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How to Care for Your Rare House Plants
from:The following are some basic guidelines to follow when caring for plants indoors. It is important to know the specific needs of each plant in your home in order to keep each looking their best and staying healthy.
Light requirements- Plants require of variety of light intensity so you need to determine what type of plants you have and how much light they need. Plants with very colorful leaves, like croton and coleus, as well as succulents (Aloe Vera) and flowering plants (begonias) need direct sunlight. Other types of plants like philodendrons, ferns and foliage plants fare better with indirect light. You can use natural light from the sun by setting plants near your windows, or you can use artificial light, such as white warm or white cool fluorescent lights. They are available in various sizes, shapes and wattage.
Temperature- Most plants do well living in an indoor temperature of 65 degrees to 75 degrees. If they grow in continuously high temperatures, they are more likely to develop disease and insect attack. Likewise, if they are kept in temperatures below 50 degrees they will have difficulty sustaining good health. Do not place plants in hot or cold spots (like on top of the television or below an air conditioning vent). Sudden drops in temperatures can harm plants.
Most plants grow best in an environment that is 40-60% humidity. Most homes, especially in the winter when heaters run, contain well below 40% humidity. You can give your plants more humidity by placing a humidifier in your home. You can also place a layer of gravel underneath the soil, which serves as a constant moisture base for your plants. If you have several plants, place them close together, as they produce their own humidity when they are arranged in a tight knit group.
Watering- Improper watering is a common cause of early plant death. If you over water your plants, the soil becomes saturated and the roots are not able to acquire the amount of oxygen needed to sustain the life of the plant. The amount of watering your plant needs depends on several factors.
Potting mix- Make sure your plant is positioned in a good potting mix. It needs to be dense enough to hold the plant in place. It should have good nutrient holding capabilities. Water and air should be able to pass easily through the mix and retain moisture, and it should be free of weed seed and pathogens. Foliage plants grow best in potting mix contain high levels of organic materials so make sure your potting mix is part peat. Cacti grow best in soil that contains sand.
Fertilizer- Indoor plants do not require as much fertilization as plants grown in greenhouses. Generally, two to three times per month will suffice. If your plant receives low light and during the winter, fertilize even less often that this.
Shower your plant- Make sure you thoroughly clean your plant every now and then. Approximately two to three times a year is plenty for most plants, unless yours is especially prone to collecting dust and other unattractive particles. Clean with a soft cloth or set them outside in the rain or your shower (except African violets whose leaves should not get wet).
Choose an appropriate container for your plant, depending on its size, its specific moisture needs, its location in your home and your personal preferences.
Repot your plant as needed. When the plant grows, the roots grow. This growth requires more room. Unless you repot your plant into a larger pot, growth will be restricted. Slow-growing plants require repotting about every two to three years while fast-growing plants will probably need to a new pot every year.
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