Overwatering is one of the easiest ways to kill an indoor plant.
Most plants don’t like water-logged soil as the roots are susceptible to rot, fungus and bacteria, so it’s vital that you provide decent drainage.
You can keep your plants happy by using pots with drainage holes, or by adding a layer of rocks and gravel to the bottom of the planter. This directs water away from the roots of the plant.

You can also keep your plants healthy by adding a layer of horticultural charcoal to the pot or planter. This absorbs excess water from the roots of your plant and keeps the soil “sweet” by guarding against bacteria, fungus and rot. It also helps to eliminate odours, and is particularly effective in terrariums.
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You can find horticultural charcoal at garden centres and nurseries.
You might also like:
5 winning ways to hero indoor plants
How to take care of plants at home
When to feed your indoor plants
With a first-class Honours degree in English, Rebecca Lowrey Boyd is best known as the founder of Wee Birdy (weebirdy.com), a London-based blog devoted to London shopping, design and style. It was named one of the Top 100 Blogs in the World by the Sunday Times (UK), and was listed on Times Online's Best 50 Design Blogs in the World. It has also featured in many international magazines including British Vogue, British Cosmopolitan, Australian Cosmopolitan, Inside Out, Shop Til You Drop and Home Beautiful. During her time in London, Rebecca was also Deputy Shopping & Style Editor at Time Out London. She is also the former editor of Bride to Be, Cosmopolitan Bride, Cosmopolitan Pregnancy and Cosmopolitan Hair & Beauty magazines, as well as Digital Managing Editor on bhg.com.au, an associate editor on Home Beautiful magazine, Acting Digital Managing Editor on Homes to Love and Digital Managing Editor on Gourmet Traveller. A design nerd and keen birder, she can usually be found poring over Pinterest, knee-deep in Bunnings or sticky-beaking at modernist homes in Sydney’s bushburbia.
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