5 Tips To Remember To Maintain House Plants

There’s something about bringing the green from the outdoors to the indoors that brightens up our homes and workplaces.Houseplants bring nature indoors – a touch of green that softens hard lines and strong light in our homes or offices. Houseplants can even improve air quality indoors. Many differ in their specific cultural requirements, but here are some general tips to help keep yours healthy.

* Find a site with the right light

When deciding where to place a plant, keep in mind that south-facing windows receive much more light than north-facing ones. With east- or west-facing windows, observe the amounts of morning or afternoon sun they get before putting plants near them. Plants with brightly colored foliage need more light than others. A half-turn of the pot every day or two will keep the growth of your houseplant even, since foliage automatically bends toward the light. Because light is more intense in summer than in winter, you may need to move sun-sensitive plants in hot months.

* Make pots hold water longer

If your potted houseplants dry out too quickly after watering, try this simple trick for keeping the soil moist longer. When repotting, tuck a damp sponge into the bottom of the pot before filling with soil. It will act as a water reservoir and may help prevent a gusher if you accidentally overwater.

* Feed your ferns

Schedule an occasional teatime for your ferns, gardenias, and other acid-loving houseplants. Substitute brewed tea when watering or work wet tea leaves into the soil to give the plants a lush, luxurious look.

* Read the newspaper to your plants

Seriously. This can benefit them in two ways. One, the carbon dioxide in your breath may energize their gas exchange cycles. Two, if there’s enough natural light for you to read by, you’ll know that the plants are getting the minimum amount of light needed for good growth.

* Don't toss leftover club soda or egg water

The minerals in the soda water help green plants grow. For maximum benefit, give your plants a drink of soda once a week. After boiling eggs, let the cooking water cool and hydrate your houseplants with the nutrient-filled liquid.