If mold starts to form on the surface of the soil or there’s standing water at the bottom of the container, you’ve overwatered your plant. Water your plant if the soil becomes lighter in color or cracked. [3] X Research source Plants in the succulent family require periods of dryness between watering. If you notice standing water in or under the pot, empty it out, so that your plant is not sitting in it. Standing water can kill plants.
Again, this varies from plant to plant. These conditions will work for most plants but not all of them. Signs of over-hydration include discolored leaves, lack of leaf growth, loss of leaves, and soft rotten patches. Signs of dehydration include slow leaf growth, brown and dried leaf edges, and lower leaves becoming yellow and curled.
If your water is too hot it can cause root damage and plant shock, potentially killing your indoor plant. Water that is too cold causes dormancy in your plant, which will stifle any existing and future vegetation.
You can buy a moisture meter online, in a home and gardening store, and certain department stores.
Materials like plastic, metal, and glass will absorb much less water than ceramic or clay, so keep this in mind as well. [8] X Research source Make sure that there are holes in the bottom of the pot so that the water can drain. If you are using a cachepot (which has no holes), water can build up and kill your plant.
Avoid putting the plant in direct sunlight. Instead, give them plenty of indirect light by putting them in a well-lit room. Fluorescent lights can work as an alternative to sunlight for some plants. Give flowering plants 12-16 hours of light per day. Give foliage plants 14-16 hours of light per day. [10] X Research source
Moving a plant suddenly from a darker area to a sun rich area will have a negative effect on the plant. [12] X Research source If you want to move the plant, take it to the new area for an hour a day. Slowly increase the amount of time it is left in the new area until it has fully adjusted.
A cheaper option to buying a humidifier is to fill a tray with pebbles. Add water just up below the tops of the pebbles. As the water evaporates, it will humidify the room. You can also fill a spray bottle with distilled water, and mist the plants to give them extra moisture. Wilting, browned leaves, and flower buds that develop poorly are signs that your plant is suffering from low humidity. Grouping your plants together helps raise humidity. [13] X Research source
If you have a flowering plant, you can buy a fertilizer that is high in potassium. If you have a foliage plant, you should get a fertilizer or potting soil high in Nitrogen. Plants also require micronutrients that need to be replenished by adding potting soil or fertilizer in order to survive. [14] X Research source Cacti or succulents require a special potting mix specifically designed to drain water efficiently. They also need pots with plenty of holes on the bottom. These prevent too much moisture from being held in the soil, which can kill the plants. [15] X Research source
Cut off dead branches or stems that can attract bugs. Prune above the leaf node at a 45° angle to promote growth of a fuller more robust plant. [17] X Research source
While some people claim that adding coffee grounds is good for plants, doing this to plants that have a low acidic tolerance can actually kill them. [19] X Research source
Most houseplants come with a tag that will have their common and scientific name. If it doesn’t, ask the florist you got it from. The scientific name consist of two parts the genus and species. For example, Spathiphyllum wallisii is the scientific name for peace lily. Many plant names like poinsettia and begonia are both common names and scientific names. If you see a x, third name or a name in quotation marks it’s a cultivar, hybrid or subspecies (in easy terms, a special breed). Some plant types however will leave the plant stumped with general names like general foliage, assorted palms, or desert cacti. With reference and advice from a garden pro, you can learn to identify many genus (if not the exact species) by looking at them. If you were given a houseplant and are unsure of what type it is, go through the photos in a flower book, encyclopedia, handbook of house plants and find the picture that best matches your plant. Get the name of the exact species and cultivar to make sure you get the right plant. A genus can have a group of a million species and cultivars within it. Some species or cultivars are less difficult to grow in the house than others or the original species. Also there are many different sizes and growth rates. Some ficus species grow into huge trees over time and others are creeping vines. Same goes for the Philodendron and Anthurium groups.
Many flowering houseplants are annuals that (living on year then dying). Persian violet and ornamental pepper plants die after flower and need to be thrown out. Bromeliads die after flowering but will produce little plantlets, called pups, that can be separated from the mother plant and potted up or left on. Others such as mini roses, hydrangea, and living Christmas trees are hardy perennials shrubs or trees that really want to go outside and live there like their outdoor counterparts. Same goes for tulips, lilies, daffodils and other spring blooming fall bulbs. Many other plants are tropical shrubs, bulbs and perennials that, after a period of attractive bloom, go through a not-so-attractive period and need special pampering to return to their previous state. The very popular Poinsettia (sold around Christmas time), caladiums, and the vast number of summer/tropical bulbs like clivia, gladious and calla lilies are examples of this. Then there are others that don’t keep their attractive looks over a year or two despite the best care and need to be replaced with new ones. Coleus, pilea, Herbst’s bloodleaf, and rex begonias are examples of this group. Most plants sold in mixed species baskets or pots need to be separated. They are group for appearance and not the requirements of the species. This exclude desert plantings or tropical terrarium specialty plantings.
Most of the indoor plant species that the houseplant consumer runs into are a member of a large group called angiosperms or flowering plants. However, not all angiosperms produce attractive flowers or desirable blooms. Also, if kept indoors, many species never reach fruiting age. Angiosperms that are grown for flowers and or fruit include various species of jasmine, peace lilies, clivia, poinsettias, flamingo flowers, and amaryllis. Most orchids also belong to this group. Angiosperms that are grown for foliage include Chinese evergreens, marantas, calathea, spider plants, draceanas, English ivies, and the two popular groups of palms and ficus. In some cases, the species possess attractive leaves and flowers. The huge genus of Begonias as a great example of this. Others include cacti, succulents, and many cultivars bred to produce multicolor or variegated leaves. Gymnosperms are plants that don’t produce flowers but produce seed cases called cones. The conifers, like pines and spruces, are examples of such plants. The popular “Christmas Tree,” called the Norfolk Island pine, and its close relative the monkey puzzle, are also included. The sago palm is not a palm tree at all put a member of the cycad group, along with the “ZZ Plant. " These take years to produce cones and therefore are foliage plants. Ferns belong to a group not related to angiosperms or gymnosperms. These guys as well as some plants, referred to as moss, produce spores not flowers or cones. These are also considered foliage plants. Some plants are marketed as something they are not. Some companies and florist will attach flowers to cacti or any plant to make it look like it’s blooming. Lucky bamboo is not a grass or a bamboo species, but a species of Dracena or related plant. Some companies also will paint or dye the flowers or leaves of a plant in order to make the buyer think it’s the plant natural colors. Dying flowers is no big deal but painting a plant blocks light the needs for to make food.
Other good plants that require low light include the snake plant, dracaena, and spider plant. [23] X Research source Chinese evergreen or painted drop tongue (Aglaonema), commonly seen in public displays, is another easy low light plant that only doesn’t like cold damp conditions. It drops its lower leaves over time but can easily be rooted in water.
