I’ve been pretty busy working lately but managed to sit in on another gardening class at the local Armstrong Garden Center today. I’ve started getting into houseplants, and today’s class was all about houseplants. Here are some things I learned about how to care for houseplants.
NASA has done studies that show how many plants are needed in an indoor space to purify the air. One plant is needed for about 100 square feet of space. The larger the house you live in, the more plants you will need to keep the air free of indoor pollutants. Keeping the air clean is a great reason to purchase and display plants in your home.
Types of Houseplants
There are many different types of houseplants to choose from. You want to plan out some things before buying your plant, such as how much lighting it needs, if you have any pets, and how much space you need. Below are some popular houseplants for you to choose from.
- Peace Lily (spathiphyllum)
- English Ivy
- Ficus Elastica
- Ficus Benjamina
- Pothos
- Dracaena
- Snake Plant
- Anthurium
Pet Friendly Houseplants
Below are plants that are nontoxic, for those that have dogs and cats. I have a cat so I’m cautious about what type of houseplants to purchase. If you know your pet won’t eat your houseplants, they buy whichever you want. To play it safe, below are houseplants that are safe for pet friendly homes.
- Moth Orchids (phalaenopsis)
- Spider Plant
- Boston/Kimberly Queen Fern
- Bamboo Palm
Lighting
What room are you planning on displaying your houseplants? How much lighting do certain rooms in your house get? Even though houseplants don’t need direct light from the sun, light is just as important to houseplants as plants grown outside. Houseplants need low, medium, or high light. Some do better in certain types of light compared to others.
Plants that grow well in low light include:
- Snake Plant
- Aspidistra
- Spider Plant
- Dracaena
- Kentia Palm
- Philodendron
- Aglaonema
Plants that grow in medium light include:
- African Violet
- Ficus
- Spider Plant
- Raphis Palm
- Rubber Plant
- Peperomia
- Dieffenbachia
Plants that grow well in high light are:
- Ponytail Palm
- Cactus
- Schefflera
- Boston Fern
- Prayer Plant
- Croton
- Orchids
- Other plants with flowers
How to Care for Houseplants
Houseplants need food, water, and sun, just like any other plant. Potting soil works well with these plants. When watering, make sure the plant gets plenty of water in one sitting, then let it dry out before watering again, in a week or so. You can prune houseplants as well. Some people choose to prune the root ball so that it doesn’t get too big. If you decide to do this, don’t forget to prune the top of the plant as well so that the root ball can handle the weight of the rest of the houseplant.
Designing with Houseplants
Where are you planning on placing your houseplants? If you have a small space, you don’t want to get too big of a plant. For narrow spaces, choose plants that grow straight up, such as snake plants. For centerpieces, choose a plant that grows out and not up, so that you can see and talk to your guests. A plant such as a fern would look great on a table as a centerpiece.
You can also decorate with the types of pots that you choose. When looking for a pot, get one that is about one size larger than the plant, so that it can grow into it. If you get too large of a pot, then the plant may end up sitting in too much water because of all the extra dirt in the pot. You can also purchase different pots to use throughout the year and interchange the plant in the different pots easily by keeping it in its original container until it needs a larger one.
Are you ready to design your indoor space with houseplants? How do you care for your houseplants? Let me know in the comments section below!
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