Indoor plants require indirect light, water and fertilizer to flourish. Many varieties, like spider plants and african violets, will do very well inside homes.
Having houseplants is a wonderful way to extend the garden into the home. Plants may be placed on tables and shelves, or hung from the ceiling, to liven up a room and add more oxygen to the air.The trick to growing plants indoors is to make sure they have the proper lighting. Moving plants with the seasons allows them to experience different light and can aid in their growth. You may want to place many plants near a south-facing window during the cold, winter months but move them to a more indirect light source when it heats up outside. In the spring, it is a great idea to take plants outdoors for a little fresh air. Using the shower nozzle on a hose is an easy way to clean the leaves and water deeply, washing off a winter’s worth of dust, all while giving plants clean air and sunshine. Most houseplants need to be fertilized about once a month. Ironite works well with most indoor plants but an all-purpose fertilizer, such as Miracle Gro, will also do fine. Most indoor plants are quite hardy and, with just a little care, will provide lovely flowers and foliage all year long.
There are many plants that have are well-adapted to indoor living. The african violet (Saintpaulia sp.) is a lovely, flowering houseplant with richly-colored blooms and dark, fuzzy leaves. They prefer medium to high, indirect light and grow best in African violet-specific potting soil. The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is another beautiful houseplant that, true to its name, produces beautiful blooms in early winter. This cactus prefers light moisture all year until buds form, when watering should be reduced. However, it is only available for sale around the holidays. Various ferns, including the bird’s nest (Asplenium nidus) and the boston fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata) grow very well in the even temperatures and moderate light of most homes.
Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are another popular indoor plant. They are praised for being natural air-filters, so those with allergies may want to have a few of these. Spider plants have long, green blades (striped in some varieties) and produce spider plantlets, which can be plucked and replanted once they are large enough. The many varieties of coleus (Solenostemon sp.) make excellent indoor plants and come in a plethora of leaf shades: from dark green to bright red and many patterns in between. Many other lovely plants grow well indoors including various succulents like jades (Crassula sp.), the stately ficus shrub (Ficus. Sp), the extraordinarily striped snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) and the many lovely varieties of orchids (Orchidaceae).
There are many plant varieties that will flourish indoors, if given water, fertilizer and the proper light. Having houseplants can add decoration, fresh air and a sense of calm to any room.
