Tips For Keeping Indoor Plants Happy and Healthy
A thriving indoor garden is not difficult, but does require just the right amount of attention. A little too much water or light can hurt a plant, while the right container or feeding schedule can give a sick plant a healthy boost.
Follow these tips to make your garden grow!
Make Sure the Light is Right
To measure your light level, get a blank sheet of white paper and a ruler.
First, put the blank sheet of white paper in the spot your plant will go. Then hold your hand 12 inches (about 30 centimeters) above the sheet of paper.
If you see a well-defined shadow... you can grow any indoor plant you want to. (Even plants suited to low light levels are only shade "tolerant." Most of them will thrive in cool, bright light.)
If the outline is blurred, you have medium light. Most indoor plants will still do fine, but you'll need to either choose green plants like diefenbacchia or mother in law tongue that enjoy filtered light, or invest in grow lights for to supplement your existing light for succulents, flowering plants, and cacti.
If there is hardly any shadow at all, you have low light. Your plant selection is limited to mostly green leafy indoor plants.
If you do bring in additional lights for your plants - place your hand in front of the light source. If it feels hot it might burn the leaves. As a general rule, if you're comfortable, your plant will be, too.
Avoid Hanging Hang-ups
Plants love life in hanging containers. Optimum air circulation and even distribution of light makes them happy. And even in a cramped office, there's always "aerial" room for hanging plants!
Here are some tips on hanging plants from the ceiling or from a wall:
Drainage Is Key: Without a catch basin securely fastened onto the planter, the plants will drip onto the floor. If possible choose a planter with a built in catch basin. Water very carefully to avoid overflow. Or remove plant and water in a sink, rehanging when the plant has drained sufficiently.
Not Too High!: Don't hang the plant too high or it will be too difficult to maintain it. If it is too hard to water the plant, then even the most thoughtful plant lover will neglect to properly water and maintain their plant.
Test Wall Strength: Before screwing a swag hook onto the office walls or ceiling, check the strength of your wall or ceiling. Make sure the surface can hold the weight of the planter. If your ceilings are composed plasterboard panels, held up by metal framing, then hang from the metal frames instead of screwing them onto the delicate plasterboards.
Maintain Moisture Balance
Artificially heated and air-conditioned homes and offices are not necessarily the best environment for plant life, even if they are watered frequently. A level of 50% humidity is best for most plants. Increasing the humidity in your environment will help plants thrive:
1. A glass or bowl of water close to the plants. A desktop fountain, goldfish bowl or a small aquarium are good choices, too.
2. Set your potted plants on top of gravel, pebbles, sand, or moss on a shallow tray.
3. Use a spray mister at least once a day. Aiming at the underside of the top leaves. If too much water remains on the leaves it can reduce the plants' ability to "breathe."
4. A light layer of moss, cinder, or mulch, placed on top of the soil, can prevent the soil from drying out. To check moisture level, lift or push the mulch to the side and place your finger in the soil. If the top 1" is dry, then water.
Watering Wisdom
Set On Waterproof Surfaces: away from expensive electrical and wireless equipment. If there is no drainage dish or saucer, then water in a sink and allow to drain for at least 30 minutes before replacing on your desk.
Reduce Drainage Problems: Drainage risk is minimized with self watering containers. The next best thing is a good drainage catcher. High-sided saucers make overwatering accidents impossible.
Take Care When Watering: Pour a light stream of water along the edge of the pot. Try not to pour directly on the plant. A longneck watering can is the perfect tool for the job.
Feed Your Plant Well
Commercial fertilizers are easy to use. They are available in powder (dry), liquid, and just-stick-it-into-the-soil form - and should be chosen according to the preference of the user. Many offer application instruction for particular plants.
So, what are those numbers and what is NPK? The standard "complete" fertilizer is composed of nitrogen (N), phosphate (P), and potash (K), combined in various percentages (6-12-6 means 6% N, 12% P, and 6% K) for different plant needs.
Most office plants will be happy with a balanced fertilizer with equal parts NPK, such as 10-10-10. In fact, many plants will do just fine without any fertilizer at all. So use a light hand when fertilizing your plants. Use less than what is recommended on the fertilizer package - too much will do your plants more harm than good.
Good Grooming Habits
As plants grow, their leaves mature, eventually wither and die, and get replaced by new and maybe bigger leafage. Dying or dead leaves that don't naturally fall off will drape themselves along the edge of the pot, giving the planter a ghastly unkempt look.
Don't simply grab and yank off the dead leaf because some leaves remain "stuck" to the plant, and trying to pull it off could result in one of two things: the plant will be uprooted, or the pot will fall off the shelf and come crashing on the fax machine. Cut off dead leaves with a pair of scissors.
Many houseplants can remain indoors for indefinite periods of time, becoming part of the furniture, gathering as much dust as the tabletops and bookshelves. Therefore, dusting and cleaning the indoor greenery should be part of the housekeeping chores.
There are different ways of leaf cleaning for different types of foliage:
Large, smooth, shiny leaves: Moisten a paper towel or soft cloth with plain water and wipe the tops of the leaves in gentle outward strokes. If the leaf blades are spiked or thorny at the edges, avoid getting pricked by wrapping a moist piece of soft cloth around the tip of a ruler. Hold the cloth secure with a rubber band, and wipe the leaves gently.
Hairy, spongy leaves (African Violets): Use a small and soft-bristled paintbrush to very lightly dust off the tops of the leaves. Make-up brushes (blushers) and camel's hair watercolor brushes are the best for miniature violets.
Tiny, clustered leaves and fronds (Ferns) : A feather duster is the best leaf-cleaner for these types of foliage. The plants can also be taken outside for a mild spraying with water to clean off unreachable dust and dirt.
Thorns and spines (Cacti): A thorny plant can be cleaned with a soft-bristled paintbrush. If lint and cobwebs manage to form dust bunnies close to the base of the thorns, use a toothpick or skewer to pry them out.
Be very gentle, and try not to scratch, bruise, or break foliage while grooming indoor plants.