 Sunlight, water and fertilizer—in good measure—are the keys to success.
By Chris Curless
It’s not easy being a houseplant. After enjoying a pampered youth in a bright, warm greenhouse, you suddenly find yourself in a dark corner next to a heat vent or radiator. The water that used to be applied when you needed it now comes sporadically or, just as damaging, too copiously, suffocating your roots. In a mute call for help, you let your leaves go yellow and you wilt. You hang on for as long as you can, but eventually you gasp and expire.
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This sad tale plays out every day in countless households across the country, but it doesn’t have to. The first step in successful houseplant care is disarmingly simple: Know your plant. The little picture tag that comes with most plants is a good place to start. Beyond that, there are plenty of books to be found on houseplants, and with the Internet, loads of information is just a few keystrokes away.
The most important requirements for any plant—indoors or out—are light, water and nutrients. Houseplants are often categorized by their light needs: bright, medium or low. But what does that mean in your house? A plant that wants bright light would be happiest in a greenhouse or sunroom, but it will get by in an unshaded south- or west-facing window. A medium-light plant will thrive in the same locations but will tolerate an east-facing window as well. Plants that accept low light can prosper even in a north-facing window. It’s important to note that light intensity falls off rapidly as distance from a window increases. If you want a plant for the middle of a room (even a room with a south-facing window), look for one that has low light needs.
Houseplants also vary in their water requirements. Some like to be evenly moist; others prefer to dry out to some degree between waterings. The best watering technique for both kinds is to carry the plant to a sink and water until the excess flows out the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. That way you know that the potting mix has been saturated from top to bottom. Large plants should be watered until the excess begins to seep into the saucer. All houseplants should be watered when they need it (generally when the surface of the potting mix is dry to the touch), not according to a schedule, which too often results in overwatering.
If they are to grow well and bloom, most plants need to be fertilized. There are many houseplant fertilizers available, and all are effective—if used as directed. As with water, too much fertilizer can be harmful to a plant. In fact, at least as many houseplants are killed by kindness as by neglect. Learn a plant’s needs and meet them (don’t exceed them), and it should give you years of pleasure. •
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