Having Plants Inside

If you don’t have a garden outside or you kill everything you touch a house-plant is a good alternative if you’re determined to grow a plant. Hardier than most garden varieties and easier to water and temperature control whether it’s a luscious house palm or a sturdy cactus there’s a species out there that will survive even the most useless of gardeners. Decorative it can add colour to even the palest of rooms and with its natural air purification can make that dank dorm room start smelling like a daisy.

There are still factors that need to be considered when looking after a houseplant as there are for a garden variety, moisture, light, temperature, potting and soil mixing. While this may seem a lot to think about following a few basic rules makes it go by easier and soon it’ll be natural enough you wont even think about it.

Moisture

Both under-watering and over-watering can be damaging to a houseplant. The best way to determine whether a plant needs water is to check the soil moisture. Feeling the soil is the best way as moisture meters are often inaccurate. Most potted plants must be allowed to reach an appropriate level of dryness in between watering, though the amount of watering required varies greatly depending on the species. Proper soil moisture can range from still slightly moist on the soil surface to very dry to nearly the bottom of the pot. Watering a plant by the calendar is not recommended. If a plant does need to be watered, water should be slowly poured over the surface of the soil until it begins to drain out the bottom of the pot, ensuring complete saturation. However, sometimes the soil separates from the sides of the pot if it is allowed to dry out thoroughly, allowing the water to flow down the sides and out the bottom too quickly to be absorbed and retained. If this happens, it’s a good idea to set the plant in a shallow dish of water long enough for it to soak up enough to moisten the roots thoroughly. Re-potting should eliminate this problem. Re-potting should be done only when necessary, since the roots of a plant that is in a pot to large may rot. A good tip is to get an old empty bottle like a coke bottle fill with water screw on the top and stab a little hole in it, place this in the pot and water will slowly trickle out over time for the plant.

Light

Think back to your high school biology classes and you might remember the term photosynthesis; plants convert the energy in sunlight to chemical energy, which fuels plant growth. The two important factors for providing light to a house plant are intensity and duration. Long periods of light may seem like a good idea but if it’s bright enough to fry the leaves to a crisp the plants going to die before sunset Different plants require different light intensities. Most plants will have the information about light intensity and duration on the little card that’s sticking in the pot when you bought it but if you’re ever in doubt, ask someone at a garden centre. They will know or have the information available to pass on. It’s not a ignorant question to say “how much light does my plant need?” The duration of light exposure is as important as the intensity. Quality exposure of 8 to 16 hours is ideal for most plants. But they can cope with less than that. Windows are the most common sources of light for houseplants so think about where in the room will the plants get the light they need as well as fitting into your plan. Natural sunlight through windows is affected by seasonal changes, cloud cover, and window treatments so artificial light sources can provide an alternative or supplement to window lighting. Fluorescent lighting provides excellent light quality whereas standard incandescent bulbs do little to promote plant growth. "Cool", or "blue", fluorescent lights provide the light needed for green foliage plants, while "warm", or "red", fluorescent lights provide the light needed for blooming flowers. Fluorescent bulbs that fit into standard screw-in light sockets are readily available most DIY stores or garden centres.

Soil

House plants are normally grown in specialised soil called potting soil. It is often peat based but due to the impact this has on peat bogs some now contain coir (coconut fibre). It’s not a good idea to use natural soil from a garden as this can contain harmful bacteria or large percentages of clay that can affect drainage. Remember a house-plant is different to a plant from a garden they need to be treated as such. Some plants need a very moist soil so large amounts of peat or coir will retain the water necessary. Alternatively if the plant needs a dry soil, sand can be mixed with the soil to speed up drainage and prevent the plant from being saturated.

Temperature

Most house plants are tropical or semi-tropical growing in climates from 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F). The average room temperature of most homes.

Potting

Proper pot size is an important factor to consider. A pot that is too large will cause root disease because of the excess moisture retained in the soil, while a pot that is too small will restrict a plant's growth. Normally, a plant can stay in the same pot for about two years. Pots come in a variety of types as well, but usually can be broken down into two groups: porous and non-porous. Porous pots are usually clay and are highly recommended because they provide better aeration as air passes laterally through the sides of the pot. Also they are normally quite cheap so more money could be spent buying a more expensive plant or something for you. Non-porous pots like glazed or plastic pots tend to hold moisture longer and restrict airflow. Another needed feature is drainage holes. Usually pots come with holes in the bottom to allow excess water to flow out of the soil which helps to prevent root rot. If a pot does not have drainage holes, it is best to double pot that plant so the inner pot can be lifted out and the excess water accumulated in the bottom of the outer pot can be removed. Wash old pots thoroughly in a dishwasher or by hand to kill any bacteria that may remain.

Remember to follow the instructions for care on the card that comes with your plant, guidelines are there for a reason and if in any doubt ask at your local garden centre.

Garden Guide UK - Sam Higgins (Landscape Designer)