Do you know how to care for your houseplant?

Have you ever found your windowsill plant seems to attract little flies who do not pay rent? Or does your houseplant seem caught in a cobweb or is dotted with mildew? Neem oil could be the answer.

Over the lockdowns, people have taken to bringing a bit of nature inside in the form of houseplants. Houseplants are incredibly trendy right now, but do you know how to look after yours? First and foremost, make sure you've done your research about the plant that you have purchased; all plants prefer different lighting and water levels, and the best way to make sure your plant has what it needs is to know what to expect!

I purchased two plants over lockdown and I have not been the best plant parent! But I knew I had to take plant parenthood more seriously when my little Orchid began attracting tiny black flies. I was not going to let them stick around! So, I did a quick dive into how to keep your houseplants thriving and fly-less.

I found the factors that are most important in terms of your plant's health are making sure the soil is always moist (not too wet or dry), and the level of light the plant requires. All plants prefer light over darkness as they photosynthesise from the sunlight, however, some plants (such as spider plants) prefer shade rather than full sunlight. In addition, it turns out houseplants are particularly vulnerable to insects during the winter months.

The most active and well-known compound in Neem is Azadirachtin. Although it doesn't kill insects outright, it acts in different ways to reduce their numbers. It acts as an anti-feedant- and if starving insect pests isn't enough- it also disrupts their development at different stages of their lives, so it can be used in any season. It is also an effective fungicide, so will help with problems such as powdery mildew, which affects many houseplants. Neem Oil is also safe for your children and pets, so there is absolutely no need to worry about them touching your plants!

The Neem Team's Gardeners Kit is made up of neem oil and a natural coconut derived surfactant to keep it in solution. All you do is make up a spray (I used an old cleaning spray bottle) and spray the plants once every 10 days.

All in all, Neem Oil is a houseplant lover's essential if you want happy and healthy plants. It has certainly done a fantastic job helping mine!