How to Grow Healthy Houseplants

If growing healthy houseplants seems like an out-of-reach feat that you can’t seem to accomplish with any regularity, take these indoor gardening rules to heart. Provide your houseplants with the following five ingredients, and your indoor garden is sure to thrive.  

1 Just the right amount of water

  The number one cause of houseplant death isn’t inadequate lighting or insect pests. The main reason why houseplants die is incorrect watering. Either people neglect their houseplants and fail to water, or they fuss over them and drown them with good intentions.   Water your houseplants only when they need water. This usually means when the top one to two inches of soil has dried. Insert your finger up past your first knuckle, or use a moisture meter or the “pick up” test before watering. (Lightweight houseplants tend to be dry.) Overwatering is the fastest route to fungal disease and imminent death.   Underwatering is also harmful. Do whatever you must to remind yourself to check your plants to see if they require watering.    

2 Provide sufficient lighting

  Fertilizing can’t make up for a lack of lighting. Houseplants don’t get their energy for growth from feeding. They get energy from lighting. The chlorophyll in their leaves converts sunlight into energy and that is what actually fuels plants. Fertilizer gives houseplants nutrients that allow for healthy growth.  

3 Keep on top of houseplant pests

  A minor problem such as a small cluster of mealybugs or a few scale insects on a houseplant can quickly turn into a major problem indoors and makes growing healthy houseplants difficult. Plant pests thrive in the close, warm conditions of the indoor garden where they don’t have to fight against natural enemies to survive. Eradicate them from your indoor garden as soon as you see some.  

 (Photo, Healthy Houseplants.com)

 

4 Offer ideal temperatures

  Most houseplants are comfortable in temperatures that humans enjoy. Aim to keep your plants in 65-75 degrees. Too hot or too cold will lead to stunted growth and leaf drop. Also avoid placing your plants near doorways or heating or cooling ducts.  

5 Observe your houseplants

  Taking the time at least once a week to inspect your houseplants will help you detect if there is a problem prior to it becoming a deadly one. Instinctively you’ll know when something isn’t quite right. Look for telltale signs of something being wrong like wilting leaves, a plant stretching for light or signs of pests. Recognizing these initial signs allows you to take the correct steps, such as providing more lighting or easing off on watering, to keep your houseplants healthy.   Growing healthy houseplants is a satisfying accomplishment that’s sure to make your indoor garden an impressive and enjoyable place to be.