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Bring the Outside Indoors: Success with House Plants
As you wander through Lenox Mall or Phipps Plaza, do you notice the beautiful, lush foliage that surrounds you? The towering fichus trees that reach toward the atriums are full of healthy leaves, the chrysanthemums are in full flower, and the glossy spathiphyllum are sending up their exotic blooms. Soon, bright red poinsettias will replace the chrysanthemums, and other holiday trees and foliage will temporarily inhabit these shopping, dining and entertainment areas. The use of indoor plants enhances the beauty of these areas and helps create a softer environment to work, live and play.
While most of us do not have the budget to create and maintain such show-stopping displays as are found in malls and offices, we can successfully use attractive, live, healthy plants in our homes. Not only are houseplants aesthetically pleasing, studies by NASA have shown that certain plants can be effective in removing pollutants from the air. Most importantly, a more pleasant environment seems to be the result of growing plants in your home!
To ensure success with indoor plants, it is important to select plants that will thrive in your own home environment. Take the following into consideration when choosing plants:
Light: Consider not only the amount of light that enters your home, but the time of day, season of the year and the direction from which the light enters the house. High light plants (hibiscus, fichus, schefflera) do best near windows or glass doors with western or southern exposures. Medium light plants (Boston fern, diffenbachia, areca palm) can be placed in an eastern exposure, and low light plants (sansevieria, aspidistra) can be grown successfully in areas with a northern exposure.
Temperatures: Most indoor plants require daytime temperatures between 60–70°F. Be careful of window drafts or exposure to heat or air-conditioner registers.
Humidity: Most houseplants require high humidity levels. Winter air is much drier than summer air, so the use of humidifiers or gravel beds under plants is helpful.
Containers: Make sure the container that the plant is in has drainage holes. Use a saucer underneath to catch water that drains from the pot—but do not let the pot sit in water.
Soil: Plant roots must have air, food and water. It is especially important for container-bound plants to have soil that is porous enough for good water drainage and that allows for oxygen to the roots. There are many good soils available at your garden center or nursery specifically blended for indoor plants. When repotting is necessary, be sure to use pasteurized soil.
Watering and Feeding: The most common cause of death to houseplants is overwatering! How much water your plants need depends on the temperature and humidity level of your home, the type of container your plant is in and the type of plant. Cacti and succulents have very different needs than ferns and African violets. Read the label that comes with your plant and adjust your watering schedule for each specific plant. The same is true of fertilizer. Use a plant food that is recommended for houseplants, and follow the manufacturer’s directions. Overfeeding can also damage plants.
While not every houseplant is easy to grow and maintain, there are so many varieties available today that you will be able to find something that will work in your home. For those who feel they have little skill with plants (or low light conditions), golden pothos (Epiprenmum aureum), snake plant (Sansevieria) and cast-iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) are good choices. If you have a bit more light available, try a Heart-leaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens), peace lily (Spathiphyllum) or Dracaena marginata. For those of you with high light conditions, Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) or a jade plant (Crassula argentea) are possibilities.
Take time to learn the cultural needs of the plants you purchase for inside your home—give them what they need and they will do well for you!
Forcing Bulbs
Teasing bulbs into thinking it is their season to bloom helps gardeners get a "springtime fix," while the calendar still says winter.
All you need is:
A leak proof container
A semi-sunny spot
A cool place for the bulbs to sprout
Bulbs purchased at a garden center are "pre-chilled." This means the bulbs think they have experienced winter dormancy. When you place the bulbs in soil or gravel and a warmer environment, they think it's time to bloom! Some of the most popular types of bulbs to force indoors are fragrant Paperwhite Narcissus and hyacinths, dramatic amaryllis and dainty crocus.
Simple steps:
1. Place bulbs in the soil or gravel with the pointed end up.
2. Arrange the bulbs so they are almost touching, this will produce a sturdy pot of foliage and flowers.
3. The tops of the bulbs should be one half inch below the container's rim.
4. Once the bulbs sprout, place them in a location that is not too dry or hot–a cool, almost drafty spot suits them best and will keep the foliage stocky and healthy.
5. Place decorative moss over soil, and polished stones add a nice finishing touch.
6. If staking the foliage becomes necessary, try using curly willow, decorative metal stakes and festive ribbon.
Once your bulbs have finished flowering, do not cut the foliage off, the fading leaves are needed by the individual bulb to pull from and store nutrients for next season. Most bulbs can be planted outdoors in the spring after danger of frost has passed.
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