And Who Will Care For the Indoor Plants?
By Andrea Peck
I don't know about you, but somewhere between buying an indoor plant and bringing it home, it ceases to exist. I don't mean that it dies on the drive home from fright. I'm one of those slow, grandma drivers (no insults intended), so it definitely isn't fear that kills it. It's actually my psychological attitude towards my new decoration.
I mean, plant.
The truth is, I don't really take the poor green thing seriously. I just think it's a pretty tchotchke. I then assume – mistakenly – that all green plants are the same.
Everything needs care. Moreover, everything needs some degree of individualized care. Just because you have allowed this vegetation into your home, does not mean that you throw it a little water and a bit of liquid fertilizer and shake your stick at it when it fails to thrive while living in your closet.
But, isn't it true that many of us do this? Isn't it even possible that we consider these little indoor shrubberies kinda lucky to be inside at all? Somehow we feel that this privilege decrees that they survive all forms of neglect?
Frankly, this is why I am endeavoring to learn about that mysterious minx called the indoor plant. I'm ashamed to admit that my houseplants seem either dead or stunted. So what are the tricks?
Well, so far I've learned that the term, ‘location, location, location,' does not just apply to real estate. Indoor plants are often wantonly placed. Maybe it is a shade plant and it's saddled with a hot, sunny part of the house. Perhaps the opposite is true – it could be a plant that needs bright sun and it's on top of your desk in that dark hole you call an office. This is the time to break out your compass. South, east and west are commonly referred to when situating your plant. Plants differ in the amount of light they require. Light specifications will often refer to bright, medium and low light. The catch here is that it's probably best to decide where you want to place your new plant before buying it. That way, you can purchase an appropriate plant. Of course, it seldom works that way – we all want that exotic creature that has high needs. In that case, make an effort to find your plant a setting that best suits it.
Water, how much water and how often, are crucial for plant success. A maiden hair fern, for example, should be slightly moist all of the time. The orchid is another moisture lover (consider that they are found in the rainforest) but they also appreciate air circulation. Orchids are often sold in pots that have holes to prevent overly damp conditions and promote air flow. Many people understand that cactus and succulents require less water. However, it is essential to remember that these plants, while defined by their ability to sustain drought, don't have the resources that nature provides. Plants often react strongly to chemicals in the water. Letting your water sit for 24 hours will allow chlorine and fluoride, which are often added to our water supply, to dissipate. Apparently, plants appreciate warm water over cool water. I'm not talking heating up a cup of tea for them. That is probably beyond the plant–human boundaries of propriety. We don't want them to get uppity. No, just by letting the water sit out to room temperature you should be fine.
Many indoor plants are tropical in nature and require humidity. Set your plants on a pan filled with rocks and then fill it halfway with water to provide a constant source of moisture. Grouping similar plants together also promotes humid conditions. Salts can prove especially problematic. It is a good idea to periodically leach the soil of salts by watering thoroughly once or twice and allowing the water to thoroughly drain.
Fertilizer is a topic that perplexes many. What kind to use? How often? These are confounding questions and are best answered by researching your particular plant. Some require “a little something” with each watering and some plants can go without. Most plants should be fertilized in the spring, summer and fall when they are growing. Using a balanced houseplant fertilizer, diluted to half strength, every two weeks is a common rule of thumb, but again, each plant is different. Because they are not growing during the winter, most plants will not require extra feeding. Compost may be used sporadically.
Some plants do well with periodic camping trips to the great outdoors. Whether it is raining and you want your plant to get its leaves rinsed and that oxygenated rainfall or your plant needs a sunbathing vacation, it is often a good idea to keep in mind the idea of plant rotation. If you decide to move your plants outdoors for a portion of the year, remember to allow time for your plant to acclimate. Stresses such as wind, sun and variations in temperature can threaten your pampered indoor plant.