Basic Houseplant Care Tips
Houseplants have never been more popular. Loving houseplants too much, however, has a “dark side” – they can die due to overwatering. This video by Better Homes and Gardens presents several basic houseplant care tips along with recommendations for easy-to-maintain varieties that are perfect for people with “black thumbs”:
Most houseplants come from subtropical areas of the world; they like most temperatures that humans like, but they don’t like dryness. Plants really want air moisture, so keep them away from heating sources and from any forced air.
Some popular types of houseplants include:
- Pothos: Commonly seen in offices, it is a long vining plant that puts up with the most neglect
- Peace Lily: Has white hooded flowers in the summer, may have green or variegated leave
- Snake Plant: A succulent with large swordlike variegated leaves; also comes in miniature versions
- Jade Plant: Resembling a bonsai, this is another succulent that is forgiving and easy to grow
- Dracaena: Ornamental small, bushy plants that can get tall
- Philodendron: Classic plant currently in fashion
- Money Plant: Popular in Asia, this plant has a braided trunk and is considered to bring good fortune.
Yellow leaves indicates a plant that has been overwatered or has too much sunlight. Do not water a wet plant; test the soil first. Mist plants during the winter. Opening the windows when the weather to bring in moist air will also help your plants. You may also need to relocate a plant into bright indirect sunlight.
Plants can also get too root-bound. Inspect the roots of a plant that is looking poorly. If it is root-bound, transplant it into a larger (but not too large) pot. Put a hole in the bottom of the pot for drainage and cover hole with a piece of terra cotta or a pebble. Add soil, leaving 1/2 inch at the top of of the plant to allow for proper watering. Remove any yellow foliage and water well. Later, you can add some diluted houseplant fertilizer.
