How to Care for Indoor Plants

Indoor plants are a great way to brighten up your house and lift your spirit during the winter months. They are also a great beginner project for would-be gardeners. Growing plants indoors is easier than growing them outdoors, because you can control the climate and run less risk of having to deal with pests and plant diseases. Nonetheless, indoor plants still do require proper care to dry. Like any plants, they need the right temperature, the right amount of water and the right amount of fertilizer

Things You'll Need

• Pots
• Soil
• Fertilizer
• Humidifier

Instructions

1. Get a selection of plants that do not require a lot of direct sunlight. If you live in the North, south-facing windows get a fair bit of light, but no spot indoors gets constant sunlight.

2. Place your plants based on how much light they need. A low-light plant like lucky bamboo will do well in a dim corner of the room away from the windows. Put the plants that need the most direct sunlight in south-facing windows if you live in the northern hemisphere, and your slightly lower-light plants in other windows.

3. Keep your plants away from chills and hot drafts. That means do not place them close to the freezer or right next to the window in winter.

4. Keep your plants appropriately watered and drained. Indoor plants generally need less water than outdoor ones. Over-watering will actually kill some plants more quickly than too little water. The soil should be damp, but not soaked. The plants should have a hole in the bottom of their pots and sit in a tray for excess water to drain into.

5. Consider using a humidifier in winter. Low light plants often like a lot of humidity, and most houses are very dry in winter.

6. Fertilize infrequently. Indoor plants typically only need fertilizer every several months or so; too much fertilizer can damage them.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't take infested plants indoors. If a plant looks very sick or seems to be infested by insects, it can contaminate your other indoor plants.