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Indoor plants make great decor items. They can soften grand homes, create a backdrop to indoor pools, or offer colour in a corner to lift your spirits in the depth of a cold winter.
The right spot
Of course, there’s no such thing as an “indoor” plant. Plants are meant to grow outdoors, but some are naturally adapted to the shady, bright, humid and warm conditions in the micro-
climates within our homes.
Palms thrive under skylights and ferns do well in the brightly-lit humidity beside indoor pools. Generally speaking, plants that prefer shade will do well indoors, but most will not grow well in stuffy corners.
Light levels are the biggest limiting factor indoors. Take a look around your home - near the windows, the light tends to be relatively good, but only a little distance away from the windows, it is much darker.
Orientation is another factor with light. A north-facing room has good light, but south-
facing rooms tend to be dark, even near the
windows. East-facing rooms get cool, morning sun and west-facing windows the hot afternoon sun.
Knowing where the plant will grow, and what the light-levels are, is what decides your success when choosing the correct plant.
Indoor tips
Use good potting soil and give your plants liquid feeding with a complete plant food. There are also several high-quality, slow-release fertilisers which gradually provide nutrition over several months.
There is no “how many times a week?” recipe for the correct watering of a plant. The only way to know if your plant needs water is to push your fingertip into the soil to feel for moisture.
Different plants have different water requirements but, generally speaking, potting soil should not dry out much beyond the first joint of your finger.
Never let potting soil be constantly soggy, or go to the other extreme and let it dry completely. It should feel like a squeezed-out sponge: cool and damp. Always water until the soil is properly wet to the bottom. A plant with a “low water requirement” means less frequent watering, not “a little bit at a time”.
Potting soil that has been allowed to get too dry might repel water - it just runs down the inside walls of the pot without wetting the soil. If the plant has become wilted, or the potting soil is bone dry, use soapy water, wait a few minutes and then water as normal.
Because there is poor air circulation and plants are kept warm indoors, it is wise to check frequently for pests such as mealy bug and spider mite.
Yellowing leaves are a symptom of trouble. Unfortunately, it can indicate a variety of problems: too much or too little water; too much or too little light; under-feeding and insect pests. Take note of the conditions your plant has been growing under in order to troubleshoot effectively.
Containers
For the health of your plants, excess water must be able to drain freely from the bottom of the pot. Pot covers are pots without drainage holes into which a standard plastic pot fits neatly. They are a possible alternative to the traditional “pot saucer” or drip tray. A layer of pebbles in the bottom will help to keep the pot clear of standing water.
In built-in planters, drainage is important. If there is no drainage, pots can be sunk into the larger indoor beds so they look “planted”, but can easily be taken to a shady place outdoors for a rest and be replaced if they begin to show symptoms of stress. Many professional plant displays are maintained in this way.