Plant Maintenance & Care in Las Vegas: Your Guide to Keeping Plants Alive and Thriving

Being a plant parent in Las Vegas can really be a challenge as the desert climate can be harsh on most house plants. Between the scorching sun, near-zero humidity, and temperatures that exceed the 100s, indoor plant care in Las Vegas requires more intention and care than in other plant friendlier environments. But do not get discouraged, it is absolutely doable and our team here at Rooting for you has all the tips and tricks you need to bring the jungle to the desert. With the right information and good plant parent habits, your plants can thrive even in the harsh Mojave! 

Indoor Plant Care Tips Built for the Las Vegas Desert

Being a plant parent in Las Vegas means having to deal with some curveballs that plant owners in other cities don't have to worry about. Everything from the watering, to the soil, to the light, it all changes due to the conditions. But don’t worry, we have figured it out and have all the tips to help you through any of the challenges Vegas has to offer.

Watering

Now I know how tempting it is to water and water often. In such a dry climate we often think that our plants need water more often than they actually do. When it comes to watering there are two things that are absolutely essential: consistency and drainage. Most of our indoor houseplants want to completely dry out before being watered again and for most families (monstera, philodendron, dieffenbachia, draceanea, etc.), this takes about a week depending on light conditions. 

For some of our more thirsty plants we shoot for twice a week (alocacia, anthurium, tradescantia, etc.). While the once or twice a week covers most plants, it is important to note that snake plants and succulents are ones that like to fully dry out and could take about 2 weeks to do so. The easiest way to master watering is to get onto a consistent schedule and pick a designated watering day each week. 

Potting and Soil

While watering is an essential part of plant care that everyone knows about, the soil and the way you pot your plants can have just as much of an impact on your indoor house plants in Las Vegas as your watering schedule. When it comes to the soil mix, we often suggest a nice chunky mix. This promotes water drainage and air flow which helps prevent potential root rot keeping your plants happy and healthy! The mix of your soil is a huge factor but packing it around your plant correctly can also make a huge difference. It is essential to compress your soil down so that there are no air pockets for water to build up in and rot those roots. A nice tight soil base around the roots helps support your plants and promotes growth while preventing harm!

Light Placement

The sun in Las Vegas is no joke and where most plants would do well in the outside world, here the sun scorches even the toughest of plants. Even when bringing plants indoors and focusing on a climate we can control, the Las Vegas sunlight still requires us to make some adjustments. Direct sunlight, even indoors, is too much for many of our plants and can still burn your leaves through the windows. We recommend bright indirect light for most of our plants as they can still absorb all that sunlight without taking the brunt force of it. For those of us that are lacking light, there are still tons of options! There are some great low light plants (including snake plants and zz’s) as well as great grow light options that can help substitute that sunlight. Still though, it is important to remember that real natural sunlight, even in slightly lower amounts, will always be better for your plants than artificial grow lights.

Pests and Bugs

Las Vegas’ climate can be harsh even on the insects and bugs that live outside forcing many of them to seek shelter indoors. Your indoor house plants in Las Vegas become the perfect shelter and ecosystem for these pests and if not checked, can seriously harm your plants. Spider mites, mealy bugs, and fungus gnats are some of the most common pests that seek shelter on your plants. The number 1 way to handle pests is to pay attention to your plants. Catching the pests early makes it infinitely easier to get rid of them. Once you find the little buggers trying to hurt your plants, the best thing to do is immediately isolate them, shower them down, wash off all the leaves thoroughly, and use plant friendly insecticides and pest sprays. After the initial wash down, be sure to stay consistent with spraying pest spray as often as you water your plants until you no longer see any pests. 

How Rooting For You Supports Your Plant Care in Las Vegas

Even with all this new information, plant maintenance and care can be tough and building good plant parent habits can take time. That’s where we come in! Rooting For You offers plant care and maintenance services for both residential and commercial spaces all throughout Las Vegas. We handle all the potting, watering, and other needs your plants yearn for. We can help with single plant situations or even get on a schedule to help maintain your entire home! If that sounds like the better option for you, you can email us at info.rootingforyoulv@gmail.com, call us at (702)-445-6903, or come visit us in-shop at 2380 N. #115 Buffalo Dr. in Northwest Las Vegas! We are always happy to help care for your plant babies and help you find you new ones!