Spring has nearly sprung and that means a new growing season. Here are some tips and tricks to getting houseplants ready for  the longer, brighter days of spring.

It may not look like it outside but spring is on the way. The days are getting longer and soon houseplants will awake from their winter slumber and start putting out fresh new growth. To give them a great a start check out this quick guide.

Container and Plant Appearance

Inspection Time. Give all pots and planters a good looking over. Keep an eye out for cracks, mold, and signs of rot. Minor cracks are fine, but if there are any that affect the overall integrity or stability of the container, it should be discarded. Moldy pots can be cleaned by scrubbing with a mixture of 2 parts hot, soapy water and 1 part bleach.

This is also a good time to inspect the plants themselves. Prune away any dead or dying leaves and any debris that may be lying on the soil surface, then gently slide the plant out of its pot. Examine the roots carefully and look for any brown, black or mushy ones. Healthy roots are whitish and firm. Any that appear to be dead or rotted can be trimmed away with a pair of sharp scissors. Check for insects as well-root mealy bugs will appear as fuzzy cotton like tuffs and can be rinsed away under running water.

Repot. Are there roots poking out of the drainage holes or are they wrapped tightly around the soil? That's a sign it's time to repot. While some houseplants actually prefer being a little root bound, most appreciate being repotted so they can stretch their roots out. Use a good quality potting mix such as Miracle-Gro or Schultz.