HOUSEPLANT CARE
Houseplants help bring a relaxing atmosphere into your home as well as clean the air. There are many pluses to having a few plants in your home, but to have success its best to follow a few basic rules.
First, it’s important to know your plant and its basic needs. The gardener’s rule is “right plant in the right place.” This rule applies to all plants, indoor and outdoor landscape plants. If you supply your plants with the correct sunlight, water and soil requirement it will be able to thrive in its new environment for years into the future.
PROPER WATERING
One of the most important requirements for houseplants is totally in our hands to control; watering.
As daylight hours shorten, houseplants slow their growth and requirements for watering lessens. This enables plants to adapt and survive the long winter months. Stop fertilizing until active growth resumes in the spring.
During the summertime we can usually water all our houseplants at the same time, but now each plant must be watered for their individual water requirement. To make this easier, group like plants together and refresh your memory of the water suggestions for each plant.
The most common problem related to houseplants is ‘root rot’ due to over watering. When plants aren’t growing, they don’t absorb as much water. The excess water sits in the soil and on the root system. This situation allows the roots to ‘rot’ and leads to the death of the plant.
The easiest way to avoid this problem is a simple watering technique, touching the soil. Simply stick your finger in the top inch of soil and if it is moist don’t water it. Let the soil dry out between watering. Many gardeners use this horticultural practice all year long.
Another result of wet soil is ‘fungus gnats’, tiny flying insects that are an annoying houseplant pest. These insects lay eggs on moist soil and hatch quickly increasing the number of gnats throughout the winter. These pests can be controlled by lessening the amount of water. Once again let the top inch of soil totally dry out between watering. You can also put a few small pieces of potato in the top of the soil. The newly hatched gnats crawl into the potato for food and can be easily removed before becoming adults. Remember to dispose and replace these chucks of potatoes once or twice a week and your problem will be solved within a few weeks. If you have a treasured houseplant this procedure is worth the time and effort to save it.
Use room temperature water. After you empty your watering can refill it and let it sit for the next time. This also lets the chlorine drop to the bottom before you water your plants again.
The modern day ‘trick’ of using ice cubes and letting them melt on top of the soil does more harm than good for your plant. Remember most of our houseplants are from hot tropical or desert climates. Orchids are one plant that suffers greatly from this practice of using ice cubes.
SUNSHINE & INDOOR LIGHT
Another requirement, sunlight is a little harder to control. There are many plants that do well in light shade, east or west facing windows. South facing windows are very sunny and many houseplants grow great in this exposure. If the light is too intense for your plant you can move it a few feet away. It’s better to get a houseplant that will do well with the sunlight you have then to try to make the plant adjust.
In the case of your windows facing north, which is very shady, adding artificial light can help keep them healthy and robust.
The use of houseplants goes far back in history. Wealthy Greeks and Romans adored their patio areas and doorways with houseplants two thousand years ago. The Greeks grew their plants in clay pots while the Romans used marble pots. The ancient Chinese recorded having potted plants in houses well before the Greeks.
Houseplants are mostly tropical plants from all over the world. Thanks to warm houses and windows we are now able to grow these tropical plants in our own homes.
There is a lot of good information about houseplant care on the internet. YouTube also has many good videos on houseplant care.
If in doubt of which houseplant you have, send a photograph to Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County and they will help identify it for you. Please include your phone number in your e-mail. astergardeners@ucnj.org
Due to the pandemic the office is closed to the public until further notice.
Enjoy gardening all year long,
James
