Basic Houseplant care

-Everything you ever wanted to know about houseplants and weren’t afraid to ask, but unfortunately have already forgotten. Houseplants cleanse the air we breathe and reconnect us to nature, and anyone can find a suitable houseplant for their situation!

Watering- The following are general suggestions for watering houseplants:

· Most houseplants are tropical or subtropical plants, so general watering recommendations can be made. Water when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are dry. Measure this by pushing the index finger about 1 to 2 inches down into the soil. Soil moisture cannot be determined by sight, except when a plant is wilted. Plants should never be stressed to the point of wilting.

· Succulents are the most common exception to the above rule. Allow their soil to completely dry before watering; this can take as long as two or three weeks depending on the pot size (i.e. volume of soil that can hold water.)

· Use room-temperature water. This maintains a more stable root environment. Allow tap water to sit for an hour in an open container for chlorine to escape.

· Never allow plants to sit in saucers full of water; the roots will rot if the soil is completely saturated all the time. Roots need air too!

Light- Houseplants may be classified by their light requirements. The three levels of light requirements are: low, medium and high.

· Follow this test to determine level of light in a particular location. With the lights off, hold your hand 12 inches above a sheet of paper. If there is a definite shadow, the level is classified as high light. If there is a fuzzy shadow, the light level is medium. And if there is no shadow, light level is low. Remember that different areas in the same room will not have the same ‘light rating.’

· Houseplants with variegated leaves need more light. Their pale or colored sections contain no chlorophyll. Less chlorophyll means less food, so the green parts of these plants need more light to make more food.

· Houseplants will grow toward the source of light. Phototropism describes the plant's tendency to grow toward light. If plants are not rotated regularly, they will become disfigured. Turn plants on an as-needed basis to maintain fullness on all sides.

· If the light available is less than ideal, artificial light should be considered. Special grow lights are the best choice; look for ones labeled ‘full-spectrum’ or ‘uv’. These can be ordered online or picked up at your local pet store in the reptile section.

Temperature and Humidity- Most houseplants will like the same temperatures we do, but lack of humidity in air-conditioned and heated houses causes problems for many plants.

This can be addressed by raising the humidity in the plant’s immediate area. Simply place a saucer filled with gravel and water under the pot. The saucer must be as wide or wider than the widest part of the pot. The gravel is necessary to keep the pot from actually sitting in the water which would lead to soggy soil.
Be sure to keep plants out of drafts and away from heating or cooling vents. If the leaves are moving, there is a draft. These drafts and vents can quickly damage leaves and the overall health of the plant. Air diverters can be placed on vents to force the air away from houseplants.

Feeding Time!- All plants need some amount of food to survive, and if your potting soil has slow-release fertilizer remember that only lasts for three months and then you need to start feeding the plants.

· Most houseplants appreciate regular feeding. The easiest way to accommodate them is to sprinkle Osmocote on the surface of the soil every three to four months. If you would prefer to use organic fertilizer, Neptune’s Harvest Fish and Seaweed Fertilizer can be used every month.

· Water-soluble fertilizers like Miracle Gro or Peter’s only last a couple weeks, so remember that if you use these products, you will need to fertilize every other time you water.

· Most houseplants’ biological clocks slow down in the winter, so feed them just as often, but only give them half as much fertilizer in the late fall and early winter months. If you have winter blooming plants such as Christmas Cactus or Crown of Thorns, you will want to use the regular amount of fertilizer.

Bringing Plants in and out for the Summer- Most plants appreciate a summer vacation from your house, so here are a few pointers to avoid problems.

· Sun-loving houseplants need time to adjust to outdoor conditions in the spring. Gradually move them from shady outdoor areas into the sun over a few weeks.

· Plants outside will generally need more frequent watering than they did in your home. This is also a great time to repot them, and the extra soil will hold more water, extending your time between waterings.

· When you bring in your houseplants for the winter, remember that they are often the new home of bugs that usually live outside. If these bugs make it into your house, they have entered Nirvana. No rain to wash them away, no competition, and no predators ensure a population boom. Treat your plants with a good pesticide like Neem oil or Phytaguard EC before bringing plants back inside for the winter. Plants should be brought in when nighttime temperatures go below 45 degrees F.

Poisonous Houseplants- A few common houseplants are poisonous. All or portions of these plants may cause mild-to-fatal reactions if eaten by children, adults or pets.

· The American Medical Association has edited a book on poisonous plants that should be used as a reference. The following websites have good links for poisonous plant lists: www.thepoop.com/poisonous.asp, http://www.pioneerthinking.com/toxich.html.

· The local poison control center should be consulted for treatment of poisoning caused by these plants.