Indoor plants make rooms much more beautiful, purify the air in the house and, being natural elements, they revive aseptic spaces, such as those in offices. Plants grow and change, in fact some people enjoy their "company". It is very easy to grow them! Here are some simple tips for taking care of it.
Steps
Step 1. Plants need to get enough light
It is indispensable for their survival! Check how many hours of natural light the plant you purchase needs and whether it is possible to compensate with artificial light. Generally, the ideal location for a plant is near a window. Don't forget to place a saucer or tray under the plant to collect excess water from watering and the condensation that sometimes forms on the leaves at night.
Step 2. Water as needed
Plants need the right amount of water, neither too much nor too little. When watering, keep pouring the water until it reaches the edge of the pot. Never choose a pot that does not have drainage holes in the bottom! Consider the time you have available for plant care and plan accordingly. Larger plants growing in large pots need less frequent watering than those planted in small pots where the soil dries out within a couple of days. Cacti and succulents need very little water compared to normal and flowering plants. However, when the cactus blooms it needs a little more water than usual. Choose the plant you prefer in the nursery, informing you about the space, light and temperature it needs. Search among the most beautiful specimens, but also among those most suitable for your home, also evaluating the time you can dedicate to them.
Step 3. Watch out for parasites
This type of insects can attack any plant and start eating it causing it to weaken. Some varieties don't attract many pests, but in general, small-leaved plants attract mites and whiteflies, while others are targeted by different types of mealybugs. Learn to distinguish the various parasites and the methods to get rid of them; generally a systemic insecticide to be sprayed on the soil is sufficient to eliminate the threat, but sometimes it is not enough and you need to be well informed about the most effective methods. Plants can also be attacked by molds and viruses, but they are less common than pests. In any case, you can find a lot of information on the internet to treat plant diseases.
Step 4. Choose a beautiful vase
You can combine it with the furniture, choosing a decorated model to enhance both the beauty of the plant and the environment. It may be helpful to place the pot or planter in a gravel-filled saucer. Create a layer about two and a half centimeters high: when you water the plant, the excess water that ends up on the stones will evaporate around the plant, making the air more humid. It is a useful expedient especially in winter. Make sure the water does not reach the level of the pot, otherwise the roots will remain in contact with the water for a long time and could rot, killing the plant. Place the pot on a coffee table or in a raised position so that it is not in direct contact with a wooden floor or decorated surface. Moisture may condense underneath, damaging the surface it rests on. When watering, remember to wipe off splashes immediately.
Step 5. Water the plant when the pot seems lighter than last time
Obviously, each plant needs different types of watering. Some need water every couple of days, while others - especially flowering plants - need to be watered more often. Very few varieties, with the exception of aquatic plants and the Egyptian papyrus, need to be watered several times a day! Learning to water on an as-needed basis is the key to growing healthy, thriving houseplants.
Step 6. You need to find out which plants are best suited to your lifestyle
Among the best indoor plants we find the plants to keep on the ground, such as the dracaena marginata, the ficus (both the small and large-leaved variety), the sansevieria, the spatafillo and the false papyrus. Avoid strelitzia, bamboo, palm trees and ferns, unless you have plenty of time to care for them; don't always trust florists and nurserymen who are more interested in selling a plant than making sure it gets the right care.
Plants to keep on the table or near the window: kalanchoe, begonias, African violets, orchids (phalaenopsis is very easy to grow but only blooms a couple of times a year; you can highlight them by placing plants with beautiful foliage side by side), philodendron, maranta, singonio, crassula, zamioculcas and beaucarnea recurvata (called smoke-eating plant). Don't give in to the temptation to bring in plants that have been outdoors all year long, such as fuchsia, begonias, or even coleus. They do not adapt well to the indoor environment after spending the summer outdoors; moreover, you risk bringing pests into the house that could attack other plants. There are different varieties of each plant and some people decide to collect them all. If you want to be particularly conscientious, when buying a plant make sure it is grown in a greenhouse, that they have not harvested it in the wild and, above all, that it is not an endangered species
Advice
- Buy only healthy plants! If you find one sickly, it's probably too late to save her, unless you have enormous experience in the field; if it is a rare and precious plant you can give it a try, but only if you know an expert who can advise you on how to treat it and restore it to its maximum splendor.
- If you can take care of plants that are easy to grow, try something more challenging, such as African violets or orchids for example. They give a lot of satisfaction and there are many groups that are interested in them, especially online, but maybe you can find someone even in your city. Generally, fans of these plants are very helpful and happy to share their knowledge on cultivation and multiplication techniques.
- Every now and then turn the plant so that it receives light at every point. If the sun coming from the window is too intense, move the plant to another spot, about half a meter from the glass. Just do a test with your hand: if it seems too hot in the summer, it probably is too hot for the plant and the same reasoning applies to the cold in winter. You can also draw the curtains in the evening to keep the room warm, but remember to open them in the morning as the plants need several hours of light per day!
- Wash the leaves of larger plants with a wet washcloth once or twice a year so they will look prettier. Never use polish over leaves, as it clogs pores and prevents the plant from breathing. Do not spray it even below, you risk killing the plant as it is the area from which it breathes the most. If you want to make the leaves shiny, you can wipe the top with a wet cloth with semi-skim milk - they will look shinier without the risk of clogging the pores and, moreover, it's a much less expensive method than foliar polish.
