Houseplants
As much I like being outdoors and working in the garden,
I also love to be surrounded by plants in my house. With winter
being here now, our attention focuses indoors, and we appreciate
the indoor greenery even more. To deepen that appreciation,
I would like to offer you some basic tips for caring for houseplants.
When placing any houseplant, light is the most important
factor to consider. Most houseplants require direct light
and should be situated very close to a window. However, some
houseplants do not tolerate direct sunlight very well. Generally,
plants that in nature grow shaded by larger plants are happier
away from direct sunlight, even light filtered through windows.
Light tables are a great solution for houses that don’t
offer a desirable amount of light.
As well as finding the optimum light spot, you
should try to locate the place where the setting complements
the plant to its maximum potential. Placing houseplants on
shelves is a common way to do this as is placing large plants
on the floor or on stools.
Using potting soil and not garden soil will help keep plants
healthy. Potting soil is especially designed for growing indoors
and has all the necessary components to retain moisture, allow
oxygen in the soil, and release nutrition. Some plants, like
succulents and bonsai, perform better in soil especially designed
for them .
The best time for potting plants is in early spring when
the days are getting longer. I like to transplant my plants
every two years. I choose bigger flowerpots, but bigger by
just one or two cm in diameter. This way there is enough space
for new growth but not too much space. Every plant grown in
a pot tries to fill out the pot with roots first and than
grow the rest of the plant. So, by choosing a pot just a little
bit bigger than the previous one, we encourage growth of the
whole plant. Also, exchanging soil will give the plant a new
source of nutrition.
There is an extensive variety of fertilisers available on
shelves for houseplants. Fertilising every second watering
with the recommended mixture is a good rule. I would suggest
fertilising most houseplants from March to October to allow
some time for plants to rest. By fertilising, you keep plants
healthy, lush and growing, but if you keep fertilising the
whole year it will exhaust plants and they will start producing
weak new growth. By stimulating the down season, you allow
plants to rest and then in the growing season, they will come
back stronger. Some plants really benefit from cooler temperatures
through the winter months, but in most houses that is hard
to maintain.
As we all know, some plants are easier to grow than others.
Some plants have very distinctive foliage that stands out
like easy to grow Zebrena pendula and also Begonia Rex that
comes in a wide variety of shapes and colours. I believe that
choosing a contrasting combination of plants will create a
great effect. For example, the Boston Fern will look outstanding
beside Clivia miniata; the fern’s leaf is bright green
and finely textured and Clivia has smooth dark green leaves.
If you consider all the above factors, which are light, surroundings,
soil, nutrition, and transplantingyou are well on your way
to having an outstanding display of houseplants.
Viktorie Hladik
Horticulturist
Landscape Designer
|
