Caring For Indoor Plants

Indoor plants brighten up your home, enhance your décor and bring a little bit of the outdoors in – even through the chilly winter months. Now that the holidays are upon us, wouldn’t it be nice to add some leafy warmth and good cheer to your home? Whether you’re a blooming beginner, a garden genius, or just trying to keep holiday poinsettias healthy, you can care for and enjoy a green, healthy indoor garden this holiday season.

Ponsettia Care
Houseplant TLC
Problem Solving

Poinsettia Care

Poinsettias are a widespread holiday tradition both for decorating and gift giving. But they also make for beautiful indoor plants all year long and can even be coaxed to bloom again each year in time for the holidays.

Poinsettias like plenty of bright, indirect sunlight and prefer humid conditions. So if your home is especially dry due to heating or climate you may want to spray yours with a mister. Let the soil dry out between watering then water thoroughly. Be sure not to let the plant's pot stand in water at the plant's base. Instead, leave a layer of pebbles in the bottom of the tray keeps the plant out of the water and increases the humidity around the plant.

Poinsettias are sensitive to extreme temperatures, so don't place yours next to a heater or near a drafty window or doorway. A daytime temperature of around 65 degrees and nights around 60 degrees will provide perfect conditions for your poinsettia.

Houseplant TLC

Indoor environments are cooler, drier and a lot less sunny than our backyards during the summer. Consequently, taking care of your indoor plants poses a few different challenges from those outside your home. Follow these guidelines and you'll have much more success taking care of them:

Temperature
Like people, indoor plants generally prefer a controlled temperature range. Ideally, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night. And, just like us, houseplants really don't like drafts.

Light
Even though most indoor plants prefer shady or indirect sunlight, they still benefit from getting some sunlight during the day – and some varieties actually need quite a bit.

Helpful Tip:

Even though it may seem like a good idea, don't place your plants on a windowsill during the winter. The extreme temperature swings – the sun's heat by day, bitter cold by night – can be hazardous to their health. If your houseplants need more sunlight, buy artificial grow lights. Be sure to rotate the containers every few days so all the sides can ''lighten'' up.

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Humidity
Your home is usually much drier in the winter than it is during the rest of the year. If holiday time is too dry for some of your plants, treat them to a sponge bath every week or two. Just wipe their leaves with a damp sponge or cloth to moisten them and remove any dust.

Helpful Tip:

Make sure your houseplants like being wet before you sponge them. For example, water can damage the leaves of African violets.

Soil
Most houseplants prefer a balanced, nutrient-rich soil with a slightly acidic pH level, like a sterile potting soil. Potting soil also retains moisture and provides good drainage.

Helpful Tips:

If you've had your houseplants for a while, re-pot them with fresh potting soil every few years. Old soil loses minerals over the years, so all plants will benefit from a fresh batch – even plants that don't grow very much.
If the top layer of soil becomes encrusted over time, loosen and remove it with a fork and replace with fresh, sterile potting soil.

Fertilizer
Many people believe – incorrectly – that if a little fertilizer is good, a lot is better. But if you over-fertilize your houseplants, you may kill them with kindness. Plants grow more slowly in an indoor environment than they do outdoors, so they need fewer nutrients (that means too many can build up to toxic levels). A good choice is a slow-release indoor fertilizer, which is specially designed for houseplants.

Helpful Tip:

If you'd prefer to use a liquid fertilizer, make sure you apply it infrequently (twice a month at most).

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Water
While different houseplants have different watering needs, most typically thrive with a good initial drenching. Simply add water until it drains out of the bottom of the pot (this helps remove any excess minerals, salt or fertilizer). Don't water the plant again until the soil is nearly dried out (just check it with your fingers or a wooden stick).

Helpful Tip:

Distilled water is much better for your plants than tap water, which contains chemicals like salt and chlorine. If you must use tap water, put it in a container and let it stand for about two days before adding it to your plants. You can also use rainwater – simply set a pan outdoors during the next downpour.

Problem Solving

No matter how much love and attention you lavish on your houseplants, they're bound to experience problems every once in a while. Here are some of the most common plant ailments and causes, and what you can do to help:

Your plant's formerly green leaves are turning yellow. This common problem can be caused by anything from light (too much or too little) or too much fertilizer or water. Remedy: Try changing your plant's growing environment, one factor at a time, watching carefully until you determine the culprit.
The tips of the leaves are turning brown. Too much or not enough water usually causes brown tips, although an overdose of fertilizer can also have the same result. Remedy: Make sure to water the plant only when its soil is nearly dry and refrain from adding fertilizer for up to a month. You can also re-pot it in fresh potting soil.
The leaves have yellow or brown spots. Spots are usually caused by too much sun or water. Remedy: Move the plant to a shadier location and allow the soil to dry out before re-watering.
The base of the stem is soft. Mushy stems are a classic symptom of over-watering. Remedy: Allow the soil to dry out. If the soil is already drenched, re-pot the plant in fresh potting soil.
Dry, brittle leaves. At the opposite end of the spectrum, brittle leaves are a classic symptom of under-watering. Remedy: Water more frequently.

Now doesn't your thumb look a lot greener? We hope you enjoy a houseful of healthy and festive houseplants this holiday season. And don't forget – they make great gifts, too. Happy holidays!

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