CARE FOR HOUSE PLANT

Plants used indoors have widely differing requirements for light, soil, temperature and water. The requirements vary from plant to plant. Some plants may require more care and attention than others. Normally houseplants adapt themselves to the given atmospheric conditions provided to them but it is important for you to understand their individual requirement in order to ensure their health and longitivity. Following are tips of houseplant care.

• Examine your plant regularly and religiously. Check for decay, rotting, insects, spots, any sign of poor health and watering needs.
• Don't drown your plants. Roots need air as well as water. Keeping the compost soaked at all times means certain death for most plants. Try to learn how to water your plants, watch them carefully to see how they respond. Water according to their type and requirement of water.
• Provide fresh air for your plant. Avoid fluctuating temperature and stuffiness.
  Sunburn is often a problem when plants are placed on a windowsill in intense sunlight or areas in your garden where the sunrays fall on your plant for too long time.
• Group your plants together. Nearly all plants look better and grow better when grouped together. Try out different arrangements of your plants and make note of which plants enhance the beauty of others, bearing in mind that in different rooms there will be different amounts of light and each plant may have different needs. Remember to take into account the needs of each plant especially if planting them together in a tub, make sure their needs are compatible, i.e. water, light and food.
• Keep the plants dirt free and fresh. Wash them regularly. Bathe your plants every 3 weeks. Bathing keeps the pores open, improves the appearance, reduces insect attack and your plant looks fresh. Small plants can be washed in the kitchen sink while large plants if possible can be washed under the shower or wipe the leaves using a sponge. After washing shake the extra water off the plants and do not place them in hot direct sunlight until they have dried off. If excess water remains on the leaf for too long, rot or fungus diseases may set in, and exposure to hot sun will cause burns to appear on the leaves where they are wet. However if your plants are infected with fungal or bacterial disease, washing will create more problems and spread the disease.
• Turn the plant every week. Turning the plant one-quarter turn each week will prevent it from growing unevenly towards the light. Treat trouble promptly. If you see any problem with your plant do not delay taking action. Learn how to recognize the early signs of trouble and take proper action.
• Loosen surface soil occasionally if it becomes coated and hard, but avoid damaging the roots.
• Remove dead leaves and flowers from plants. They spoil the look of the plant and also harbour diseases, which can be fatal to your plant. Give your plant a rest. Nearly all plants need a rest in winter, which means less water, less feeding and less heat than in the active growing period. Always respect your plants needs for a resting period.
• Learn to repot. After a year or two most plants will need to be repotted, signs are that they are simply to big for the current pot or they begin to look very sick and struggling to grow.
• When you're on vacation the main problem your plants face is lack of water. A simple and effective method of preventing your plant from drying out is to water it thoroughly and wrap both pot and plant with plastic. Before wrapping, cut away unhealthy foliage and any buds about to open. Keep the plant away from direct sunlight and heating vents.
• Accept the loss of temporary plants. Some plants die within weeks and you don't have to curse yourself. You have done nothing wrong. It is natural.
  Have the proper tools required for keeping your plants healthy and your garden looking great.