The Secret of Caring for Houseplants Sucessfully

The trick to caring for houseplants isn’t mysterious. It’s really about being able to approximate their native environments well enough to keep them happy. Since houseplants are already well suited to human living spaces, most of the hard work is already done for you.

Why You Have Probably Killed Plants in the Past

Plants that fail to thrive are usually getting too much or too little water, light or both. Improper watering and the wrong light conditions are the two biggest killers of houseplants. Whether you are thinking about buying your first houseplant, or have had failures in the past, applying good water and light strategies to the way you care for your plants will make an enormous difference in your ability to keep them healthy.

Houseplants and Light

Without the right light, plants can’t make use of the other nutrients we give them. This doesn’t mean that more light is always better. Plants have adapted to certain specific light conditions and they need the same type of light in order to do well. Understanding what light they need, and finding or making the right light for them, is one of the most important things you can do to keep houseplants healthy.

Watering Houseplants

Plants need different amounts of water during different times of the year and at different points in their life cycle. This makes it necessary to change your watering tactics once in a while. Don’t assume your plant needs two cups of water every Monday, because that strategy doesn’t always work. Sticking your finger into the dirt around your houseplant is a great way to see if it’s dry and needs water, but it’s also important to observe a plant over time so you will notice any changes in its appearance or water consumption.

Humidity

Tropical plants sometimes need more humidity than our homes can provide, especially in winter. Making an effort to keep plants together where they can help create humidity for one another, and keeping a couple of trays filled with pebbles and water nearby, can help to offset the effects of low humidity. Misting with a spray bottle filled with water can help too.

Temperature

Indoor environments, like homes and offices, are usually good, temperate climates for houseplants. The exceptions to this rule are indoor areas near poorly insulated windows, heating vents and exterior doors that can be drafty, or have unstable temperatures. Houseplants like constant temperatures, and any spot that gets very hot or cold, or changes temperature rapidly, is a bad place for a houseplant.

Soil and Fertilizer

Houseplant soil is important, but the soil that’s in a plant’s pot when you buy it will probably be fine for a few months. It will also have enough of the right nutrients to take care of the plant for the settling in period. When you do need to repot or fertilize your houseplant, there are many prepared mixtures that can take the guesswork out of selecting the right combination of ingredients to keep your plant happy.

Learning More About Plants

There are lots of sources for good plant information in print and on the Web. Most will tell you the light, water, humidity, temperature and soil needs of specific plants. Reading plant profiles is a good way to discover which plants will do well in the spot you have in mind for them.

While you are learning the basics of caring for houseplants, you should explore some great easy care plants. These beginner varieties tolerate a wide range of light and water conditions, and can bounce back from most of the early mistakes you might make. Try pothos (Epipremnum aureum), snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) or spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) to start.