HOUSEPLANTS

Do you ever feel like you are operating a hospice home for your plants and providing palliative care. Winter can be the most stressful time for your houseplants. The days are short, and the sun is not as bright, therefore, your plants will not be able to make the food needed to grow. Secondly, the humidity is lower in our homes. Finally, watering becomes more of a challenge as we tend to over or underwater.

Just knowing these factors will help you to understand why plants are not growing properly.

While fertilizer is necessary for plant growth, it is not a magic potion. Plants make their own food. The process of photosynthesis takes water, carbon dioxide, and light to make the sugars a plant needs to grow and maintain itself. Just like we need a minimum number of calories to stay healthy, plants need to be able to make those calories. If any of those three elements (water, light, carbon dioxide) are inadequate, the plant will struggle to make the food it needs to maintain itself let alone grow. In our homes, carbon dioxide is abundant as we take in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Furthermore, if the plants are properly hydrated, that only leaves light as the limiting factor.

Unless you are a genuine plant abuser and think all plants can grow in the desert, the lack of light is probably the reason your plants struggle. A bright window with 4-6 hours of light per day in the winter will work wonders and turn your brown thumbs green. If indeed you are an extreme abuser, succulents and cacti should be on your radar.

Most common house plants were created and evolved to grow under the canopy of tropical trees. The upper and mid story plants filter and limit the light these plants receive in their native habitats. They have developed the ability to use even a minimal amount of light to drive the photosynthesis process. Vines such as Philodendron and Pothos grow well under low light conditions

While growing houseplants can be fun and rewarding, selecting the right plants for your space will remove the anxiety of sick, anemic plants. Consider the amount of natural light as well as the temperature and humidity. Avoid the temptation to purchase plants that may be colorful and yet you do not know the requirements of that plant.

Finally, don’t get stressed if your plants croak. We are all challenged when we choose to learn something new. To improve your skills, seek advise from others. Remember plants are living, changing organisms that require care. The rewards of growing and caring for plants is good for your health and soul.

 Here is a list of 10 easy to grow plants. Click on their names for more info.

Philodendron

Snake plants

Pothos

Prayer plant

Peace lily

Split leaf philodendron

Chinese evergreen

Tradescantia Bubblegum

Spider plant

Hoya