Grow gorgeous houseplants: the right plant in the right place

-by Ellen Goff
  

In the short and often gloomy days of winter, healthy, lush greenery can offer just the lift a gardener needs. To nurture your own personal floriculture, begin by assessing the growing conditions in your home. Select plants for your home’s interior environment just as you do for your outdoor landscaping. You wouldn’t grow a cactus in a rain forest!

Placement

Whether on a windowsill or on a table, hanging or sitting on the floor — a plant’s placement is key to survival. Putting plants where they will grow best and where you want greenery can be difficult to resolve. Lush palm in a dark hallway won’t last long. Compromise with a plant vacation: On weekends or when you’re entertaining, display plants where you want them. Just remember to return them to the “right” spot!

Light

Determine the light intensity of your growing space: Low light is defined as 10 feet or more away from a window that has no direct light, or that faces north. Medium light means 4 to 10 feet away from an east, south or west window, or placed directly in front of a north window. Bright light is 4 feet or less from an east, south or west window, with some sunlight.

Temperature

Ideal temperatures for common houseplants range from the low 70s during the day to the low 60s at night. Most can tolerate cooler conditions rather than warmer ones. Plants that are too warm can appear stunted or produce spindly growth, dry out too quickly or simply die.

Humidity

Most homes have dry air, especially in winter, with relative humidity of less than 40 percent. To increase moisture for your plants, close heat vents in the areas around them and place open containers of water nearby. Or, put your plants on top of a 1- to 2-inch tray filled with pebbles and water. Misting your plants with a spray bottle of tepid water a couple of times a day will also help their humidity levels.

Watering

When watering your plants, note the day to determine how quickly they dry out under your growing conditions. Wait until the soil is dry down to a depth of 1 inch before watering again. Remember that the No. 1 killer of house plants is overwatering. Avoid this problem by watering deeply and thoroughly until water runs out the bottom of the pot. Be sure to empty the pot’s saucer of excess water. To promote even growth, turn your plants 90 degrees every time you water. Once a month, place your houseplants in the bathtub and shower them with tepid water to remove dust.

Plant choice

For immediate success, try one of the common plants listed here — they are the most tolerant to a range of growing conditions.

Remember, the right plant plus the right place equals success — and starting it out in the right spot is a lot easier than trying to change conditions to meet the demands of an out-of-place flora.

After the holidays, it can be a real challenge to keep seasonal blooming plants flowering and looking good.

“Winter can be hard on indoor plants,” says William Garratt of Chalet Nursery in Wilmette. “The air in our homes tends to be dry, so it’s a good idea to add humidity by using a humidifier or a water fountain.”

Another option is to fill a tray with pebbles and water, maintaining the level just below the rim and set the plants on the pebbles.

He also notes that the popular cyclamen and azaleas prefer cooler temperatures — below 70 degrees — and consistent moisture.

To keep poinsettias looking good, Garratt recommends placing them in a warm location away from heat registers and drafty, cold doorways. Let the surface of the soil dry out, he says, then soak well and allow water to drain completely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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