We appreciate our houseplants for many reasons; the pros far outweigh the cons.
Houseplants can be a cherished reminder when given as special gifts from family and friends. My sister and I have a pathos houseplant that started as a cutting from our mom, and before that her mother, most likely dating back to the 1960s or before (we can only guess).
Their aesthetic appeal is obvious, too: They add beauty, interest, warmth and vivacity to spaces throughout a home. Studies over the years say houseplants reduce stress, enhance moods and improve study and work performance. We might all benefit from having houseplants.
Houseplant maintenance simply requires time and attention. Learn to recognize ailments early on so they do not become unsightly, infect surrounding plants, or lead to plant demise. It is a sad day for anyone who has to take a sick or dead plant outside to the compost or garbage bin.
Let’s look at some of the common culture care and control issues. Next time, we’ll talk about pests and diseases.
Culture care
Since houseplants are confined to a smaller space in a container, their roots cannot spread wider or deeper for sustenance. Tthey totally depend on us for their care.
A plant’s cultural needs — watering, fertilizer, container size and house location — vary, so learning about each plant’s growing requirements is helpful for successful plant health and vigor.
Indoor, year-round house temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees (cooler at night) are agreeable to most plants. Read the plant tag, visit with the houseplant expert where purchased and research online for additional information.
Wilted leaves can mean the plant needs water, or the plant soil is too wet. Instead of watering on a weekly set schedule, consider the growing conditions around the plant. If the light conditions are low, plants generally need less water. When the heat is on and the air is dry, plants may need more water. In higher humidity conditions or cooler air, plants generally need less water.
There are easy ways to check if it is time to water. Lift the plant if possible; a dry plant obviously will be lighter than a well-watered plant.
Inspect the soil surface for dryness and poke your finger into the potting mix as an easy dipstick method. If it’s dry beyond the second knuckle, or over an inch or more down, and the soil looks lighter, it most likely needs watering. Cacti and some succulent plants are exceptions; they can take dryer conditions longer.
An inexpensive moisture meter is as handy as your finger to determine soil moisture levels. Check out some of the newer plant watering gizmos that have come on the market, like the inexpensive battery plant alarm moisture sensor that flashes red when water is needed.
Besides drooping leaves, underwatered plants can result in dried or yellow leaves, brown leaf tips, lackluster foliage or loss of glossy leaf shine. Unfortunately, these symptoms can often be the same as overwatered plants.
Hydrate by watering thoroughly, using slightly warm or tepid water. Plants can be sensitive to hard (alkaline) and soft (salty) water. Use a watering can that has a slender spout and can easily be moved to all sides of the container. Decorative watering bulb devices are not only handy, but they also provide a steady, slow supply of water to plant roots.
Some houseplants with sensitive leaves like African violets prefer being watered from the bottom. Simply fill the saucer with water and allow time for the soil to wick up the moisture. Add water until the soil surface is damp and avoid getting water on any of the leaves.
If the plant soil is dry to the point of seeing a gap where the soil has pulled away from the inside of the container, then normal watering using a watering can may not be enough. Try immersing the entire container up to where the bottom foliage meets the soil in a sink or bucket of warm to tepid water and allow it to soak for 20 minutes or so. Let the pot drain well before moving it back to its regular location.
Extremely dehydrated plants can recover with thorough watering, but any yellow or dried leaves will not turn green again. Trim off dead, brown and yellowed leaves with scissors so it is less noticeable.
Overwatering a plant leads to soggy soil that deprives roots of oxygen and can cause root rot. If that happens, it might be too late to save the plant. Confirm root rot by pulling the plant out of the pot and inspecting the roots. If they are mushy, brown or black, and sometimes have an odor, then root rot is probable. Drain any excess water from its tray and let the plant dry out. Cut off yellowed, browned and dead-looking stems. Move the plant into more light if possible and see if it recovers by sprouting new growth.
Fertilizing houseplants during their active growing season from early spring through mid-fall is necessary for positive plant health. Plus, regular watering constantly flushes fertilizers through and out of the soil. Plant food comes in different strengths and types including liquid and granular. Follow package directions and avoid using them when plants are sick and stressed.
Resource
Houseplant Care https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/houseplants/
Betty Cahill is a freelance writer specializing in gardening.