Houseplants in Spring

Once the weather turns warm in earnest, it’s so wonderful to be outdoors –  and there’s so much to do in the garden  – it’s easy to neglect the greenery that got you through the winter. Not fair. Tropical plants long for fresh air too, they just need to be introduced to it gradually. Set them outside in shade for a few more hours each day until the weather is warm and they can take partial sun. Protect them from wind, which can do as much damage as frost. Repot if they are overcrowded; cut back lanky stems; give the leaves a gentle shower. Let them know you care for a couple of weeks now and then you can totally neglect them until the end of the summer.