PAGE 44 | Home&Lifestyle A wide range at Outlook Blinds and Curtains As a locally owned business Outlook Blinds and Curtains continues to serve East Gippsland, offering a comprehensive range catering to every preference. Discover the wide variety of both indoor and outdoor blinds, curtains and shutters designed to meet any style. Enhance your blinds with motorisation for an added touch of luxury that you’ll absolutely adore. The rising popularity of sheer curtains has captured attention recently, effortlessly transforming houses into stylish and cosy homes. Experience the ambiance and comfort they bring first-hand. Start preparing for the upcoming warmer months with zip screens and outdoor awnings, as well as a plethora of other options to suit your specific space and window shape. Explore the showroom to browse our extensive collection of fabrics. To experience the quality first-hand and benefit from expert guidance, give us a call or check us out on Facebook and Instagram! Caring for your indoor plants So you’ve chosen your indoor plants to spruce up your home, but how do you care for them? Here are some tips to give you the knowledge you need to care for your plants with confidence. WATERING Indoor plants have slightly different watering requirements. It’s best to water on an as-needed basis rather than be a set calendar schedule. Overwatering is one of the most common causes of houseplant death - if you’re not sure how much to water, it’s better to err on the dry side rather than too much. When you do water, avoid splashing onto leaves and stems to prevent diseases. FERTILISING Like watering, there’s not an easy rule to know how much to fertilise - it depends on the plant’s growth rate and age. The best time of year to fertilise is spring and summer, when plants are having a growth spurt. During autumn and winter, most houseplants don’t need much, if any, fertiliser. If you’re unsure, follow the label directions to how much plant food to use and when. PROPAGATING Propagating your plants is a great way to rejuvenate an overgrown plant and encourage fresh growth. It’s also an inexpensive way to get more plants out of the ones you already have. REPOTTING The best way to check if your plant needs to be repotted, check the root systems - if the roots are circling the inside of the container, it might be time to repot the plant. If the plant has outgrown its pot, transplant it into a slightly larger container. If you’d like to keep it in the same pot, trim off some of the roots and replant using fresh potting soil. The best time to do this is during spring and summer. REMOVING DUST Houseplants always look better with regular cleaning. Dust collects on leaves, so wash them with a gentle shower of room temperature water or dust them with a soft brush if the plants have hairy leaves. For plants with smooth leaves, use a cloth to gently wipe away dust. PRUNING Pruning houseplants not only make them look better, but can also keep them from getting too large. Also, remove any dead or diseased leaves and stems to prevent the problem from spreading. REMOVING LEAVES Trim faded flowers from your plants to encourage more blooms and to prevent diseases. While you’re at it, be sure to remove yellow, brown or withered leaves. PESTS Several insects commonly attack houseplants. Insecticidal soaps are a good option for removing pests. A spray of water from the hose also helps to knock down the population of pests too. Rubbing alcohol is effective on insects with waxy coatings. Debra Donnelly outlookblinds@bigpond.com Curtains Pelmets Roller Blinds Screen Blinds Venetians Verticals Romans Shutters Awnings and more
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