How to Grow Houseplants

Indoor Houseplant, Winter Gardening

Growing Houseplants - Care and Maintenance

The best houseplants are those that thrive well in the conditions of your indoor environment. That environment is significantly different than that of your outdoor garden plants. Despite being significantly different, the most popular houseplants are those whose needs match the cooler, drier, and darker (far less light) conditions of your home or office. This indoor plant guide on “How to Grow Houseplants”, will help you to grow all kinds of beautiful plants indoors. 

Due to conditions in your home, many indoor plants grow very slowly or even go dormant during the long months from late fall thru the long winter months. Indoor plant care is different, from how you would grow plants outdoors. In general, those needs are far less demanding, as a slow-growing plant requires less care than you would normally provide to your outdoor plants. This guide on “How to Grow Houseplants” will help you grow and care for your indoor plants.

There is a saying in the gardening world that you can “kill your plant with kindness”. This saying is even more true indoors, as the plants need less rather than more.

Money Tree Houseplant

Indoor Temperature

Indoor plants generally prefer a controlled temperature range. The ideal range is usually 65 to 75 degrees in the daytime and 60 to 65 degrees at night. This range may vary by type of plant but is the most common range. Many indoor plants do not like to be placed in a drafty area. In addition, while you may think you are helping your plants by placing them in a sunny window, they can experience wide temperature extremes as the sun heats them in the day, and the cold comes through the window at night.

Not convinced? Place a thermometer next to your plant on a frigid evening. Check the temperature just before you go to bed. It will likely convince you to move the plant away from the window at night.

Plant light Needs

In general, houseplants need less sunlight than outdoor plants. This is largely because the selection of indoor plant varieties is geared toward plants that thrive in shady or indirect sunlight.

But, this does not mean that your plant does not need any sunlight at all, or will not benefit from sunlight during some portion of the day. Some varieties require more sunlight than others. A lot of us will chase the sunlight as it moves from window to window on a sunny winter’s day. Read up about the type of plant you have. And, if your plant shows signs of light deficiency, join the rest of us, and chase that sunlight!

You can also buy artificial grow-lights. These will help those plants that require more sunlight than you can provide. You can use the grow-lights when you sow your garden seedlings in the spring.

Tip: Rotate the container every few days so all sides of the plant get a chance to “see the light!”

Christmas Cactus 2022-01

Houseplant Guide - Humidity Levels

During the winter, your home or office is normally much drier than at other times of the year. Sometimes this gets a bit beyond the tolerance range of your plants. Low humidity can offer a unique challenge, in the care of your indoor plants. Your plants will benefit from an occasional “sponge bath”. Take a damp cloth or sponge and wipe the leaves once a week or two. This has the added advantage of removing dust buildup on the leaves.

You can also use misters to add humidity to your plants during the driest of winter days.

Important: A few plants, like African Violets, do not like to get their leaves wet. Water on the leaves will cause damage to them.

Soil Conditions

Most houseplants like balanced soil with a slightly acid pH level. Use sterile potting soil from your garden supply store. It will contain a good mix of nutrients to get your plants started in their indoor environment. It will also be properly blended to provide good drainage, yet retain moisture.

Even if your plant does not grow much, it should be repotted every couple of years with fresh potting soil. The old soil loses important minerals over time.

Over time, the top layer of soil can become encrusted. Loosen it with a spoon or fork. Remove the top layer and add some fresh, sterile potting soil. You can also top off the soil, with a layer of decorative stones. It makes the plant look more attractive.

Houseplant Guide - Fertilizers

Here is where you can really “kill your plant with kindness”. Because your plant is growing much slower than in an outdoor environment, it needs less fertilizer. It is using far fewer nutrients. So, those nutrients can build up to harmful levels, if you fertilize too frequently.

We recommend you buy a balanced, slow-release indoor fertilizer. If you use liquid fertilizers, use them once a month…or less. Fertilizer spikes work best, as they slowly dissolve to feed your plants for weeks. More on fertilizing houseplants

Watering Houseplants

While many plants’ needs vary, in general, you should keep your soil moist, but not wet. Here is where learning about your specific plant will really help.

Many houseplants like to get a good soaking of their soil. Apply water to the point that it drains through the pot and out the openings in the bottom of the pot. This helps to remove excess fertilizer and salt that can build up in the soil. Outdoors, nature performs this task during a spring or summer downpour. After giving the soil a good drenching, allow the soil to almost completely dry out before the next watering.

Did you know? Your tap water likely has chemicals that your plant does not like. Those chemicals are sodium (salt) and chlorine. Try using distilled water, capturing rainwater, or melt snow.

Garden Tip: If you leave the container of water out for a day or two, the chlorine will dissipate.

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How to Grow Houseplants – Indoor plant care

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