{"id":3049,"date":"2020-01-24T18:21:01","date_gmt":"2020-01-24T18:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whiteflower1.wpengine.com\/?p=3049"},"modified":"2023-08-09T19:59:50","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T19:59:50","slug":"how-to-care-for-houseplants-a-few-tips-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.whiteflowerfarm.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/24\/how-to-care-for-houseplants-a-few-tips-for-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Care for Houseplants \u2013 A Few Tips for Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sharing your home and office with indoor plants has plenty of benefits. For one thing, plants are beautiful to look at, and they generally enhance the look of any interior. Studies (including some conducted by NASA) indicate that indoor plants have demonstrated the potential to help purify the air. Living green plants with their pleasing, biomorphic shapes are also thought to reduce stress and promote tranquility. While most indoor plants don\u2019t require much in the way of care, the little bit of nurturing they do need (mainly in the form of occasional watering) is, for many, a pleasing ritual.<\/p>\n

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Split-leaf Philodendron<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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If you have never grown a houseplant<\/a> indoors (or even if you\u2019ve killed a few in trying), there is no need for trepidation. Keep in mind the most common cause of houseplant trouble is overwatering, so most of us who grow indoor plants tend not to neglect our charges but to care too much. Most houseplants will grow and thrive if given their required conditions: adequate space, their preferred sun exposure, regular watering (and not too much), and occasional fertilizer. Most varieties can tolerate a certain degree of neglect so if you\u2019re away for a week on vacation, there\u2019s no need to anticipate plant carnage upon your return. The long and short is you don\u2019t need to be a gardener or a green thumb to enjoy the beauty and benefits of indoor plants, but a few tips will help you ensure your plants thrive. Here is a helpful primer for beginners:<\/div>\n
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Clockwise from top left: Peace Lily ‘Domino,’ ‘Black Coral’ Snake Plant, and Silver Dollar Fern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Choose the Right Plant for the Right Spot<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before adding any new plant to your home or office, survey the spot where you plant to put it. How much space is available? Is the space big enough for a large plant, or do you need a smaller, tabletop variety? What is the quality of light? Is the plant\u2019s future home in shade, lit by direct sun, or suffused with bright indirect light? Most houseplants, including some of those listed below, require bright, indirect light. That means they are best situated in rooms with a south-facing window. But there are also plants that grow beautifully in the lower light of rooms with less advantageous exposures. Keep in mind that east\/west-facing windows generally provide moderate light while north-facing windows have low light. So before purchasing any plant, take a few minutes to orient yourself in a room, determine the size of the plant\u2019s future home and the quality of sunlight it offers. Keep this information in mind when plant shopping so you can choose the right plant for the right spot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rattlesnake Plant\u00a0<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Read the Plant Tag<\/strong><\/div>\n
Any plant being offered for purchase should be accompanied by a tag or webpage that offers information including the plant\u2019s botanical and common names, its light requirements, size at maturity, and, if relevant, period of bloom. Pay particular attention to the type of light the plant requires and its eventual size to ensure it\u2019s a good match for the conditions you can offer. We\u2019ve all made the mistake of buying a plant based solely on its good looks only to find we don\u2019t have the right conditions to keep it looking its best.<\/div>\n
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Chinese Evergreen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Don\u2019t Drown Your Houseplant<\/strong><\/p>\n

The fastest and easiest way to kill a houseplant is not by neglect but by overwatering. Over the years, our customer service team has fielded countless calls from well-meaning plant owners who are essentially drowning their charges. A plant\u2019s needs for water vary by time of year, the humidity level in the home (which can change significantly due to conditions outdoors), the plant\u2019s life cycle, and the type of container it\u2019s potted in. (Clay pots promote evaporation at a higher rate than most other materials, which means plants potted in clay tend to need more frequent hydration.) Some people we know water their plants on a weekly schedule, i.e., if it\u2019s Thursday, the plants get a drink. We don\u2019t recommend this approach. If you do keep a calendar, use it to\u00a0check on the plant to see if it needs water. Don\u2019t automatically water every plant just because the calendar says so. Let the plant tell you what it needs. The best way to know if your plant is thirsty is to gently press the soil at the top of the pot with your finger. If the soil is dry to a depth of 1\u201d, your plant needs a drink. Some plants appreciate a thorough watering, which is best done over the sink, if that\u2019s possible. (Simply add water in a slow, steady stream until the soil takes it up and you feel the pot growing heavier in your hand. Let water drip out the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot before turning off the tap. When the last drips escape the drainage holes, return the plant to its saucer or tray. Don\u2019t water the plant again until the soil at the top of the pot is dry to the touch. If a plant is too large to carry to the sink, or if, like Snake Plants and Dracaenas, plants prefer to be watered less thoroughly, pour in just enough to dampen the soil around the base of the plant.<\/p>\n

A few overall watering tips:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n