Caring for your Plants
You and Your Plants
Sometimes you many not realize it, but your plants may not always need watering. Most of the time, over-watering the plants can kill them. There is a very simple way to check if your plants need watering. Just put your finger into the soil; if it comes out wet, don’t water the plant!
Certain plants require different things for their growth, and it is important for you to know which plants require which things. Flowering plants, for example, require more K20 than foliage plants, which require more nitrogen. To help this, some slow release fertilizers can be mixed in with your compost to promote growth.
Plants like Sanseveria and Aspidistra require no sun, and can be placed away from a window while Spider plants need semi-shade. You can put plants like these near a window that does or does not get sunlight. Check the label to see what your plant needs.
Some houseplants can survive in cool or warm temperatures, but drastic changes in temperature may not be good for them. One thing that most plants cannot survive is gas heating. If you have a plant that thrives in warm conditions, don’t put it near an air conditioner during the summer.
Some houseplants require a humid environment. One way to maximize humidity is to put the pot inside a larger pot and fill in the gaps with stones or compost to keep in the moisture. Grouping plants together often creates a microclimate that they will benefit from. Depending on the temperature, you can spray plants with water once or twice a day.
Some house plants are small enough that they can live their whole lives out in a single pot. Some plants will grow very fast and will need to be moved, although some will not take well to being disturbed. If you take your plant out and see only roots, your plant needs more room, and if not, then you should be alright.
