How to Care For Indoor Plants?

Plants care tips in your house. Indoor plants add color, texture and warmth to the house. Many houseplants are easy to grow, but they must be provided with proper care in order for them to develop. Since your plants may start in the greenhouse – growing under ideal conditions – transplanting them into your home requires a slight adjustment on their part.

Proper watering and lighting are the most important components of the care of indoor plants, but humidity and temperature also play a huge role. The trick is to try to imitate the climate in which the plant comes from.

Plant Selection

The first thing to consider when choosing an ornamental plant is its placement. Then adjust the space and lighting to the needs of the plant. Do you have a large place near a sunny window or a small space with moderate light?

Next are you looking for a plant with beautiful green leaves or prefer flowering plants. Some houseplants bloom seasonally while others will bloom year after year.

The third consideration is how much time you can devote to a particular crop.

Water

Potted soil should be kept moist, but not wet. Of course, there is always an exception — succulents, and other thick-leaved plants grow best as the soil dries out between waterings. If the soil is stored too dry or too moist, the roots of the plant will begin to be unhappy with the conditions and die, which can lead to insufficient growth or even death of the plant.

There are several methods for determining when a plant needs water. If the pot soil has become lighter in color or cracked, it may be time to water. Remove your plants and measure their weight after watering. After some lifting exercises, you will be able to find out if the plant needs water just by taking it. Of course, you can always insert a finger into the soil to determine how moist the soil is below the surface. For large plants, a handheld moisture meter may be your best option for determining how much water there is around the root mass of the plant.

Dehydration

DO NOT allow the plant to wither or the ground to withdraw from the edge of the container. These symptoms indicate dehydration and at this point the plant is already severely stressed and the roots may be damaged.

Underwater signs include:

• Slow leaf growth
• Translucent leaves
• Untimely fall of flowers or leaves
• The edges of the leaves are brown, yellow or curved

Excessive Watering

Too much water is as detrimental as too little. Frequent watering forces air from the soil and opens the door for bacteria, fungi and root-killing pests to enter. Excessive watering is the number one killer of houseplants.

• Signs of overwatering include:
• Mold or mildew on the surface of the soil
• Mushy brown root (may smell) at the bottom of the pot
• Stagnant water at the bottom of the container
• Young and old leaves fall off simultaneously
• Leaves with brown rot spots

Water Quality

Room temperature tap water should be good for most indoor plants, even if there is chlorine or fluoride added to your city water. The plant is very fond of rainwater or melting snow (unless you live in an area with acid rain). Avoid continuous use of soft water, which may contain sodium.

How to Water

The plant can be watered from top to bottom or from the bottom up. When watering from above, try not to wet the foliage, while making sure that the entire soil mass is moistened. Water should come out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.

If you prefer to let your plants do the work, arrange the plants in a plate of water and the roots (and the action of capillaries in the ground) will attract whatever they need. This method, known as basic watering, is a more thorough, if time-consuming, way to water the plant.

Pro Tips: Be sure to remove all standing water from the saucer one hour after watering.

Drainage

Good drainage is very important for healthy houseplants. Start with a good, organic potted soil(not ordinary soil) that has been mixed specifically for indoor gardens.

Choose a container with drainage holes, or put a layer of gravel on the bottom of the container without holes. The point is not to allow the plant to stand in the water. From time to time, check whether the drainage holes are not clogged. And always empty the puddles (do not drain them back through the soil of the plant).

here are a few things to consider when choosing your pot. Whether small, big, lightweight or heavy, make sure there are holes in the bottom to allow water to flow out freely. Without enough drainage, roots can drown and the plant will ultimately die.

Pots can be of any material. Terracotta, glazed or plastic pots will all work well. The type of pot you choose really just depends on your style and budget. Other pot options can be a bushel basket, a wooden box or a repurposed container from a second-hand shop.

LAMP As with watering, each plant has different light requirements. Many plants prefer direct sunlight, but this may be difficult to get into the house. Placing plants on the window may offer enough light, but some houseplants need supplements from growing light.