Plant care guide – Zar’ah wa Qayd

This guide gathers short rules for looking after plants in UAE homes, by topic: light, watering, the summer heat, feeding and repotting. Tick what you have done, and your browser keeps your ticks for your next visit.

Light

A sunny window suits cacti and succulents, with a light curtain at summer noon Succulents & cacti
Indirect light near a window suits monstera, fiddle-leaf fig and schefflera Monstera
A dim corner suits ZZ and snake plants ZZ plant
Turn the pot a quarter turn every two weeks so the plant grows evenly
If the leaves fade and the stems stretch, move the plant closer to the window little by little

Shop: Indoor plants

Watering

Touch the soil and water when the top 2–3 cm are dry
Water slowly until it runs out of the drainage hole, then empty the saucer after a quarter of an hour Pots & planters
Water cacti and succulents every two to three weeks, and once a month in winter Succulents & cacti
Balcony herbs need water every two or three days in summer Kitchen herbs
Too much water harms a plant more than thirst, so never leave it standing in water

Shop: Pots & planters

The Oman summer heat

Keep indoor plants away from the direct air-conditioning draught and from hot window glass Indoor plants
In July and August move balcony plants into afternoon shade or indoors Outdoor plants
Water outdoor plants in the early morning or after sunset, never at noon
Bougainvillea, oleander and Washingtonia take the heat outdoors with regular watering Bougainvillea
A layer of gravel over the soil cuts water loss in large pots

Shop: Outdoor plants

Feeding

Feed every two weeks from March to October, and once a month or less in winter Liquid houseplant food
Dilute liquid feed as the bottle says, and water the plant first if its soil is dry Liquid houseplant food
Do not feed a newly delivered or newly repotted plant until a month has passed
Cacti and succulents need only a light feed once a month in the growing season Succulents & cacti

Shop: Soil & care

Repotting

Repot when roots come out of the drainage hole, or every one to two years
Choose a pot just 2–5 cm wider, with a drainage hole Terracotta pot
Use fresh, well-draining potting soil, and moisten it before planting Potting soil, 10 litres
The best time to repot is spring or autumn, not the height of summer
After repotting, keep the plant in indirect light for a week before it goes back to its spot

Shop: Pots & planters

The guide is general and suits most plants in Omani homes; each plant’s page gives its own light and watering. If in doubt, send us a photo of your plant on WhatsApp.