 1 inch above soil.

Shade-Tolerant Hanging Basket Plants

Trailing tuberous begonia, fern, impatiens, fibrous begonias with variegated ivy or creeping fig.

Fertilize Moved-Outdoor Plants

They'll fill out with more leaves in a few weeks.

Daily Hanging Basket Checks

Water if needed; shelter from hot all-day sun or wind.

Clean Clay Pots

White crusty patches (efflorescence) are harmless; scrub off with a brush.

Leach Excess Fertilizer

Once each summer, water large containers until soaked, then run water slowly for 20 minutes. For small pots, water until drainage, wait, repeat.