Our Inside Garden
By Tery Susman – UC Mariposa Master Gardener
Now that it’s winter and our outside gardens are taking a nap, it’s time to turn our attention to growing HOUSEPLANTS! Growing houseplants can be just as rewarding as outdoor gardening. Healthy houseplants add beauty to our homes and improve indoor air quality. Plants in the natural garden rely on nature to meet many of their needs. Houseplants, on the other hand, rely on the gardener to meet all their needs!
Light, water, temperature, soil/fertilizer, containers, and plant care are elements to consider when growing houseplants. In this article, we will examine light, water, temperature, and soil/fertilizer.
Light
Many gardeners consider light to be the most important element for a plant to thrive. Some plants require plenty of sunlight, others prefer partial sunlight, and some will tolerate lower light conditions. Most flowering plants and some foliage plants need a considerable amount of sunlight and would do well with southern or western exposure. Other foliage plants need plenty of light but not much actual direct sunlight and these will thrive in an eastern or northern window.
Before you buy a plant, select the site in your home and what the light exposure is at that spot. Make sure the plant’s light requirements match the amount of light it will receive. If they don’t match closely, choose a different plant.
Water
Don’t overwater your plants! Overwatering causes about 90% of houseplant problems. Too little water will dry out the roots, and too much will rot them. Two important rules about watering are to never permit the soil to dry out completely between watering and to never allow plants to stand in water for an extended time. Watering should leave the soil moist but not saturated. Remember that each plant may require a different watering schedule.
Temperature
Most houseplants are by nature tropical plants, and most will grow at normal household temperatures. They prefer lower temperatures at night. A good rule of thumb is to keep the night temperatures 10 to 15 degrees lower than during the day. However, not all plants have the same temperature requirements. It is important to choose plants that will adapt to the actual temperature in your house.
Soil/Fertilizer
Use potting soil that has good drainage, not topsoil or garden soil. Always premoisten the soil before adding the plant. Plants need food, like all living things. Indoor plants typically grow slowly and do not need the level of nutrition that garden plants do. Overfertilizing indoor plants is more common than under-fertilizing. All plants have a flowering call for increased feeding and water (spring/summer).
Now it’s time for you to choose some houseplants! If you are a beginner, here are 3 houseplants that are easy to grow, to care for, and are super forgiving. The ZZ plant (Zamioculcus zamifolia), the Snake plant (Sansevieriatrifasciata), and the Pothos (Epipremnun aureum). Have fun!
