Maintenance of Houseplants

From CopperWiki

Even though many houseplants have originated in regions with tropical climate, and require minimal attention, it is nonetheless imperative to have a proper routine to maintain them. Many a time improper conditions lead to either stagnating or stopping the growth of plants during certain seasons.

The gardening world goes by a saying that you can "kill your plant with kindness". And this holds true, as most indoor plants demand much less attention than outdoor plants. The best houseplants are the ones that grow well in indoor environment conditions, which are quite different from outdoor conditions. Most houseplants, however, vary in their requirements for water, humidity, light intensity and nutrients.

Given below are some steps towards their maintenance, to be followed for a healthy and successful relationship with your indoor plants.

• Repotting

‘Repotting’ in layman’s term means to remove the plant from its present container/pot and to put it into a new one.

Most houseplants do not need to be repotted often. Infact many like to be pot bound and very rarely need repotting. But there are some that could benefit from it, in order to continue looking good. While some plants may need to be repotted every year, many go on without repotting for many years. Repotting can be done any time of the year.

Ideal Time for Repotting

Ideally, under the most critical situation is when plants should be re-potted. These could be when –

• roots begin to grow through the drainage holes of the pot
• roots begin to appear on the soil surface or surface of the pot
• the soil mass begins to fill up with roots
• it requires frequent watering
• the new leaves growing are unusually smaller
• the plants start wilting shortly after being watered

Of course there could be times, when you could just want to repot your houseplant in a more decorative container.

However, it will be important to keep in mind that when you do repot into a new container, it is important to have adequate drainage by way of holes in the pot. If there are none, you could take a regular container, repot the houseplant in it and then fit it into the decorative container.

Method for Repotting

A new houseplant should always be allowed some time to adapt or adjust itself to the environment around before repotting.

While repotting, the houseplant needs to be slightly moist and the soil to be used needs to be of high quality. When repotting, be sure to use high quality potting soil, especially since the plant will be in it for many years.

First, the houseplant needs to be removed from its pot, and while doing so the roots need to gently be shaken / stirred with the fingers so that they may move outwards from the ball of the root. Incase the roots tighten up in the pot use a knife to cut away any circling roots. Next some of the soil mix needs to be placed in the new pot and the plant needs to be planted firmly at a similar depth as it was in the earlier pot, while pressing down the soil around the roots. Finally it needs to be watered, and excess water needs to be drained out of the container.

The best time for successful repotting is when the plant is growing actively, which is either in spring or early summer.

However, it is important not to repot plants that are either dying or dormant or those with flower buds.

• Planting

This is a very important factor for the successful growth and survival of houseplants. The following needs to be taken into account while planting-

Pot/ container selection: In order to ensure success, the right pot size is very important. It is important to select a pot, which is one or two inches larger in diameter. And with every increase in diameter inch, the volume of soil nearly doubles.

Selecting a pot, which is larger than the plant, may cause problems of a constant wet soil and large volumes of it, which may lead to poor growth or root rot.

Also what is essential for the plant is to select a container with adequate drainage by way of drainage holes. Clay pots, being porous in nature are better choices, in comparison to plastic or glazed ceramic pots, which do not allow air movement, thus preventing the soil from drying.

For pots without drainage holes, it is advisable to have a layer of gravel or broken clay shards in the bottom to drain excess water. Also the old pots can be reused, provided they are thoroughly cleaned or heat sterilized.

Potting mixes: Using disease and pest free potting mixes is always desirable when re-potting a houseplant. The mix needs to be sterilized allowing for proper drainage for the plants to grow well. A recommended mixture to use will be a combination of 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 soil and 1/3 perlite (or vermiculite).

One can also use mixtures, which do not have soil as a part of the mix (soil-less mixtures). They usually comprise organic materials like peat moss, perlite and ground bark. However, these mixes are very low on nutrients and a lot of attention will have to be paid on fertilizing.

With regards, to the soil used, it is best to avoid garden soil while mixing, as it does not provide adequate drainage and also is a carrier of many diseases and insects.

• Pinching

This refers to the removal of a growing tip of a stem in order to induce growth of buds lower on the stem. Plants, which are bushy or are climbers like grape ivy, peperomia and croton should be and are usually pinched. Non-branching plants should not be pinched.

As discussed, one can either pinch the growing tip of the stem with the thumb and forefinger or use a pair of scissors to make the cut.

In order to encourage dense, bushy growth on mature plants they can be pinched. As soon as there is formation of side shoots, it can be pinched to induce new growth.

• Watering

A lot of houseplants suffer from either too much or too little water. How much water a plant needs differs from plant to plant. It also depends on factors like the time of the year, temperature, humidity, the pot size, plant size, potting mix and the available drainage.

Usually plants require a lot more water while they are growing or during the flowering seasons rather than their resting season. In fact, for many a thorough watering once or twice a week is usually more than enough.

However, to avoid either over-watering or under-watering, the best method to adopt in order to gauge whether the plant needs to be watered or not, is to test the soil. Feel the soil with your fingertip to a depth of two inches. If it is slightly moist leave it for a day or two till it dries. If the soil is dry, then your best bet is to water the plant.

Plants need to be checked regularly. Sometimes symptoms of wilting can be indicators of either over-watering or under-watering. In such cases – though not always accurate – a water meter could be useful.

Another method to check will be through the weight of the container. If its light, it means the soil is dry, if not then it’s moist.

If plants are watered from the top, then it is imperative that it soaks the soil completely and the excess water is allowed to drain through.

In order to improve water-holding capacity, one can make use of water absorbing polymers that can be added to the potting mix before planting. This helps plants with high watering needs.

Also always use water at room temperature and not cold water. Avoid softened water.

• Fertilizing

It is important to fertilize when required. Overfeeding is far more harmful than being underfed. It is advisable to fertilize houseplants during the growing seasons (spring – fall). They require it the least during the winter months. However, care should be taken not to over fertilize them, as this may lead to plants outgrowing their pots and space or even burning the roots.

Before applying the desired fertilizer, it’s important to make sure that the soil is moist.

An ideal fertilizer to use will be one, which is commercially available and is water-soluble. Most fertilizers are liquid, powder or tablets.

Salt buildup is a common problem, and to avoid it leaching the pot every 4-6 months is necessary.

• Cleaning

Plants, in order to be healthy need to be cleaned regularly. The most appropriate way to clean leaves of the foliage plants is to either sponge or use soft damp cloth dipped in room temperature water or a mild solution of liquid soap in water. Plants that are hairy should be dusted instead. It is best to use leaf polish as sparingly as possible.

Misting plants with an atomizer, time to time also enables them to use carbon dioxide drawn in by their pores, which is healthy for a plants growth.

Also it’s nice to occasionally spoil your plants by putting them outside, as this tends to revitalize them.

• Fresh Air

Just as we love the fresh air, so do plants. On warm days, windows should be kept open to allow fresh air to blow in thus giving an atmosphere of freshness to the plant. However, keep it away from very hot drafts as this may lead to problems.

• Vacation

Leaving plants behind while away on vacations is like leaving pets behind. They need the right kind of care and attention.

What needs to be done is before you leave, the plants need to be covered with a clear plastic bag large enough to accommodate them. This enclosed plant then needs to be placed in a pan, which is preferably shallow and filled with pebbles and water. This should see the plant through for a maximum of 7-8 days. However, if you are going for a longer vacation, it is advisable to ask someone to check on them regularly.

[edit] Summer and Winter Care

During summers, it is nice to move your plants outdoor to revitalize them. However, do not place them in direct sunlight. A suggested location could be under a tree or a north facing area. Also it is important to acclimatize a plant to its new location slowly. This can be done by placing it outdoors for a few hours everyday, with the number of hours being increased on a daily basis. It usually takes them one to two weeks to adjust to their new spot.

In the fall, they need to be shifted back into the house following the same steps of acclimatization. Also it’s a good idea to repot them before bringing them back indoors, as this may prevent diseases or do away with insects.

During winters, most plants as we know do not grow and so care should be taken. The frequency of watering needs to be reduced, fertilizing or repotting is not required and also try to increase the levels of humidity and light, if it is possible to do so.

[edit] Plant Health and Common Problems

Most houseplants go through various problems, some which can be resolved while some, which can’t. The causes are many, like improper watering, wrong use or lack of fertilizer, insects or diseases, cold drafts or draughts etc.

Some of the Common Problems Ailing Plants

• Defoliation: Which could be the result of sudden changes in temperatures, light intensity or even environment, over-watering, lack of light and nutrients and insects.
• Leaf tips turning brown: This could also be due to improper watering, cold drafts, insects, or over use of fertilizers
• Discolouration of foliage: Due to over-watering, lack of fertilization, insects and insufficient light.
• Spotted foliage: Caused due to diseases, over-watering or burning due to excessive light.

[edit] Reference Sites

http://gardening.about.com/od/houseplants/a/EasyHouseplants.htm