How to Protect your Flooring with Indoor Plants

There are many beautiful pots available from nurseries and homewares stores at the moment. There’s also a variety of trays, trivets, plant stands and other hanging mechanisms to lift the pot off the floor. For most varieties of plants, drainage (i.e. a hole in the bottom of the pot) is beneficial for the plant health, making a tray or other option necessary to catch excess water. If water seeps out the bottom, you may not know about it until you go to move the pot months later and seeing the damage water sitting on flooring for long periods of time will do. Also, be careful moving pots around, they can scratch the floors. Felt pads are a great idea here for protection.

It’s not just water that can cause issues with your flooring. If the pot is in a precarious location, it can be a hazard. Be mindful of strong winds knocking over the pot and make sure children and pets are not going to cause any problems. Near a doorway or high traffic area in the home they can also be a trip hazard. If they fall and break, they could damage the floor (as well as hurt someone).

The soil is obviously a necessary element for most healthy plant species (although there are some that don’t require it!). When potting, don’t fill the pot to the top. Leaving a small gap is good for the plant but also minimises soil being knocked out of the pot onto the ground. Regularly sweep or vacuum around pots to remove any soil or leaves etc. Like any dirt, it should be removed as soon as possible to prevent dirt being shifted throughout the home and damaging the floors.

Disclaimer: In some states of Australia, the building regulations for Vinyl Planks, Vinyl Tiles and Hybrid flooring varies. Meaning they may not be suitable for areas requiring water resistance, such as bathrooms and toilets. We advise to always ask your local Flooring Xtra store for the correct advice regarding the local regulations. We also advise to follow the manufacturer’s recommended installation instructions and guidelines, not following the instructions could make the product not fit for purpose, for the area it’s being installed into and void your product warranty. To ensure you get the appropriate product for those areas, please contact your local Flooring Xtra store.