As gardens, parks and nature strips start showing signs of spring, our indoor plants might need a little help to jump into the new season.
If, on inspection, you find yellowing leaves, collapsing stems and dusty foliage, an indoor plant spring clean may be called for.
Here's what you can do to give them a boost.
Inspect, top-up soil and trim
The owner of an indoor plant store in Naarm/Melbourne, horticulturalist Tamara Campbell, recommends using spring as an opportunity to inspect your plants.
She checks for pests, anything that needs to be trimmed or pruned back and soil levels.
If soil levels have dropped, Ms Campbell says some plants might benefit from a top-up of fresh potting mix, while others might require repotting (more on that below).
Greg Moore is a senior research associate at the University of Melbourne with an interest in horticultural plant science, revegetation and ecology.
Dr Moore says "[it's a] good time to top up the mulch on top of the pot and to fertilise plants if you are not going to repot".
To maintain a "good shape" and keep indoor plants looking lush, he recommends trimming with secateurs to remove dead leaves and twigs.
Dust your leaves
Removing dust from your plants can have an impact on their health and overall appearance.
Ms Campbell says by growing plants indoors we're already limiting their access to natural light and a layer of dust makes getting enough light even harder.
A layer of dust is "like putting a curtain over them" and cleaning the leaves allows "the maximum amount of light to penetrate".
The result, according to Ms Campbell, is a visibly healthier plant.
For a spring clean, she hoses her indoor plants outside, removing any dust from the pot and the plant. Hosing also allows water to flush completely through the pot.
Repotting plants
If any of your indoor plants need repotting, Dr Moore and Ms Campbell agree that it's a good time of year to get stuck in.
Dr Moore says repotting now "as the plants are just starting to get going after winter" will allow them to get the "maximum benefit".
Ms Campbell recommends using a potting mix suited to the type of plant.
For example, for a Swiss cheese plant, elephant's ear or peace lily, Ms Campbell would use a "chunky aroid mix that drains quickly, allows for air around the roots but also has water holding capacity in the large particles".
Staking plants
While giving your plants a spring refresh, it's worth considering whether any need to be staked or re-staked.
Plant enthusiast Mike Sullivan shares plant care tips on social media and makes and sells his own plant stakes and planters.
He says it's best to stake Swiss cheese plants (Monstera deliciosa) straight away to avoid the "hunchback monstera, or sad-looking splayed-out monstera" scenario.
But Mr Sullivan says mature plants can be staked too. It mimics the support a tree trunk would offer in nature and helps avoid stems breaking.
He also notes that it's best to avoid rotating Swiss cheese plants constantly if you want them to grow in their natural form (with their leaves hanging at the front and their stem or spine at the back).
Assess your plants' positioning with spring conditions in mind
Longer and warmer spring days will also likely alter the natural light in your home.
Ms Campbell says part of setting your plant up for success is positioning them to ensure adequate light.
Dr Moore says good light is essential for indoor plants, "but no so much as to scorch leaves".
He also recommends checking "where the ducts to your air conditioning and your heating are" and moving plants out of the path of that air.
Whether it's cool or warm air, "the airflow across the leaf dries the leaf out".
