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House plants bring color and life inside the house. Many have colorful leaves and flowers in interesting shapes. They especially add life and interest when the days are dark and dreary outside. Here are some tips to help house plants grow better.
Put plants in places where they will get the right amount of light. Light is the most important factor in making house plants grow well. House plants are listed in the following chart according to the minimum amount of light they need. No plants will tolerate dim light for very long. Low light plants will tolerate low reading level light. Moderate light plants will tolerate good reading level light. Bright light plants do best in a north window or near a sunny window but out of direct sunlight. Filtered sun plants do best in a sunny window that is filtered by curtains or trees outside. Full sun plants need at least four hours of direct sunshine each day. Some plants will tolerate a large range of light levels.
A light meter can be used to get an accurate measure of the amount of light in different parts of the house. They usually come with a list of plants and the amount of light each plant needs.
East, south and west windows are all sunny, but each will get different amounts of light according to the season and trees that might shade them. It may be necessary to move a plant to different windows to find the right amount of light. A few plants need more or less light when they are flowering.
Light can also be provided artificially with lights. LED lights are brighter and whiter than fluorescent lights. Special red and blue LED lights are even better.
Water plants according to their individual needs. Some plants need to have soil that is consistently moist. Other plants will die from root rot
unless the soil dries out between waterings. Also, African violets do not like to have the crown get wet, so use a watering can with a small spout so
the pot is not flooded. The following list of house plants indicates how much watering each prefers. Here are tips that work for all plants.
When you water, give plants enough water each time so some drains out of the pot. This insures that all of the soil is wet. However, some soil will shrink as it dries and pull away from the pot so the water drains out of the pot immediately without wetting the soil. If this happens, place the pot in a sink and let a thin stream of water run until the soil is thoroughly wet. Or, give the plant several small waterings until the soil swells and is thoroughly wet.
Do not let plants sit in a saucer of water. Watering will flush excess salt out of the soil, but the salt will be pulled back into the soil unless the saucer is emptied. Excess salt causes salt burn which is a browning of the tips and edges of the leaves. Also, the soil may stay wet too long if the pot is sitting in water. For plants which need high humidity, such as gardenia, fill the saucer with rocks to keep the pot above the water level.
Let the plant tell you when to water again. Frequency of watering will change according to changing growth rates, light, temperatures and air movement. A few plants like to be consistently moist so they do not mind being watered every day or two, but most plants do best if the top one inch of soil is allowed to dry out between waterings. A few plants, such as figs, do better if the top two inches of soil dry out before watering. If the soil is wet all of the time, many plants, especially figs, lose lots of their leaves and might develop root rot. Also, fungus gnats are kept under control by letting the soil dry out. If a house plant takes more than two weeks to dry out, try planting some additional plants in the pot so it needs watering about once a week.
Here are four ways to tell when the soil is dry enough to water. Lift the pot to see how heavy it is. Look at the drainage hole to see if the soil is dry. Push a finger into the soil to check for moisture. Push a water meter into the soil to check the moisture level. The water meter is the best method. It should come with a list of plants and how dry each likes to be before watering. Be sure to push the tip of the water meter to a point halfway between the top and bottom of the soil to get an accurate measurement.
Watering is made much simpler if the pot is the right size and shape for the plant. Low wide pots stay moist longer. Tall, narrow
pots drain better and dry out faster so they are better for plants that need to dry out between waterings. Also, glazed pots and plastic
pots stay moist longer because water will evaporate from the sides of clay pots. Choose a pot the right size for the size of the plant so
the plant needs to be watered about once a week. A moisture holding material, such as polyacrylamide gel, can be added to the soil. It soaks
up the excess water, then releases it again as the soil dries out. The moisture holding material should be mixed into the bottom half of the
pot so it does not migrate to the top of the soil as a slimy mess.
Use a good quality potting soil suitable to the type of plant. Soil in pots does not drain as well as in the garden because the pot
interferes with
drainage. Potting soils provide extra drainage by adding sand, perlite or pumice. Cactus and succulents need excellent drainage so they need
a special cactus soil. Orchids which naturally grow on trees need perfect drainage so they are grown in orchid bark. Potting soils which are
all organic provide good aeration and drainage when they are new, but as they age, the organic materials break down and the aeration and
drainage are reduced. Potting soils which contain sand or pumice maintain consistent aeration and drainage for a much longer time.
Move plants to the next size larger pot only when the roots fill the present pot. Roots will come out of the drainage hole when the pot is filled with roots. Repot into the next size larger pot or, perhaps, two sizes larger if a plant is fast growing. Too large of a pot will cause the soil to stay wet for a long time which promotes root rot. When repotting, make one or two cuts down the side of the root ball to cut circling roots. To limit the size of the plant and to keep it in the same pot, cut off the outer inch of soil and roots and replace it with fresh potting soil. Begonia and Saxifraga stop blooming if they are root bound, but saintpaulia, aglaonema, hoya, impatiens, stephanotis and strelitzia bloom better if slightly root bound. Most plants prefer to be repotted in the winter or early spring when not actively growing.
Fertilize regularly with a water soluble or a slow release fertilizer. Several companies make water soluble fertilizers that work well. Osmocote makes several slow release formulas. Organic fertilizers are naturally slow release. Foliage plants need mainly nitrogen. Flowering plants need nitrogen and a smaller amount of phosphorus. Bone meal is the best fertilizer for slow release phosphorus. I do not recommend fertilizer sticks because they put too much fertilizer at one spot.
Check plants every week for insects and diseases. The most common disease is root rot from the soil being wet all of the time. The only effective treatment is to let the soil dry out between waterings. Leaf spots, molds and mildews are less likely if the leaves are kept dry or dry quickly. Spider mites are a problem on many plants, especially palms. Watch for off-color leaves and fine webbing. Scale and mealybugs are also common. For small numbers, apply rubbing alcohol with a cotton swab, or a fine oil spray gives good control without poisonous fumes.
Keep house plants out of cold drafts. A patio door may look like a great place for house plants but cold drafts when the door is open is hard on most plants. Also, hot dry air from heating vents can cause many leaves to quickly wilt. Heating vents could be closed or covered with a baffle to direct hot air away from plants.
House Plants listed by light requirements Scientific name Moisture Description Common name Light Low Light Aglaonema modestum Soak & Dry Colorful leaves. Tolerates low Chinese Evergreen Low-Bright light and dry air. Aspidistra elatior Soak & Dry Very tough plant survives heat and Cast Iron Plant Low-Bright low light. Leaves grow from soil. Cordyline fruticosa Moist Pink striped leaves. Tolerates low Hawaiian Ti Plant Low-Sun light. Needs high humidity. Dieffenbachia species Soak & dry Large, green and white leaves. Can Dumbcane Low-Bright grow to ceiling. Poisonous sap. Spathiphyllum species Moist Large green leaves with white Peace Lily Low-Bright flower in fall. Moderate Light Adelomena wallisii Soak & dry Green and yellow leaves with Camouflage Plant Mod-Bright irregular patterns. Asplenium nidus Moist Large, arching fronds from a dark Bird's Nest Fern Mod-Bright crown. Begonia rex Soak & Dry Asymmetrical leaves with many Rex Begonia Mod-Bright colors and spots. Davalia fejeensis Moist Fuzzy rhizomes creep over and down Rabbit's Foot Fern Mod-Bright pot. Needs high humidity. Davallia trichomanoides Moist Very finely divided fronds with Squirrel's Foot Fern Mod-Bright reddish fuzzy rhizomes. Dizygotheca balfourianna Soak & dry Fine textured leaves. Woody stem Fernleaf Aralia Mod-Bright for bonsai. Draceana fragrans Soak & dry Strap-like leaves, often striped. Corn Plant Mod-Bright Can grow tall. Draceana sanderiana Moist Strap-like leaves, often striped. Lucky Bamboo Mod-Bright Can grow tall. Draceana warneckii Soak & dry Strap-like leaves with white edges. Warneck's Draceana Mod-Bright Sensitive to chlorine, fluoride. Epipremnum aureum Soak & Dry Green leaves with golden variega- Golden Pothos Mod-Bright tion. Climbing or trailing. Palms Soak & dry Many sizes and frond shapes. Some Palms Mod-Bright grow tall. Platycerium bifurcatum Moist Forms large, branched fronds on a Staghorn Fern Mod-Bright wall. Soak once a week. Plerandra elegantissima Moist Finely divided leaves with serrated False Aralia Mod-Bright edges. Woody stem for bonsai. Pteris cretica Moist Long, narrow leaflets. Some varie- Brake Fern Mod-Bright gated or frilled. Rhapis excelsa Soak & dry Dark green fan-shaped leaves. Slow Lady Palm Mod-Bright growing to 6 feet tall. Tolmiea menziesii Moist Plantlets sprout from leaves. Piggyback Plant Mod-Bright Bright Light Achimines grandiflora Moist White, red, salmon, pink, yellow, Orchid Pansy Bright blue or purple flowers in summer. Achimines longifolia Moist White flowers with purplish veins Hot Water Plant Bright in May to fall. Alocasia zebrina Soak & dry Large dark leaves with light green Elephant Ear Bright-Filt veins. Aloe vera Soak & dry Leaves are thick curving spikes. Burn Plant Bright-Sun Inner gel used for healing. Ananas comosus Soak & dry Twist top off, expose 1" of stem, Pineapple Bright-Filt dry a day, plant in sandy soil. Anthurium andraeanum Moist Colorful, long lasting red or Flamingo Flower Bright orange flowers. Aphelandra squarrosa Moist White striped leaves. Yellow Zebra Plant Bright flowers in fall. Mist. Asparagus specjes Soak & dry Fine foliage. Fragrant white flower Asparagus Fern Bright-Filt in May. Red berries in fall. Caladium species Soak & dry Large white or pink leaves with Angel Wing Bright green veins. Clivia miniata Soak & dry Strap-like leaves. Large orange and Natal Lily Bright yellow flowers in spring. Codiaeum variegatum Soak & dry Large oval leaves of various colors Croton Bright-Filt on same plant. Needs humidity. Cycas revoluta Soak & dry Stiff fern-like leaves. Very slow Sago Palm Bright-Filt growing. Cyclamen persicum Moist Heart shaped leaves. Butterfly Persian Cyclamen Bright-Filt shaped flowers in winter. Dizygotheca elegantissima Moist Leaves are whorls of nine fingers. False Aralia Bright Ficus benjamina Soak & dry Shiny leaves on drooping branches. Weepng Fig Bright Moving causes leaves to drop. Ficus elastica Soak & dry Upright leaves of reddish green or Rubber Tree Bright green and white. Ficus pumila Soak & dry Two inch leaves on creeping stems. Creepng Fig Bright-Filt Moving causes leaves to drop. Fittonia albivenis Moist Velvety green leaves with white, Nerve Plant Bright pink or red veins. Gynura aurantiaca Soak & dry Purple velvety covering on stems Purple Velvet Plant Bright-Filt and leaves. Haworthiopsis attenuata Soak & Dry Succulent. Rosettes of dark green Zebra Haworthia Bright leaves with white, bumpy stripes. Hippeastrum species Moist Large red, pink or white flowers. Amaryllis Bright Allow to go dormant in summer. Hoya carnosa Soak & Dry Vining plants with clusters of very Wax Plant Bright-Filt fragrant waxy flowers. Hypoestes phyllostachya Soak & Dry Unusual pink, white or red marks Pink Polka Dot Bright-Filt on green leaves. Impatiens walleriana Moist Pink, red, orange, purple and white Busy-lizzy Bright-Filt flowers available. Impatiens x hawkeri Moist Large pink, red, orange, lavender New Guinea Impatiens Bright or purple flowers. Not hardy. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Soak & dry Scarlet, orange or yellow flowers. Kalanchoe Bright-Filt Mandevilla sanderi Moist Vining. Large pink to rose flowers Mandevilla Bright with yellow throat spring-fall. Maranta leuconeura Moist Curved red or white stripes on oval Prayer Plant Bright green leaves. Mimosa pudica Moist Finely divided leaflets immediately Sensitive plant Bright fold up if touched. Monstera deliciosa Soak & dry Large leaves are split as they Swiss Cheese Plant Bright mature. Trunk needs support. Nephrolepis exaltata Moist Arching fronds make a great hanging Boston Fern Bright basket. Orchids: Cattleya, Dendrobium Soak & dry Many sizes and frond shapes. Add Phalaenopsis, Cymbidium Bright humidity with pebbles and water. Oxalis regnellii Soak & dry Green clover-shaped leaves. White Shamrock Bright-Filt flowers in fall, winter, spring. Oxalis triangularis Soak & dry Purple clover-shaped leaves. Tiny Purple Shamrock Bright-Filt white flowers. Peperomia species Soak & dry Many leaf shapes. Some upright, Peperomia Bright some trailing. Philodendron verrucosum Moist Light and dark green heart shaped Heart Leaf Philodendron Bright leaves are maroon underneath. Phyllotaenium lindenii Moist Large shield-shaped leaves with Angel Wing Bright white center stripe and ribs. Pilea cadierei Moist Green leaves have silver splotches. Aluminum Plant Bright Likes high humidity. Polyscias filicifolia Soak & dry Fine textured leaves. Can be trained Fernleaf Aralia Bright-Filt as Bonsai. Rhoeo discolor Soak & dry Leaves are green on top, purple on Moses in the Cradle Bright bottom. Flowers are boat shaped. Saintpaulia ionatha Moist Rosette of leaves with white or African Violet Bright-Filt pink flowers. 11 hours of light. Sansevieria trifasciata Soak & dry Lance shaped leaves with yellow Snake Plant Bright-Filt margins and silver bands. Saxifraga stolonifera Soak & dry Leaves are shaped like a geranium Strawberry Saxifrage Bright and colored like a begonia. Schefflera actinophylla Soak & dry Leaves have eight leaflets. Mist Octopus Plant Bright daily to provide humidity. Schefflera arboricola Soak & dry Eight leaflets on the leaf stalk Octopus Plant Bright spread like an umbrella. Schlumbergera x buckleyi Moist-dry Needs long nights and reduced water Christmas Cactus Bright in late Sept. to form flowers. Stephanotis floribunda Moist Vining plant with very fragrant Madagascar Jasmine Bright-Filt white flowers in June. Strobilanthes dyerianus Soak & Dry Leaves marbled with purple and blue Persian Shield Bright-Filt with wine red underneath. Tillandsia cyanea Soak & dry Purple flowers on deep pink, paddle Pink Quill Bromeliad Bright shaped stalks. Keep water in top. Tradescantia zebrina Soak & Dry Silver and purple stripes. Great Wandering Dude Bright for hanging baskets. Filtered Sun Abutilon spp. Very moist Rapid growing. Red, orange, yellow, Flowering Maple Filt-Sun purple or white flowers. Acalypha hispida Moist Has long plumes of tiny red flowers Chenille Plant Filt-Sun Needs regular pruning. Acalypha wilkesiana Soak & dry Glossy leaves of red, copper, pink, Jacob's Coat Filt-Sun gold and brown. Acanthocereus tetragonus Dry Cluster of upright cactus stems can Fairy Castle Cactus Filt-Sun rarely have large white flowers. Anthurium scherzeranum Moist Colorful red or orange flower. Flamingo Flower Filt-Sun Araucaria heterophylla Moist Formal, tree-like growth habit. Norfolk Island Pine Filt-Sun Can reach the ceiling. Begonia bowerae Moist Heart shaped emerald green leaves Eyelash Begonia Filtered with brown marks. White flowers. Begonia species Moist Many sizes and colors of leaves. Begonia Filtered Red, pink or white flowers. Coffea arabica Soak & dry Shiny leaves with wavy edges. Needs Arabian Coffee Tree Filt-Sun high humidity. Crassula ovata Soak & dry Thick leaves and branches. Some Jade Plant Filt-Sun with striped leaves. Cuphea ignea Moist Tiny, tube-like red flowers attract Cigar Flower Filt-Sun butterflies, hummingbirds. Cyperus alternifolius Very moist Long green stems topped by a whorl Umbrella Palm Filt-Sun of leaves. Grows in shallow water Draceana marginata Soak & dry Long, narrow leaves, often striped. Dragon Tree Filtered Can grow tall. Echeveria species Soak & dry Rosette of thick leaves. Plantlets Hen and Chicks Filt-Sun sprout all around. Sandy soil. Euphorbia pulcherrima Soak & Dry Red, pink, white or marbled flowers Poinsettia Filtered at Christmas time. Fatshedera lizei Moist Hybrid of Japanese aralia and Tree Ivy Filtered English ivy. Needs staking. Gardenia jasminoides Very moist Very fragrant white flowers. Needs Gardenia Filtered high humidity and cool nights. Philodendron x 'Ring of Fire' Moist Variegated leaves with greens, yel- Ring of Fire Philodendron Filtered lows, oranges and reds. Pilea involucrata 'Moon Valley Moist Uniquely textured leaves: green on Moon Valley Friendship Plant Filtered surface and darker beneath. Plectranthus verticillatus Moist Trailing plant with lush green Swedish Ivy Filtered scalloped leaves. White flowers. Strelitzia reginae Moist Exotic flowers of orange, blue and Bird of Paradise Filt-Sun white all year. Full Sun Cactus Moist-dry Many sizes and colors. Moist when Cactus Full Sun growing/flowering, then dry. Capsicum annuum Moist Bright red peppers are edible, but Ornamental Pepper Full Sun extremely hot. Carissa macrocarpa Moist Fragrant white flowers produce Natal Plum Full Sun edible red fruit. Citrus species Soak & dry Fragrant white flowers and colorful Citrus Full Sun fruit. Cuphea llavea Moist Tiny, tube-like red flowers. Bat-Faced Cuphea Full Sun Huernia zebrina Soak & Dry 5-pointed yellow flower with copper Life Saver Full Sun bands and dark red lifesaver rim. Lantana species Never wet Fragrant red, yellow or white Lantana Full Sun flowers in summer. Pelargonium peltata Soak & dry Red, salmon, orange, pink and white Geranium Full Sun flowers. Solanum pseudocapsicum Moist Flowers and red fruit in the fall. Christmas Cherry Full Sun Needs abundant light to flower.This information may be downloaded and printed as long as it is stored and printed in its entirety with no changes, and proper credit is given to the source: www.rodsgardening.com/house.htm
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