Basic House Plant Care
Indoor Plants Flowers
Need some help and advice caring for your house plants in Charlotte NC? Find house plant care information here for your plants in Charlotte. If you need help identifying your interior plants, drop me a note and I would be happy to help!
If you are new to the world of house plants, you may be wondering how to care for your new, green friends. Potted plants often come with instructions telling you to keep your plants "evenly moist" or to water a set amount at a certain interval.
Those kinds of directions are not very helpful as many things influence the watering of a house plant. Some of those things are the size of the plant, the size of the pot, the soil mix, the health of the plant (thin and barely alive or full, lush and growing), the light in which you have placed your house plant, the temperature and the time of year, just to name a few.
I cannot know all of those things about your particular house plant but I can give you basic steps you can follow that should be, for the most part, all of the care your house plant requires.
Plant Care Question in Charlotte NC?
Do you have an indoor plant care question? I would be happy to answer any house plant questions as I can. Free of charge, no sign-ups required!
Indoor house plant questions or problem in Charlotte, North Carolina? You can send a house plant question but before you do, please finish reading this page and other house plant care information on watering your indoor house plants, how to help keep your houseplant's root system healthy, lighting for your houseplants, and basic houseplant care. These are most important for your house plant's health and this is some of the information I will refer you to if you send an email.
Working in the interior landscape industry, I get a lot of questions from people about their personal house plants and how to keep their own indoor house plants growing and healthy. That is why I started this website, to help others learn how to care for their indoor plants and flowers. So please read on!
The first part of good, basic house plant care is to pick a day each week when you will take a little time to check on your house plant and give it a little attention. Care for your house plant on the same day each week.
On your house plant care day the first thing you should do is check to see if your house plant needs to be watered. Most plants will be fine if you allow the soil to dry half of its depth or more. So feel down half the depth of the soil. Is it dry all the way or is it still pretty wet or moist? You can use your fingers or a moisture meter. I use both at work, often relying on a moisture meter if the pot is larger and harder to dig down into.
Plants Flowers & Pets
Over the years, I have had many animals and plants in the same house and have not had too many problems. I always make my best effort to keep houseplants out of the reach of pets. That can be difficult, especially with cats, as they seem to be able to get just about anywhere they please! Being an animal lover, as many people are, I thought it would be helpful to add a link for those with questions about pets and houseplants, as I have received a few emails with questions on the subject. Do not allow pets to eat your indoor houseplants or your outdoor plants. Questions about plants and pet safety?
This is a link to the ASPCA, Animal Poison Control, Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list.
If you decide that your house plant requires watering, grab your watering can and make sure to water thoroughly. You can immerse the entire pot and root ball into standing water until all the air has been displaced from the soil or you can top-water using a watering can. When using the top-water method, make sure to wet the entire soil mass. Water should drain out of the grow pot through the drainage holes. Houseplants should always be planted in containers that have drainage holes. The only exception would be if you are using a pot with a self-watering or sub-irrigation system. Room temperature water is best.
Next, remove all yellow and brown foliage. If you have brown leaves, spotted leaves, yellow leaves or leaves that are starting to turn yellow at the stem, remove them entirely. You can use scissors or pruners if you need to but many times you can remove leaves and stems with your hands. Woody plants may need pruners or scissors. If leaf tips have turned a little brown or black, you can trim them with clean, sharp scissors.
Take notice of your indoor house plant's appearance as you care for it. Does it droop a little or seem to be not so green and healthy looking as the week before? Or is it looking good, no spots, no brown tips and no yellow leaves?
Think about the last time you watered your plant. Did you have to water the week before? Or was the soil still wet or damp? Did you water it anyway? Or was the soil so dry the plant was beginning to wilt?
Home Garden Plants Flowers
Watering your plant is very much a cause and effect event. If your plant is looking good - green, shiny and healthy looking - then you are doing the right things. If it is wilting, yellow or spotted, not much new growth, you need to review your watering habits and make adjustments.
You will know if you are doing the right things by the way the plant responds to your care. Remember, every plant is different. Only you can tell if your plant needs to be watered.
After you have watered your house plant and cleaned it up of brown, yellow or discolored leaves, you can gently wipe the leaves with a clean, dry cloth. This may or may not be necessary and you can tell by looking at your plant if it needs cleaning. It is a good idea to clean or dust your house plant's leaves occasionally.
The last thing you should do as part of your basic house plant care is turn the entire plant half a turn. This will help promote even growth on all sides as a plant will orient the leaf surfaces towards the major light source.
Over watering is a big problem but insufficient watering or letting your plant wilt on a regular basis is not good for it. This will most likely cause browning or spotting of the foliage over time. Be sure to check your houseplants on a regular schedule. Pay attention to visual signs such as mild wilting, browning tips, etc. and you will soon learn how to gauge when your plants require watering.
Basic Houseplant Care
Things to Note
- When you water your plants, always water thoroughly.
- Water should be as close to room temperature as possible.
- Plants should always be planted in a container with drainage holes at the bottom.
- Aerating the soil before you water is also very beneficial.
- Make sure that any excess water is discarded when you are finished.
- Many plants are in a stage of no or very slow growth in the winter and should be allowed to become somewhat drier. Some plants may not need to be watered at all in the winter months, after a good soaking in the fall.
- If the heat is kept exceptionally high in the winter, it is also possible that your plants may use and need more water in the winter months.
- Some plants use more water temporarily as heating systems are turned on in the colder months.
- As the daylight changes throughout the year and as temperatures change, your plants water use will change accordingly.
Basic Houseplant Care
Watering Notes
- A house plant that is set next to an air vent is going to require more frequent watering than one that is not.
- Plants that are in a new environment often use more water as they acclimate to new conditions.
- A plant with an abundance of foliage is going to require much more moisture than a very thin or sparse plant.
- If your plant is in a plastic container, it will stay moist much longer than a plant in a clay or wood container.
- Watering is very relative to the light that your plant receives. Finish this page and then read about the importance of good lighting for your house plant's health.
All of these things should be considered as you make the decision as you perform your weekly basic house plant care. Hope these tips help you to keep your indoor houseplants green and growing.
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Easy House Plants
Sansevieria Plant
Sansevieria plant does not need much care. A great indoor plant for anyone. Will do best in very bright light, even some morning sun. More on Sansevieria care.
Peace Lily Plant
Peace Lily is an easy houseplant to grow but will wilt quickly if let to dry too much. Will produce white spathes if light is adequate. Peace Lily plant has white flowers.
Pothos Plant
Pothos is a popular house plant and will trail over the edge of the pot or climb a trellis or pole. Medium to bright light is best. Easy care house plant.
Aglaonema Plants
Aglaonema house plants are great for the home or office. Can be used as a table plant or floor plant, depending on the size. Easy to grow indoors.
Bromeliad Plant
Bromeliad plants make the list, Guzmania and Aechmea bromeliads in particular. Use bromeliad for a spot where you want to add some lasting color.
Hoya Houseplant
Hoya is a vining type of plant. Great for use as a table or shelf plant or display as a hanging plant. All green or variegated, fragrant flowers.
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A bonsai tree or plant for indoors or outdoors makes a great gift for any gardener. Treat that special person, or yourself, to a beautiful bonsai. May earn commission. Bonsai Boy of New York.
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Bromeliad House Plants
Aechmea
Aechmea fasciata bromeliad plant. The Aechmea fasciata and primera are the Aechmea bromeliads most often used as house plant. Pink flower.
Neoregelia
Neoregelia bromeliads are often used for the different colored foliage. Usually shorter than other bromeliads with much less obvious flowers.
Guzmania
Guzmania bromeliad plants. The foliage is much the same but flower color can be nearly white, yellow, orange, red, purple and more.
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Home and Garden
Houseplant Care Question?
Questions about your indoor house plants or plant care problems? You can send a house plant question, free of charge, no sign ups, registration or log in required!
Before you send a houseplant care question, please be sure to read this information on watering your indoor house plants, how to help keep your your indoor house plants root system healthy and lighting for your indoor house plants and flowers. These are most important for the health of your house plants and this is some of the information I will refer you to if you send an indoor house plant or flower care question.
You can post comments, find answers to plant care questions, or share some of your own plant wisdom on our plant care Facebook Page, Twitter page or visit my plant care blog. You can also find plant pictures, gardening ideas, and more at our plant and flower Pinterest page.
Thanks for visiting and come back soon as houseplant care information, pictures and more are being added all of the time. I hope that your indoor tropical house plants and all of your plants and flowers are happy, green and growing because that is why I started this indoor house plant and flower care website, PlantAndFlowerInfo.com.
Common House Plants Flowers Care Guide
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