PLANTS INDOOR: The Care and Feeding

Executive Summary by: Fred Myers

The larger indoor plants seem to meld with the furniture groupings. The curious thing about these plants is why some indoor plants prosper and others just wilt and die over time.

indoor plant

There are five definitive elements required of indoor plants; light, temperature and ventilation, humidity, watering and fertilizer. Plants really have varying needs for light. Natural light is usually obtained from a window position to sustain the life of an indoor plant. This natural light decreases exponentially with plant farther and farther from the natural source of light provided by the window.

It is best to position these lights 12-14 inches above the indoor plants which provides a medium light intensity.

Temperature and ventilation are definite factors in the life of any indoor plant. The tray of gravel works particularly well with your larger indoor plants.

Watering is probably the leading cause of indoor plant failure. It comes from both under watering and over watering the plants.

The lighter the pot the more water is required to revive the indoor plants. A soil that drains reasonably will increase the ease of watering an indoor plant. A heavy soil retains too much water and can cause crown rot in the plant.

Dilute your fertilizer by adding it to the water used for watering your plants.

Growing Indoor Plants During the Winter

Executive Summary by: Shirley McNeal

Most potted plants need as much winter sun as they can get.

Potted indoor plants need more moisture than they are able to get from the air of centrally heated homes. House plants need the following:

• Water most indoor plants when the surface is dry.
• Add plant food to full grown plants just before blooming begins.
• Repot house plants in the spring or sooner if their roots form a network on the outside of the soil.
• Wash glossy-leaf plants under water about once per week.

House plants that require less water are: cacti, succulents and geraniums. Washing the leaves of indoor plants can help keep insects from harming your flower garden.

You may want to check out my other guide on water garden plants and gardening nursery