Green Thumb Basics for Easy Indoor Plant Care

Have you always wanted to have a house filled with growing plants, but kill every green thing in a planter that enters your home? Join the club. I used to be a houseplant mass-murderer with a graveyard of abandoned carcasses in my side yard. For someone that claims to love gardens and natural remedies, that's an embarrassing thing to admit. The change came about after I admitted that no matter how good I was with outdoor gardens, I was clueless about indoor plants. Here are a few basics that I learned.

The first step is realizing that houseplants are not in a genus and species of their own. Every plant grows somewhere as a native resident. You can't just bring a hothouse plant into your Northwest climate home and expect it to thrive, if your home's natural conditions are working against your careful plant care. However, if your home already has the same kind of light, humidity, and warmth that a plant prefers then the battle is half won. For instance - jade, aloe, and geraniums all prefer direct sun and tolerate dry soil between soaks while African Violets, cyclamen, ferns and fuchsia are best with filtered sunlight and moist soil. Take a walk around your home. Notice how much sun you get and at what times of the day. Factor in the temperature you keep your thermostat at, and even the air humidity level if you can. It's easier to grow a collection of plants that suit your home's natural conditions than to sweat and toil over a high-maintenance menagerie.

With that in mind, purchase one or two plants that will suit your home. Don't overbuy, and don't be afraid to ask questions at the nursery. That was part of my problem - I would try to create an indoor Eden with one credit card transaction. Eventually I'd get wise to all the withering going on and try to flood the plants back to life. Result: more planters for the heap. So start small, be patient, and don't attempt to add to your collection until you have a few established green residents in your house.

Indoor plants need to be dusted periodically to remove dust, cooking grease, and smoke. Since plants "breathe" through their leaves, it's important to periodically wipe down the leaves with a damp cloth. Use only a cloth moistened with water - never use commercial cleaners! The exception to that rule involves insects. Plants suffering an aphid invasion can be misted with a spray bottle of slightly soapy water as a mild insecticide. After you've sprayed and gotten all the aphids, follow up with a wet cloth (water only) to remove the soap and get the plant back to its happy place. Another great green method to combat insects involves garlic, actually. Instead of soapy water, add a few teaspoons of crushed garlic to a spray bottle of water. Insects like to snack on leaves that they think are yummy, and will generally avoid anything too pungent for their tastes.

Though it doesn't directly deal with plant care, safety is an important consideration. One should never assume that a plant is harmless. Poinsettias, easter lilies, and daffodils are just a few in a long list of plants that are toxic to ingest. Some will just cause an upset stomach, but some can kill. It's a good idea to read up on any plant before you bring it into your home, to make sure it's safe to have around. And, please! Be smart with your herbal garden and don't try to medicate yourself with plants. It takes time to learn what part of a plant is used for a remedy, how to prepare it, and how to use it.

With the basics out of the way, anyone can cultivate a menagerie of beautiful, bright, and interesting plants. It's a healthy way to decorate the home, it won't break the bank, and it goes a long way towards cheery spirits. From Amaryllis to Zinnia, there is a plant for everyone to grow!