How to Choose a Houseplant

Adding a plant to you décor can bring the beauty and elegance of the outdoors into your home. With proper care, houseplants can sometimes live for years. You just have to give them what they need.

Figure out where you want to place your plant and then decide how much sunlight it will get. Too much or too little will spell disaster.

Places with 6 or more hours of sunlight will usually meet the requirements for a plant that needs full sunlight. Anything less and you will want a plant that only needs partial sunlight.

One way around not having enough light is to use a grow light. These are specially made to be used with plants. These can be used with a household lighting timer, to turn them on and off.

Because they are indoors and in containers, most houseplants will need to be watered frequently. Especially if your home has low humidity, this will cause the water in the soil of your plants to evaporate faster.

Make sure you water according to what the plant requires. Watering until it comes out the bottom of the pot is not the best for all plants.

Standing water in the tray of your plant should be drained after a day. You must do this in order to avoid over watering and killing the plant.

When you water frequently, it will dilute the nutrients in the soil. So you will need to make sure you give your plant the fertilizer it needs. There are many commercial fertilizers that more than meet this need, just find the right one for your particular plant.

Use quality commercial potting soil. Good potting soil has nutrients and fertilizers in it that are perfect for houseplants.

Repotting. Your plant should be all right in its original pot for a season or so, but some will grow more quickly. Repot when the roots are coming out of the drainage holes. Replant into a container that is only slightly larger than the roots.

Avoid placing plants in drafty locations or next to heating vents. Sudden changes in air temperature can disturb a plants natural balance and throw it into a sort of shock.

Keep the leaves of your plant clean. Dust that accumulates on leaves can block light and harbor insect pests. You can clean leaves by simply wiping them down with a moist towel.

Follow these simple suggestions and you'll be well on your way to having a happy houseplant. Just remember to always research each plat to find out what it specifically needs.