Foliage

Houseplant care - Light

Before you decide to buy any houseplant - check the location for how much light the area gets. ASK yourself – does it get morning sun, afternoon sun, filtered by blinds/curtains, in a dark corner or up on a shelf. Picture where the plant is going and figure what kind of light the area has. THAT question usually will determine what types of plants will survive in that area. Don’t purchase a plant just because it looks pretty sitting on the floor in the greenhouse or store; or because you like the colors in the leaves. If the plant does not meet the light requirements, 9 chances out of 10, the plant will not survive.

Light requirements - if the care tag or sign says:

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Direct sunlight - enters a south facing window throughout most of the day (usually four to six hours.)
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Bright filtered - direct sunlight that is filtered through a translucent blind or curtain.
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Medium light - constant level of daylight normally without direct sunlight enters north or west facing window.
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Low light - exists in a corner that does not face windows. Is more than eight feet from a window or source of light.

Houseplant care-Watering Tips

Rule #1 NEVER water your plants on a schedule.

This can be detrimental!! Ex: if you water every “Monday”, what happens if you water every Monday and we have a week of cloudy, damp weather. Naturally the plant(s) have not seen the sun for almost a week and here you come and water again on Monday because that is your routine. Well because of no sun, the soil has not dried out and more water is sent down to the roots. Over time, the roots if they are too wet can slowly rot and the plant dies, more plants die from over watering than under watering.

Check the soil by the touch method. If it is dry to the touch about 2” down, then it probably should be watered. But plants have different needs, get to know your plant and its water requirements. You can also use a water meter (which is a probe that you stick in the soil). It will register if the plant is dry, moderately dry, or wet.

Water plentifully or moist soil - keeping the soil moist at all times - never allowing the soil to dry out. Water thoroughly until water drains into saucer; drain any excess water in saucer after 30 minutes.

Water moderately - water thoroughly but to allow the top half-inch (sometimes a little more) of the soil to dry out before watering again.

Water sparingly - make the potting mixture barely moist throughout and to allow as much as two-thirds of the soil to dry out before watering again.

Fertilizing

Fertilizing your houseplants can be done in a number of ways.

1.

Fertilizer spike-follow directions on the package. Use the correct # of spikes per size pot. Stagger them around the perimeter of the pot. These are a slow release fertilizer and will last two – three months.
2.

Liquid fertilizer - is a fertilizer that you mix with water and can be used every time you water. Less concentrated than granules. Follow directions on package.
3.

Granulated (Water soluble) Ex. Miracle Gro – is more concentrated than liquid. Follow directions on package and use every two weeks.

Fertilize your houseplants on a regular basis March thru August. Fertilizing is not necessary during winter months as plants are in a dormant stage and their growth slows down.