Growing houseplants or indoor plants is one of the most rewarding task that one can take up as a hobby. Besides creating a pleasant and warm environment in a house, indoor plants can give us fresh air by cutting down the level of indoor air pollution. Placed beside a window or on a table, houseplants can add that long cherished elegant and natural look to a house, that can be a treat to the eyes of the beholder. But growing houseplants demand a lot of care and attention. Most of these plants are native to tropical regions and so, they prefer a humid environment and indirect sunlight. However, there are exceptions, as for example, succulent plants require a dry climate to grow, while gardenia thrives on bright sunlight. It is important to understand the specific needs of different plants, and creating an environment that is similar to their natural habitat.
Maintenance of Indoor Plants
Plant care begins with selecting a place that can provide the ideal environment for their growth. Providing the right amount of water and light, and maintaining the appropriate level of temperature and humidity are some of the key factors that can determine the growth of houseplants.
Light
Light is one of the most important growth factors for any plant. As most of the indoor plants are native to tropical areas, they grow well in indirect sunlight. Such plants can be placed close to the window with sheer curtains, so that they can receive enough filtered sunlight. But, if placed further away from the window, the plant will not receive adequate sunlight. However, you can take the help of artificial light for plants placed in dark rooms. However, for plants like gardenia, you have to choose a place that receives bright sunlight. If you observe growth only in one direction, then be sure to rotate the position of the plant at regular intervals. This would encourage more uniform growth of the plant.
Watering
One of the most common mistakes observed in indoor gardening is the tendency to over water the houseplants, in an attempt to promote their rapid growth. But, this often causes the roots to rot. At the same time, under watering can also cause the leaves to turn yellow and fall. The best way is to check the soil carefully before watering the houseplants. If the soil is still damp, then wait for another day or two, till the topsoil dries out. But, if the soil is dry, then water the plant sufficiently. It is better to use well-drained soil mixture, so that the soil does not hold too much water.
If the soil is heavy, then you can add sand and perlite to it to make a good soil mixture. Otherwise, you can make a soil mixture by combining two parts of organic matter like, peat moss with one part of each perlite and sand to grow indoor plants. Also, make sure that the containers or pots used for growing houseplants have appropriate drainage system or drainage hole at the base, so that the excess water flows out of the pot. For watering the plants, you can use rainwater or tap water. If you want to use tap water, then let the water sit for the whole night. Otherwise, chlorine present in tap water can prove harmful to your houseplants.
Humidity
Maintaining the appropriate level of humidity is also important. Tropical plants usually require a high level of humidity, as compared to other houseplants. You can place the plants close to each other, so that they can utilize the water or moisture evaporating from each other. You can also mist the leaves of the plants at regular intervals, to provide them with adequate moisture.
Air Temperature
The ideal range of temperature for growing houseplants is 60 to 75 degree Fahrenheit. Most of the indoor plants can tolerate slight fluctuations in temperature. Excessive fluctuations in temperature can however, inhibit the growth of the plants. Therefore, they need to be protected from cold drafts, as well as from excessive heat. They should never be placed near any kind of warm appliance. Most of the houseplants usually prefer a night temperature that is slightly lower than the day temperature.
Winter Care
Winter can present a different set of problems for the growers of houseplants. It is the dormant period for most of the plants, for which they simply limit new growth and enter a resting period. During this dormant phase, it is very essential to reduce the frequency of watering, and protect the plants from cold air. So, place them away from doors. In winter, the humidity level drops significantly. However, a humidifier can easily resolve this issue. Winter is usually not the ideal time for fertilization. As far as lighting conditions are concerned, winter is characterized by only 8 hours of sunlight a day. So, it is very important to place the plants in an area that receives adequate sunlight. A window facing the west or south can be ideal for placing these plants during this period.
Apart from these, one should also prune the plants from time to time to remove the diseased and damaged branches and leaves and maintain the desired shape. It is also essential to understand that each plant is unique and hence, has a different set of requirements. So, before growing any indoor plant, do some research to know about the specific needs of that plant.
