Lawn & Garden - House Plant Care
About House Plant Care
Introduction
Growing house plants is a challenging yet rewarding activity and is known to be a favorite hobby of many people. Houseplants bring greenery, fresh air, and a bit of nature into the home. Most plants purchased from the florist have been grown in greenhouses under ideal conditions and would need special care to adjust to its new environment when transferred into the home. But there really is no need to worry because most of them require nothing more than watering, feeding and occasional repotting. 
Watering
Many of the problems associated with growing house plants have to do with the plant’s water requirement. Proper watering keeps the soil moist enough to supply the plants' needs without drowning the roots. Too much water saturates the soil and drives out air thus causing the roots to die from lack of oxygen. Most house plants will also suffer if water is inadequately supplied. Differences in soil and environment influence water needs. Dry-soil plants require less watering than moist-soil plants. Plants with roots, in shallow containers need daily watering, while plants in large tubs may go several weeks without watering. Another important factor to consider in watering is to ensure that the water to be used is of the right kind. Rain water or melted snow is excellent for house plants but it must be used only when it reaches room temperature so as not to shock the plant. Ordinary tap water or that from the well can be used. But water from water softeners are not advised to be used continuously for potted plants.
Feeding
The use of fertilizer in the plant will not cure all ills. It is not to save plants suffering from poor drainage, insect infestation, disease or over-watering. Fertilizer is used to promote balanced growth of the plant. There are three major elements that should be present in the fertilizer: Nitrogen which is essential for the growth of the stem and leaves; Phosphorous for the roots; and Potassium for the general sturdiness of the plant. These chemicals need not be applied separately. They are available in many different combinations with a mix of all three and under a multitude of brand names. Frequency of fertilizer application varies. Plants that have just been purchased from the greenhouse are well fertilized and they seldom need additional fertilizer for a few weeks. Similarly, plants that have been freshly potted will not require feeding for the first few months, while new roots are being formed.
Fertilizing once a month is usually adequate for most houseplants that are producing new growth or flowers but as a general rule, use of fertilizer is recommended every 2 weeks from March to September. It is not advisable to use fertilizer during winter months when no new growth is apparent because of the reduced light and temperature. Fertilizing during winter can be detrimental to some house plants.
Re-Potting
House plants need repotting when:
- roots have become too extensive for the pot and become pot bound
- nutrients in the soil have been exhausted
- the plant becomes unhealthy due to over watering
- drainage is inadequate
Potting mixture to be used must be free from large particles of mud to allow free drainage of water. A good potting mixture for most houseplants consists of a blend of three parts sphagnum peat, one part vermiculite and one part perlite. It is recommended to use a pot which is of the next larger size and has a drainage holes at the bottom to allow excess water to flow out of the pot. Potting media should be moistened before repotting begins. It is important to avoid excessive damage to the root system when repotting. Newly potted plants should be watered thoroughly, drain and must not be watered again until necessary.
