How to Care for Indoor Foliage Plants

Indoor foliage plants that are easy to care for are hard to find. House plants do not receive the same sunlight as outdoor plants, so thriving on little light is reserved for only a few types. Emerald Gem is an ideal foliage plant to grow indoors, as is palms and ferns. Each type of foliage plant comes with its own instructions, but all plants require the same basic ingredients: water, food and light.

Things You'll Need

• Fertilizer
• Garden shovel
• Gloves
• Watering can
• Artificial lighting

Instructions

1. Keep the house heat below 67 degrees F. Higher temperatures cause a decrease in humidity which indoor plants thrive on.

2. Water your indoor foliage plants well, but do not over water them. The plants must have a well-draining pot, or the water will pool around the roots causing rot.

3. Place ferns with leaf-like fronds in the corner away from light, but make sure the ferns with wispier fronds have some direct light.

4. Fertilize your indoor foliage plants once a week with a store-bought houseplant fertilizer. Add the fertilizer to the soil per the instructions on the package.

5. Set up low-intensity plant lights especially in dark winter months. During the season when there is very little direct sunlight, place a fluorescent light above your plant. Halide lights are ideal if you have flowering plants.

Tips & Warnings

• Although an indoor foliage plant tolerates low light, like any other plant, it will grow best in slightly brighter conditions. Place an indoor foliage plant in a bright reflected area like an east-facing window.

• Do not let your indoor foliage plants dry out.