Hill Gardens of Maine - A Few Pointers For Houseplant Care

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Some Pointers for Houseplant Care
by Fred Davis, MG, Hill Gardens of Maine, Palermo (To view other articles, click Archives)

Welcome through Fred's Garden Gate! For those of us without greenhouses, now that our part of the world is frozen nearly solid, gardening efforts have moved indoors. Lush indoor foliage, attractive flowers and a variety of textures, shapes and fragrances allow avid gardeners to enjoy their favorite hobby all year long.

Houseplants, especially during the short-day indoor-drought of winter, however, have often-strict needs and requirements. Light, of course, is at a premium all winter long. Busy - if not frantic - schedules tend to limit the amount of time available to properly tend our houseplant friends. Daytime heat and associated reduced humidity from furnaces, whether oil, wood, gas or solar, coupled with often wildly-fluctuating chill at night places a great deal of stress on all but a few houseplants—especially those placed on windowsills. This time we'll briefly look into some of the more important factors which, if accommodated, will help to insure success and enjoyment.

Light is probably the most important consideration when selecting a location for plants in the home. Because the sun lies lower on the horizon here in the north, both light intensity and daylength are reduced. Yet, on brilliantly clear days, especially when there's snow on the ground, light coming through unprotected windows can be astonishingly bright. So bright, in fact, that plants normally preferring reduced light levels can quickly suffer disfiguring scorching. Orchids, ivy,

African violets and philodendron are examples of plants that require less light.

While it is difficult to lay down hard and fast rules when it comes to light, most houseplants (with the possible exception of cacti, aloe, echeveria, jade and a few others) benefit from light shading through the use of something like sheer curtains. It would help to pull them back on dull or overcast days. Natural light can, of course, be supplemented by careful placement of fluorescent or incandescent bulbs. Two-tube fluorescent fixtures with one "grow-light" and one white tube will give the best lighting mix.

Temperature fluctuations follow close behind light in importance. Most houseplants can deal with either warmer or cooler than usual preferred temperatures, but sudden frigid drafts from an open door or window, or a blast of very warm air from a nearby heater register—especially for an already chilled plant—can cause almost immediate leaf-drop. Avoid sudden or frequent dramatic shifts in air temperature.

Windowsills can be particularly trying for houseplants - bright and warm during the day; wicked cold at night—hardly an ideal environment. Yes, it does take a little extra effort, but moving plants away from cold windows every evening will make them a lot happier!

Humidity is also important to plants forced to deal with often-hostile indoor winter environments. If humidity is a significant problem in your home, consider purchasing a humidifier. Most of the plants in my childhood home thrived in the kitchen and bathroom - both areas with increased humidity. Besides, Mom always had a teakettle, soup or stew simmering on the stove. A viable alternative would be to place plant pots in a shallow tray with a layer of small pebbles kept wet. Don't allow the water to rise so high that it continually enters the pot's drain hole; it won't like that! Most plants also enjoy an occasional luke-warm shower in the sink to wash away dust and cat fur.

Nutrition is essential for plants held captive in small, indoor containers. Most potting mixes contain very little fertilizer—certainly not enough to sustain health and bloom over the long haul. While some species of commonly grown houseplants require a special formulation (African violets, cacti), most fare well on routine feeding with a balanced liquid or pelleted formula. The simplest would be small fertilizer "spikes". Also quick and easy is the pelleted "Osmokote" type (we prefer the14-14-14 formulation). Consider a more natural food for use on plants that you intend to eat - herbs, for example.

Insect pests are sometimes troublesome. Look your plants over frequently and, at the first sign of insect or disease presence, isolate immediately. A weekly warm-water shower using your kitchen sprayer washes away pests like aphids, spider mite and whitefly adults. Be sure to wash the undersides of leaves. Natural pesticide formulas usually include soaps and/or pyrethrins—both effective for control of all stages of many houseplant pests. Scale is controlled by touching each insect with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Avoid the use of chemicals in the indoor garden and, even with the "naturals," always follow label directions.

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