subject: Caring for house plants [print this page] Caring for house plants Caring for house plants
Do the plants in your home consist of a meager assortment of anemic, drooping, unnamed greenery items? Get rid of them all? You would be getting rid of oxygen, invigoration, refreshment, relaxation, nature. Alternatively, caring for house plants requires just a few simple habits that can turn your home into a refreshing oasis rich in verdantly green and healthy house plants.
When you purchase your plant, it will be adapting to a home with less light and humidity than the nursery from whence it comes, so it's important to remember these tips to keep your house plants healthy and green.
Lighting and Location
Houseplants lose their leaves within a few days of bringing them home if the change is too drastic a change for them. To curtail this reaction, expose them to the maximum amount of light possible, gradually reducing light over a period of weeks to conform to the final location. If there is not enough natural light, extra fluorescent lamps will help your plants to thrive. Most houseplants do well in daytime temperatures between 65 to 75 degrees and nighttime temperatures 10 to 15 degrees cooler. Normally, the need for light increases as temperatures increase. Avoid setting your plants where they are exposed to hot or cold air flows.
Watering: Water according to the care guide that came with your plant, using pots with drainage holes. Ensure that the soil is thoroughly moistened at each watering.
Avoid watering more often than needed as overwatering can lead to root rot. Plants get water and nutrients from the soil and it is necessary that the soil drains well and that excess water runs out of the pot. Remember that plants in the greenhouse or nursery are in an environment that was much more humid than your living area. Most leafy green plants need at least 15 to 20 percent humidity. Spraying plants with clean water removes dirt from the leaves and also provides a bit of humidity.
Fertilizing
Growing plants should be fertilized every two months, keeping in mind that they need less fertilizer under low-light conditions. Burned or dried yellowed leaf edges and droopy plants are a sign of excessive fertilizer.
Other Tips
Set your house plants outside in the summer as this often revitalizes them, but take care to avoid too much direct sunlight. Your plants grow toward the light. Rotating them daily will help them grow straight.
The leaves, stems, and soil of new plants should be periodically checked for insects, mites, and other pests. Repotting plants in a commercial pasteurized potting soil eliminates soil insects. Carefully swabbing the leaves and stems with cotton swabs dipped in rubbing alcohol helps control aphids. Plants can also be washed with soapy water if properly rinsed afterward. Pesticide sprays also are very useful in controlling infestation if caught in time. However, if you find that your plant has a very heavy pest infestation, it's time to throw it out.
Caring for house plants can be simple and enjoyable and will yield lasting rewards in your own home's ecosystem.
