Caring For Your House Plants

 I call this article "Poppy's House Plant Guide" because I cover most all factors that have an impact on a house plant's health- lighting, watering, humidity control, air circulation, temperature control, fertilizing, and potting.

• Lighting for House Plants

Besides food and water, light is one of the most important needs of plant survival. Light absorbed by plants enable them to convert it's energy into sugars and starches they need to grow and survive. No light or inadequate light has a detrimental effect on plants.

If we pay attention to our plants, they will birds of paradise plant tell us if their needs are being met- especially light. Your plant is telling you that it needs more light if it becomes pale or spindly. It will also lean toward the most source of light. Another indicator of not enough light is if a flowering plant fails to produce any flowers or at least weak blooms. Soil in the container will be continually wet which will cause root rot and the plant will slowly die.

The amount of light varies by plant. The best way to know in advance is to take note of the lighting requirements that are usually included with your plant purchase. Variations range from artificial room light to hours of direct sunlight.

A general rule of thumb. Flowering house plants usually require more light than foliage plants.

Seasonal Factors Need to be Considered

We know that the sun is most directly overhead during the summer months and well to the south in the winter. North facing windows receive the least amount of light year round. Southern facing windows gain the most amount of light and heat during the summer months. They continue to receive a significant amount of light in the winter months, but just not as intense (hot).

These seasonal variances make placement of plants very important. You may want to use what I call a dynamic approach to plant placement. The dynamic approach requires that plants be moved during season variations according to light requirements of the specific plants.

The dynamic approach offers the opportunity to be creative. Try using different groupings. Mix in some foliage plants with with flowering plants during the winter in a south window. Then create another display during the summer months.