BASIC THINGS TO LEARN ABOUT INDOOR HOUSE PLANTS (CARE AND MANAGEMENT)

BASIC THINGS TO LEARN ABOUT INDOOR HOUSE PLANTS (CARE AND MANAGEMENT)

People always search for reliable sources from where they can learn about how to handle their plants indoor. It is very difficult to do so as there are many factors that need to be considered when ever you bring a house plant. Things like requirement of light, water, potting media, schedule of watering, compost for plants, fertilization, disease management and much more. 


Sometimes, people try hard to protect their plant from dying but they fail to do so because they have no idea of what's going on with their plants? Why are they drowning day by day and then finally dying? 

People try to search for some practical methods that can solve their plant related issues and get disappointed because no one talks about these problems in depth. My blogs are always dedicated to people who are helpless to make their house plants thrive well due to lack of information and proper guidance. 

From here, you can pick in depth knowledge from here and apply the same in care and management of your indoor plants.

Let's Begin with our topic.

ALSO READ ENVIRONMENT AND CARE GUIDE FOR HOUSE PLANTS INDOOR AND OUTDOOR RELATED TO THIS POST

  

Here we will be discussing some most basic things to be learnt and kept in mind that will help you to gain in-depth knowledge about care and management of house plants.

POTS AND CONTAINERS OF HOUSE PLANTS OR INDOOR PLANTS

Pots can be specially chosen to suit individual plant. Plastic, non-porous pots are ideal for plants which flourish in moist compost. Watering is needed less frequently in plastic pots than in clay pots. New clay pots should be soaked in water for several hours before use. All pots should have drainage hole at the bottom and should be kept on plastic or glazed ceramic saucer to collect water and protect the surface underneath. 

When a plant appear to be pot-bound, i.e., roots are growing through drainage hole, it should be re-potted in late springs or early rains. 
                    
CLAY POT
CLAY POT


PLASTIC POT
PLASTIC POT

The container with plants can be placed in another larder and more attractive container. While choosing plants supports and containers, care should be taken that they match with interior furnishing, the plants form and size and do not adversely affect plant growth. For example, a small plant in a large container or vice versa is more unimpressive. 



A victorian pedestal does not enhance the beauty of a small room. 

Pot stand of different designs and sizes and made of iron, cane or even bamboo are excellent plant supports which can be matched to any modern decor of a room. Most indoor plants can do without supports. Large ornamental varieties, such as ficus need some kind of support; plastic support are popular and durable; bamboo and wooden sticks are also used. 

Climbing types like Scindapsus, Syngoniums, Philodendron, monstera require strong support; wooden or plastic rods covered with sphagnum moss are best to induce rooting from the nodes and for support. Climbers with tendrils or twiners may be trained on trellis.

RECOMMENDED POT COMPOST FOR HOUSE PLANTS OR INDOOR PLANTS

Growing media play an important role in the successful growing of house plants. The potting medium used to grow house plants can range from 100% organic matter to approximately 50% organic and 50% inorganic matter. 

The key factor in selecting potting media include aeration, moisture retention and nutrient status. Several other factors, such as, availability, weight and cost must also be considered while selecting potting media. 

POTTING_MEDIA
POTTING MEDIA

Most of the house plants are grown in a pH range between 5.5 and 6.5 but several genera including Maranta and most Ferns prefer a pH between 5.0 and 6.0. 

Dolomitic limestone is suggested for pH correction.

Many foliage and flowering plants prefer soil mixture containing 1:1:1 part each of Loam, Leaf Mould and Sand respectively, but the pot compost for Ferns and Rex Begonias  should be more porous with 1:1:2 part of each Loam, Sand and Leaf mould respectively. All ingredients should be well mixed before putting them into the pot. 

Though Peat is the best bulky organic matter for pot compost, it is not readily available in tropical regions where leaf mould and rotted Farm Yard Manure are used for the purpose.

Coco Peat or Choir Dust is a good substitute of peat in tropical countries where coconut is grown in large scale.
                                                                                                                                                  

NUTRITION RECOMMENDATION FOR HOUSE PLANTS OR INDOOR PLANTS

Fertilization directly influences growth rate and appearance of the house plants. 

It is suggested that the level of nutrients at each application is 150-200 ppm Nitrogen, 50-70 ppm Phosphorus and 100-150 ppm Potassium. 

Potting media used for growing house plants are normally low in micro-nutrients and thus most fertilizers used should contain at the minimum micro-nutrient level. 

Fertilizers should be applied to previous moist soil. 

 

The plant container is first watered lightly before the soluble fertilizer is added. Application of a soluble fertilizer to dry soil may cause root burning and damage the plant. Dry fertilizers or slow-release fertilizers may be placed on dry soil, followed by thorough watering to dilute the fertilizer. 

Plant suffer from nutrient deficiencies under slow-growing environment of homes and offices.

HOW AND WHEN TO WATER YOUR INDOOR PLANTS?

House plants should not be watered daily. It should be done only when required. Over-watering of the plants in the low light areas of the house may cause the plants to loss their foliage or rot. The plants should be watered thoroughly with water not colder than room temperature. The excess water is then allowed to drain from the pot and is discarded. 

Moisture_Meter
Moisture Meter

               
Water is not required again until the soil is dry to the touch. Several models of plant moisture meters are now available for determining water needs of the plant. The type of pot or container in which a plant is growing will determine to some extent the frequency of watering.

The soil mixture in a clay pot will dry out more rapidly than that in a plastic or ceramic container. 

The clay pot is porous enough to allow passage of excess water throughout the side walls. Plants grown in plastic pots must be watered less frequently than those in clay pots. Watering during winter, when the temperature is low and growth is slow should be done less than a week. In spring or summer season, frequent watering will be necessary. 



Watering should be done without wetting the foliage, this reduces chances of foliar diseases. 

Dust may deposit on the leaves of house plants, especially in cities where dust pollution is a serious problem. dust particles may choke stomata, thus interfering gaseous exchange and transpiration. Leaves of indoor plants should be wiped with a wet cloth or sponge or sprayed occasionally to remove dust.

DO INDOOR PLANTS REQUIRE PRUNING?

House plants, if necessary, are pruned to maintain shape and and desirable height and also to remove dead branches and diseased. 

Most plants produce new branches when the terminal buds are pruned or pinched. However, plants that branch naturally, such as African violet, Hedera (English ivy), Zebrina (Wandering Jew), etc., require no pruning or pinching to encourage branching. 

On the other hand, Euonymous, Geranium, Coleus, Episcia, Impatiens, etc., do not branch much unless they are pinched.



CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF HOUSE PLANTS OR INDOOR PLANTS

The common pests of house plants are greenfly, mealy bugs, scale insects, red spider mites, thrips, snails and slugs. These can be combated by spraying or dusting with insecticides. 

When giving this treatment, the plants should be taken to a cellar, conservatory or outdoors in mild-weather.

PEST_MANAGEMENT
PEST MANAGEMENT

The plants should never be treated inside the room. 

The most common diseases are grey moulds, mildew, root rot and stem canker. These fungal diseases can be controlled by spraying or dusting with fungicides.

CONCLUSION

The Failure of indoor plants may be due to many other factors including: 

  1. Damage from cold or frost, 
  2. Lack of light or damage from excess light, 
  3. Too much watering, use of saline water, 
  4. Incorrect feeding, 
  5. Top scorching, and 
  6. Re-potting at the wrong time.


BASIC THINGS TO LEARN ABOUT INDOOR HOUSE PLANTS (CARE AND MANAGEMENT) BASIC THINGS TO LEARN ABOUT INDOOR HOUSE PLANTS (CARE AND MANAGEMENT) Reviewed by Vishal Lodhi on February 12, 2021 Rating: 5

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