Year-Round Indoor Gardening By Robert Liberto

Peace Lily. Requires low light and blooms frequently.

Everyone wants healthy, thriving houseplants to accent various spots around the home. Apart from just looking good, properly cared for plants can be an integral part of your home’s décor and offer significant health benefits, too.

Plants help clean, purify and condition the air we breathe. They absorb harmful substances, filter dust and dirt, dampen sound levels and refresh the air by emitting oxygen. In order to grow plants successfully indoors, however, you need to understand the conditions they require to remain healthy and attractive.

Every houseplant has different needs when it comes to light, temperature and humidity. When considering a plant for a particular area of your home, the key is location, location, location! You must have the proper environment for your plant in order for it to survive. Once you have chosen the perfect spot, answer the following questions before you purchase your houseplant:

• Will the plant enhance this particular location?
• How much light is available, and are there seasonal differences in lighting throughout the year?
• What is the temperature of the location, and does the temperature vary?
• How much humidity is present?

Once you’ve answered these questions,you’re ready to choose the best plant for that location.

Diffenbachia. Easy-care plant. Requires low light. Keep soil evenly moist.

If you want to grow something that would be generally unsuited for the chosen location, you can modify the intended environment to fit the plant’s needs. You can provide additional light, if needed, by using fluorescent or incandescent lighting. If the humidity needs to be increased, spray the plant periodically by using a water-filler spray bottle. Temperature of the room can be adjusted with a small heater or fan (make sure to not have the heater or fan blow directly on the plant). Another solution is to move the plant several times a week to a more suited location, and then later return it to the original location, especially if it is being utilized as a decoration.

Some of us are impulse buyers. We may choose a plant for its colorful foliage or interesting flower, but give little consideration to its growing requirements. If you keep the intended location of a plant in mind, you will have more success in growing and maintaining the plant for a long time.

All plants need proper maintenance in order to grow properly. A plant grown indoors in a pot is completely dependent upon its caretaker and requires more attention than growing a plant outdoors. Inspecting houseplants regularly is important. Plants should be checked weekly to see if they need water. Also check foliage for brown or dying leaves. You should also look for any sign of an insect infestation or disease and address any problems immediately.

Watering
Plants require varying amounts of moisture. Some like to be constantly moist while others prefer to dry out between waterings. The best method for judging when a plant needs water is the “touch test.” Feel the soil surface with your index finger. If the potting soil is dry to a depth of roughly 1/2 inch, add water. If the soil is moist, hold back watering for a while. Over-watering can often cause leaves to turn yellow. Continue to check periodically, then water accordingly when needed.

Brown tips on a palm plant caused by being to dry and low humidity	Philodendron. Occasional spraying with water increases humidity	Hoya plant being repotted

Brown or Dying Leaves
Many plant’s leaves develop brown tips or edges. Generally, this is caused by the lack of humidity, temperature change or insufficient amount of water. Remove brown or dying leaves with scissors. With larger leaves, you can just trim off any brown edges you find.

Jade plant. Requires direct sun and low moisture.

Insects
Examine plants closely for signs of insects. Various pests, although not many, can attack houseplants and, if left untreated, can infest other plants in your home. Typically, any ordinary houseplant insect spray will rid your plant of the insect. However, if the problem persists after treatment, consult your local garden center or florist for other treatment options.

Some pests to watch for include: aphids, which have soft, round bodies and are usually green or black in color; mealy bugs, which have round, fuzzy bodies and cluster on leaf stems; scale insects, which have brown or gray oval bodies with a hard shell; and spider mites, which are very small with red bodies but produce very fine webbing on the undersides of the leaves.

Diseases
It is rather uncommon for houseplants to develop diseases; however, it does happen occasionally. The two most common diseases are root rot and crown rot, both characterized by sudden wilting and powdery mildew, a white or grayish looking powder on the leaf’s surface. This can be easily remedied with proper plant care such as removing the affected leaves, reducing or increasing the amount of water accordingly, and/or applying a houseplant fertilizer.

Fertilizers
Fertilizing your houseplant is a very important element in proper plant maintenance. Fertilizers come in several different forms including liquids, powders, stakes, slow-release tablets and capsules. The latter is placed on the soil surface and the nutrients are dissolved over a period of time, usually two to three months. Always follow the directions for the fertilizer you are using, and be careful not to over fertilize.

Repotting
How can you tell when a plant needs to be repotted? Roots will be growing out of the drainage holes, foliage may appear to be top-heavy, the overall growth of the plant may appear stunted, and any flowering will become less and less.

Repotting gives plants a new lease on life. It allows for more root space, expanding foliage and an opportunity to purchase a new decorative container! To repot, simply turn the existing potted plant upside down while bracing the stem(s) and \”knock\” the plant out. Use a potting soil mix purchased from any garden shop and a decorative container of your choice. Just make sure it’s no larger than 1 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter than the original pot. It is crucial that you do not \”bury\” the plant. Add the potting soil and set the plant on top. Be sure to keep the old root ball fairly close to the surface, filling around the sides with the new potting mix. Gently press the soil around the plant to help stabilize it, and then water thoroughly. Now your plant is ready to be returned to its location in your home.

Hopefully you will enjoy growing various houseplants for pleasure and decoration. The winter season is the perfect time to experiment by trying a few new plants, exploring a new hobby or expanding on your existing selection of plant life.

Richard Liberto is a professional horticulturist, landscape designer and garden consultant.

The list below is just a brief sampling of houseplants that I recommend and have had great success in growing.

Botanical Name:	Common Name:
Agapanthus	Lily of the Nile
Agave	Century plant
Bromelaids	Pineapple plant
Cactus species
Cyclamen
Dieffenbachia	Dumb cane
Dracaena	Dragon tree
Fittonia	Nerve plant
Gardenia
Hibiscus
Hoya	Wax plant
Kalanchoe
Maidenhair fern	Bird’s nest fern
Peperomia
Philodendron
Sansevieria	Snake plant
Spathiphyllum	Peace lily
Streptocarpus	Cape primrose