The wonderful world of indoor gardening!

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Helpful hints for indoor gardening:
Come on, admit it....is your thumb not as green as you want it to be? Are you having trouble keeping your house plants alive and healthy?

Follow these simple indoor gardening hints and you will see a world of difference!

Soil vs. Soilless mixtures:

When growing plants indoors in containers, do not use soil from the garden as it does not yield good results.

Outdoor soil can contain insects, weeds, and disease-causing organisms that can actually harm other healthy plants already living indoors. Additionally, outdoor soils become compacted when put into small containers. This will lead to problems with the plant's roots and might also impede drainage.

I would highly recommend using a soilless mixture for indoor gardening that is made up of peat, perlite. (or vermiculite)
This type of soil is readily available and provides proper drainage. Fertilize regularly as this type of mixture doesn't have adequate plant nutrients.

Pots and containers:

Drainage...drainage...drainage! When picking a container/pot for your house plants, make sure it will drain properly. I know what you are probably thinking...many pots are sold without drainage holes! If you find one that you are absolutely in love with drill a hole in the bottom of the container, otherwise your plant will almost certainly die. Without a drainage hole, water collects in the pot and causes damage to the roots.

Watering:

All plants need water to survive, how much depends on the type of plant, the size of the plant, and what time of year it is. A good rule of thumb is to water the plant when the soil feels dry to the touch. Water the plant thoroughly until it comes out of the bottom of the pot. Empty the dish so the plant does not sit in water. "Soggy sneakers" can kill a plant as quickly if not faster than not enough water!

I know it might sound obvious but big plants need more water than smaller ones do. Some large plants might need to be watered daily as a smaller plant might only need to be watered once a week. When watering, use water that is room temperature and do not use water that has been softened as it contains too much sodium and can damage your plants.

Light:

Plants grown indoors typically need to have plenty of light. A plant that isn't receiving enough light will become thin and "twiggy" and will also start to grow or lean towards the light source. Occasionally turn your plant to promote upward growth and place as close to a window as possible. Windows facing south or west typically have the best light conditions for indoor gardening. If all else fails, indoor grow lights can be used. Indoor plants can be placed outside during the warm summer months.

Fertilizer:
Plants grown in containers need to be watered more often than similar plants grown in gardens. Watering flushes important nutrients out of the soil, making it necessary to fertilize more often. Give the plant a little bit of liquid fertilizer every other time you water. If you find it hard to remember when you last fertilized, write yourself a quick reminder on your calendar for when to do it next. This isn't an exact science but your plants will tell you if you are fertilizing too much by having burned or dried leaves....fertilize less frequently if you notice this.

Temperature:

As with humans, most houseplants do well in a daytime temperature range of 65-75 and ten degrees lower at night. Pay attention to your plant, if it isn't looking well a change in temperature might be all it needs to get back on the right track.

Air: Smoke and other air pollutants can damage plants! But house plants can improve air conditions too!

Room for growth:

We all need room to grow and plants do too! When you notice that roots are coming out of the drainage hole or seem thick and/ or matted, it is time to repot your plant.