ENVIRONMENT AND CARE GUIDE FOR HOUSE PLANTS INDOOR AND OUTDOOR

ENVIRONMENT AND CARE GUIDE FOR HOUSE PLANTS INDOOR AND OUTDOOR

HOUSE PLANTS

With the increasing population in cities and towns, houses with garden space are becoming limited. To add beauty to a house and to get immense pleasure and fun, a city-dweller can grow a wide range of flowering and foliage plants in every corner of his house. 

In recent years, there is an increasing interest in house plants which can be very effectively used in interior decoration. Indoor Plants need not necessary be confined to the living room and garden room alone; bed room, kitchen, staircases, patios and other locations can be decorated with suitable plants. 

House plants are not restricted to residential houses; there has been a tremendous scope in the use of these plants in beautifying offices, hotels, hospitals and almost all public buildings. A bit of natural greenery helps in breaking or softening the harsh lines of modern office buildings or apartment buildings. 

Many house plants can be widely used in indoor Vertical Gardens and as Hanging Basket Plants.

In the modern concept and practice of indoor gardening, the scope of growing plants has been extended to many areas in and around the house including balcony and verandah, terraces and patios and almost all types of plants are being used depending on the environment particularly light and temperature.

ENVIRONMENT FOR HOUSE PLANTS

Light

All green plants require light in order to grow and develop properly. Sunlight may be replaced by artificial light but for ordinary conditions this need not be taken into consideration.

Effects of Light intensity on House Plants

Light is a primary necessity for house plants and light intensity is one of the most important factors controlling the quality of plants such as internodes length, foliage color, carbohydrate level, growth rate and acclimatization.  

Higher light intensity areas require application of more fertilizer to maintain good quality, whereas lower light intensity areas requires fewer nutrients because of reduced total demand.

Plants first grown under high light and then acclimatized for the low light rooms will posses two types of leaves. The lower leaves which have developed under high light, hardy and less efficient to produce food. The upper which are acclimatized are broader, larger and have a deep green color. 

Plants may be selected according to their light requirements to fit the decorating need. If the plants are desired for darkened wall of a corner opposite a window, the plant should be brought to the lower light area gradually. The plants may first be placed near the window where they will receive diffused and not direct sunlight. 

Supplemental artificial lightening may be provided to enhance the growth of plants and more types of plants may be grown under such condition.

• Plants Preferring High Light Intensities: Pedilanthus, Rhoeo, Sansevieria, varieties of Begonia samperflorens, Coleus blumei, Codiaeum variegatum, Hoya carnosa, Hedera helix, Schefflera arboricola, Gynura samentosa.

• Plant Preferring Medium Light Intensities: Anthurium andreanum, species of Chlorophytum, Calathea, Dieffenbachia, Dracaena, Monstera, Pepromia, Pilea, Sansevieria, Syngonium, Zebrina and Plants like Ficus benjamina, F. elastic, Spathiphyllum wallisii.

• Plant Preferring Low Light Intensities: Foliage Anthurium, Adiantum, Nephrolepis, Pteris, and Sansevieria, Asplemium nidus, Aglonema modestum, Maranta, Fittonia, Crassula argentea, Hedera helix, Monstera deliciosa, Philodendron scandens and P. selloum.

Temperature

Temperature is a very important factor since most indoor plants are tropical in nature and require a minimum night temperature of 18°C and day temperature of 24°C. 

Soil temperature can be maintained at 18-21°C. They are also able to tolerate a wide range of soil moisture, light intensities and temperatures.  

During the resting period, most plant require lower temperature than during their growth period. Cool conditions are preferable for some of the popular house plants whose growing temperature requirements may be as low as 12-14°C.

WARMTH AND HUMIDITY ARE NECESSARY FOR TROPICAL PLANTS TO THRIVE.

• Optimum temperature for house plants 20-25°c: varieties of Alocasia, Begonia, Calathea, Philodendron, Peperomia, Tillandsia, a few plants like Ficus benjamina, varieties of Ficus elastica, Hoya carnosa and Vriesea splendens.

• Plants growing temperature slightly lower than Room Temperature 15-18°C: Billbergia, Pilea, Rhoeo, Sansevieria, Trandescantia, Zebrina and varieties of Coleus blumei and Impateins wallriana.

• Plants growing temperature as low as 12-14°C: Aspidistra elatior, Fastia japonica, Hedera helix.

Humidity

Humidity is an important factor for healthy growth of plants which are often messed up in an average home. Many house plants are originally from moist area and they have arrived home via a greenhouse or under Shade net where high humidity is maintained. 

Regular mist spraying is an effective way to maintain humidity. 

Keeping Pot inside another moisture retentive container helps to provide a little more humidity to the plant.  

Humidifiers are nowadays popular for maintaining humidity for house plants in homes where humidity related problem exists.

Plants grown under high humidity will not suffer water stress often encountered in home interiors. 

The plants can compensate for the lower humidity conditions in most homes if the root system is allowed to develop properly.

This can be accomplished by using porous compost to facilitate aeration.

During acclimatization the root system can be improved by reducing nutrient levels and lengthening the interval of watering. This will harden the foliage and the plants will be less susceptible to low humidity conditions. Most of the Ferns prefer high humidity.

 SUGGESTIONS FOR HOUSE PLANTS

• Some important points should be kept in mind at the time of selection and growing of house plants for indoor gardening:

• Do not make the arrangements with too many plants. Provide space for growth and display.

• Do not plant flowering types in a shady corner unless for a short time.

• Select the right types of plants according to the growing environment.

• House plants are affected adversely, if kept under the fan, so avoid keeping house plants directly under fan. 

• Do not place house plant house plants near a fireplace or an air-condition. High temperature and dryness of the atmosphere are harmful to most of the house plants.

• Rotate the plants from time to time. Plants will grow and bend on one side if light falls on one side of a plant continuously.

• Do not pour the remaining of your coffee or tea cup of the pot of your house plant.

• Do not use oil, liquid wax or wax or milk to clean and make leaf look shiny. These will clog stomata and ultimately affect the growth of the plants.

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ENVIRONMENT AND CARE GUIDE FOR HOUSE PLANTS INDOOR AND OUTDOOR

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