1. Choose the right plants for your space

This one seems obvious, but it’s a simple step that will pay off for years to come. Wherever you buy your plants, talk to the vendor about where you’re thinking of keeping the plant. A bright balcony that receives tons of light? A dining room table more than twelve feet away from a natural light source? An apartment where you never open the windows, or one where the windows stay open all summer long? These conditions matter when it comes to plant care, and a few questions (or a handy Google search!) can set you up for success.

2. Remember to water according to the plant’s needs

One of the most frustrating things about maintaining a plant is knowing when and how much to water it. Some plants like a lot of water, some only a little, and how can you remember when you watered last before that grim morning when you glide through the kitchen and realize your plants are drooping and brown? The answer? Schedule it. Research the optimal watering schedule for your plants online, and set an appointment in your online calendar the same way you do your Monday morning staff meeting or your bi-weekly walk with friends. What gets scheduled gets done, and if you feel confident that you’re watering your plant correctly, you’re more likely to stick to the plan. Not a digital person? Label each plant with its ideal schedule and keep a stack of post it notes nearby, jotting down the date each time you water the plant and sticking it next to the label. With just a glance you’ll see when you watered last, and when you need to water again!

Pro Tip: Experts recommend swapping out regular water for flat club soda once a week to give your plants extra pep. The minerals in the soda are extremely plant-friendly!

Pro tip #2: Leaving town for a week? Invest in a watering globe or convert an empty wine or soda bottle into a DIY watering can by cleaning the bottle and filling it halfway with water. Then, turn the bottle upside down and bury it deep in the pot of a large plant (like a fig tree). The water will leech into the soil over time, keeping your plant perky while you’re away.

3. Fertilize like a (DIY) pro

It makes sense that occasionally adding fertilizer to your plants will help them grow, but there’s no need to buy an expensive mixture from the nursery. You can use your spent coffee grounds as a fertilizer instead. Ideally, you’d mix your fertilizer with other organic waste to form a compost, but that arguably takes time and effort. Instead, just sprinkle coffee grounds lightly over the soil about once a week and see how your plant responds. Remember—go light! You don’t want to deep roast your plant in coffee grounds.

4. Clean your plant (yes, really!)

Just like humans, plants feel better with a little tending. It’s a great idea to dust the leaves of your plants or mist them with a water mister (if they’re a water loving variety), on a regular basis. This allows you to really look at the plant, make sure it hasn’t become a new home for any plant-dangerous bugs, and also helps you reconnect with nature (which is probably part of the reason why you got a plant in the first place!)

Pro tip: Experts say that rubbing a little mayonnaise on your plant’s leaves every few weeks can make them extra shiny in a healthy way…you be the judge!

The post Keeping your plants healthy in your apartment appeared first on BRG Apartments Blog.

1. Assume the worst, and plan accordingly

This seems unnecessarily harsh, but particularly in our current highly unsettled environment, you should err on the side of being too cautious when it comes to taking care of your roommate. What if that individual did have a potentially life-threatening disease, one which resulted only in mild symptoms for her, but could hit you harder? It pays to be prepared by stocking up early on all the items you might need to care for a sick person, including disinfectant, gloves, bleach wipes, over the counter flu/cold medicines, Tylenol or other fever-reducing pain reliever, a thermometer, isopropyl alcohol, and enough food/toiletry supplies to hunker down until your roommate is feeling better. Also, figure out a plan to ensure your roommate will have plenty of reading material/access to the internet or TV access in their room, ideally before anyone falls sick.

2. Practice sensible self-care

Though you want to make sure your roommate knows you are present and taking care of them, it’s best to limit your time in close contact. Avoid being face to face (even if you have a medical-grade mask, which are often hard to find), and stay out of their room as much as possible—while they stay inside. You can both deep clean that bedroom once everyone is feeling better! In addition, make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep, are eating healthy foods and getting exercise, and are drinking lots of water. If you can get outside and into the sunshine on a regular basis, that’s also a great idea!

3. Keep the rest of the apartment (and yourself!) extremely clean

Speaking of cleaning, use this time to deep clean the rest of the apartment, sanitizing all surfaces and washing your own hands frequently. Avoid touching your face until you’ve thoroughly washed your hands after you deliver anything to your roommate’s room or after doing their laundry or handling their dishes. Washing your hands for at least twenty seconds should become almost a meditative routine for you—do it early and often! If soap and water isn’t available, you can use an alcohol-based hand rub, but soap and hot water is best.

4. Watch their symptoms carefully

Most likely, your roommate will recover after several days or a few weeks of mild to moderate symptoms, but if you’re their primary caregiver, it’s important to watch them to make sure they don’t need more help. This list, provided by the CDC for adult flu sufferers, is a great one to keep handy. Seek medical care if your roommate experiences any of the following:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Persistent dizziness, confusion, inability to arouse
• Seizures
• Not urinating
• Severe muscle pain
• Severe weakness or unsteadiness
• Fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen
• Worsening of chronic medical conditions

Caring for a roommate when they’re sick is an incredible act of service, and you should be commended for taking it on—while caring for yourself, too. Here’s wishing you and all you know a safe and healthy Spring!

The post How to care for a sick roommate while staying healthy appeared first on BRG Apartments Blog.