Plants in the Home

Things change and the fashion for certain plants will alter in the years to come. But the basic fascination for growing plants in the home will no doubt remain with us and will continue to increase. There are things to learn if you’re a beginner but you don’t need a book to learn about the beauty, variety and popularity of house plants—just look around you. Everywhere you will find them, the impressive indoor gardens in public building….tiny pots on windowsills…..scores of colorful varieties offered for sale in garden shops.

Let me give you The Ten Golden Rules of Plant in the Home:

#1:  Don’t drown them; roots need air as well as water.

#2:  Give them a rest; in the winter plants need less water and less feeding

#3:  Accept the loss of temporary plants; some popular temporary plants include Cyclamen, Gloxinia, and Chrysanthemum, just to name a few. These plants will die back regardless of your care.  You’ve done nothing wrong these plants are doing what they are supposed to do.

#4:  Extra Humidity; place an extra bowl of water around certain plants. Ferns are a good example.

#5:  Treat problems promptly; learn to recognize the early signs of trouble.

#6:  Group them together; nearly all plants look better and grow better when grouped with other plants.

#7:  Learn to repot; after a year or two, most plants begin to look sickly, in many cases the plants simply need repotting.

#8:  Choose wisely; your plant must be able to flourish in the home you provide for it. Make sure the plant’s location is matched to its needs, such as sun or shade.

#9:  Have Proper Tools; such as a watering can, a well drained and properly sized container, fertilizer and maybe some garden scissors just to name a few.

#10:  Always check the plants specific needs.

Just remember you can’t just leave your plants to look after themselves, each plant needs some care and each variety has its own particular requirements.