I’m a gardening expert – how to revive dying plants after a heatwave, from keeping them away from fans to trimming | The Sun

FOLLOWING the recent sweltering weather in the UK, many plant owners may be releasing their plants are in need of some TLC.

With this in mind, gardening experts from WeThrift have revealed top tips for how can you keep your plants alive in extreme temperatures.

If your plants have been left looking damaged, there are some tips on how you can give them a new lease of life.

1. Watch out for sunburn

Plants need sunlight to produce food, but like us, too much sun can burn them. 

The outer layers of leaf tissue can burn up with too much light exposure, causing leaves to turn brown, white or yellow.

This can cause irreversible damage to plants, so if the heat is too much you should limit the amount of time your plants spend in direct sunlight to avoid the leaves burning. 

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Keep your plant in a shaded spot in the house during peak sun and only give it sunlight during cooler periods of the day, like early morning.

2. Keep them hydrated

An essential thing to keep houseplants safe in sunlight is to keep them hydrated. 

Strong sunlight will dry out the soil much faster than usual so you should regularly check if they might need rewatering. 

The best time to water them would be on mornings and evenings when the temperature is cooler to prevent the water evaporating quickly. 

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Avoid watering if your plant is in direct hot sunlight as water can magnify the sun’s rays and make scorched leaves more likely.

3. Don’t overwater them

Knowing when to water your plants and knowing how much water they need is the hardest part of being a houseplant parent. 

Too much water can cause plants to drown, and like us they need space to breathe. 

If you think you may have overwatered your plant, try repotting it in new soil, remove any dead or dying leaves and move it into a shady area. 

Some common signs of an overwatered plant include leaves turning brown despite having damp soil, stunted slow growth and wilting leaves.

4. Keep them away from fans and AC

If you’re lucky enough to have air conditioning or fans, then houseplants must be kept away from the cold air being released. 

This especially applies to exotic plants as they need humidity. 

While quiet fans are a must for summer, the strong air blow can dehydrate and dry out the soil. 

Delicate plants, such as orchids, may even have their flowers damaged by the strong gusts of air.

5. Keep a lookout for general warning signs

Whilst taking these precautions, always keep a lookout for warning signs that the plants are suffering in the heat. 

Look for any signs of heat exhaustion. 

Some of the changes to look out for include yellow or brown spots appearing on the leaves, curled leaves, burnt tips, general wilting and dry soil. 

All are a sign that water loss has taken place.

6. How to revive your plants after high temperatures

If this is the case, and your plants are now looking discoloured or wilted following the weekend’s high temperatures, there fortunately more still be time to revive your plants and bring them back to full health. 

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If your plant does have brown or yellow spots, remove these discoloured areas of the leaves using scissors shears. 

You may feel that this is doing more damage to your plants, but it actually helps them to repair themselves as it encourages the healthy part of the plant to grow and gain the nutrients that it requires to do so. 

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Now that we’re seeing temperatures cooling down, move your plants back into the direct sunlight so that they can photosynthesize and stimulate growth. 

Many dehydrated plants will require humid conditions – an air humidifier is a worthwhile product to create a well moisturised environment for your plant to recover in. 

And of course, be sure to take the time to water your plants just the right amount in order to help them to rehydrate, grow and thrive once again.

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