How to Take Care of Houseplants

The potted plants in the house bring a cozy feeling to the room. Indoor plants are both a beautiful decoration and also have the effect of purifying the air, helping you improve your health and increase your ability to concentrate. ^{[1] X Research Source} By creating a good environment and providing the right amount of water and nutrients to your plants, you can ensure that your houseplants can thrive.

Table of Contents

Provide regular water for plants

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Keep the soil moist but not wet. Soil that is too dry or too wet can damage roots and affect plant growth. In some cases, too much or too little watering can kill the plant. Plants with thick, luxuriant leaves have higher water requirements than plants with tough, waxy leaves. ^{[2] X Research Sources} There is no one rule for watering all houseplants. Instead, what you need to do is determine the species of tree you are growing and follow the guidelines for watering frequency.

If mold starts to appear on the ground or there’s standing water on the bottom of the pot, you’ve been watering too much.
Water the plant when you notice the soil is pale or cracked. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
Succulents require periods of complete dry soil between waterings.
If you see standing water inside or at the bottom of the pot, drain all the water so the plant doesn’t get soaked in the water. Standing water can kill the plant.

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Prick your finger into the soil to check the moisture below the ground. You’ll know if your plants need to be watered by sticking your finger up to the knuckles of the soil. If the soil is still moist, it does not need to be watered, and if the soil is dry, the plant is probably in need of water. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Again, each plant has different water needs. The above instructions are appropriate for most plants, but not all.
Signs of excess water include: leaves turning color, plants not sprouting new shoots, defoliation, and soft rotting patches appearing on the plant.
Signs of dehydration include: slow leaf growth, browning and drying at the leaf margins, and lower leaves turning yellow and curling.

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Use water at room temperature. The temperature of 20°C is the most suitable for watering plants. ^{[5] X Research Source} You can use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water or take the water outside and wait for the water to reach room temperature.

If the water is too hot, the roots can be damaged and the plant shocked, leading to the risk of plant death.
Water that is too cold will cause the plant to hibernate and hinder the growth of current and future plants.

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Use a handheld moisture meter to determine soil moisture. Measuring moisture with a meter is the most accurate way to determine a plant’s water needs. The device is used to probe the soil layer below and display the moisture in the soil. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

You can buy a hygrometer online, at garden supply stores, and some department stores.

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Choose a pot with good drainage. The drainage of the pot is very important, as too much or too little water can damage or kill the plant. You need to make sure the pot has drainage holes in the bottom.

Pots made of materials like plastic, metal, or glass will absorb water much less than ceramic or clay pots, so you need to keep this in mind when choosing a planter as well. ^{[7] X Research Sources}
Remember that the pot must have drainage holes in the bottom. If you use decorative pots (without drainage holes), water can collect and kill the plant.

Caring for houseplants

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Choose an indoor location that receives enough sun. Plants need light for photosynthesis. ^{[8] X Research source} Quality, duration and intensity of light all affect plant growth.

Avoid placing the plant in direct sunlight. Instead, you need to provide enough indirect light for the plant by placing the pot in a room with lots of light. Fluorescent bulbs can replace sunlight for some plants.
Flowering plants need 12-16 hours of light per day.
Leafy plants need 14-16 hours of light per day. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Don’t move the tree too much. Plants adapt to their surroundings quite slowly, so it’s best not to move them around too much. ^{[10] X Research Source} You should also not place the plant where the temperature changes markedly.

The sudden removal of a tree from a dark place to a place full of sunlight also adversely affects the tree. ^{[11] X Research Source} If you want to move the plant, you should move it to a new location every day for 1 hour, and gradually increase the time until it is fully acclimatized.

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Increase the humidity in the room. Dry air can be beneficial for some plants like cacti, but most plants need moisture, especially tropical plants. You can buy a room mist humidifier, and be sure to place it close enough to provide moisture to the plant but not to wet its leaves and flowers.

A less expensive option than a humidifier is a gravel tray. Pour water into the gravel tray so that the water is almost submerged to the gravel surface. The water will help humidify the room as it evaporates.
You can also pour distilled water into a spray bottle and mist it to provide extra moisture to the plant.
Wilted leaves, browning and stunted flower buds are signs of a lack of moisture.
Planting in clusters also helps to increase humidity. ^{[12] X Research Source}

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Add a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer to the potted plant. Most houseplants will do well with a 10-10-10 balanced fertilizer. Houseplants need nutrients from the soil and fertilizers to survive. If you don’t repot the plant or add nutrients to the soil, the plant will eventually die. The first number represents nitrogen, the second number represents phosphorus, and the last number represents potassium.

If you’re growing plants for flowers, you can buy a fertilizer that’s high in potassium.
If you’re growing foliage plants, buy a fertilizer or potting soil that’s high in nitrogen.
Plants also need micronutrients added to the soil or fertilizer to survive. ^{[13] X Research Source}
Succulents or succulents require a special soil mix for effective drainage. They also need to be planted in pots with lots of holes in the bottom to prevent too much moisture from accumulating in the soil, which can kill the plant. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Regularly prune the tree. Some plants need to be pruned in installments, so you need to find out how often you should prune the tree. Plants that are not pruned can grow out of control, and roots can poke out of the pot. Prune regularly to keep the plant healthy and to reduce the need for repotting. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Cut off dead branches that often attract pests.
Cut diagonally at a 45° angle above the leaf node to stimulate new shoots and luxuriant growth. ^{[16] X Research Source}

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Do not pour tea or coffee into the potted houseplant. Coffee or tea will attract flies and damage the plant. Sugar also creates a favorable environment for insects to breed. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Although many people claim that fertilizing coffee is good for plants, it can actually kill plants that cannot tolerate high acidity. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Learn about plants

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Learn about tree taxonomy. There are many online encyclopedias where you can find detailed information on how to care for your plants, including guidelines for proper humidity, light, and watering. ^{[19] X Research Sources} Since there are many different types of houseplants, it’s important to know what environment is ideal for the plants you’re growing.

Most houseplants are labeled with common names and scientific names. If the tree is not named, ask the tree seller. The scientific name of the plant consists of two parts: genus and species. For example, Spathiphyllum wallisii is the scientific name of the peace lily. There are many trees with common names that also coincide with scientific names. If you see an x, a third name, or a name in quotes, it’s a cultivar, hybrid, or subspecies name.
Some plants are referred to only by generic names such as palm trees or desert cactus. With expert horticulturist advice and reference books, you can learn to identify multiple genera (if the exact species is not known) when observing plants.
If you have a houseplant and aren’t sure what type it is, look up pictures of the plant in flower books, encyclopedias, houseplant handbooks and find the pictures that best match the plant. your.
Find the exact names of species and cultivars to make sure you choose the right plant. A genus can include millions of species and cultivars. Some species and varieties of plants are easier to grow indoors than others or their original species. There are also many trees of different sizes and growth rates. Some species will grow very tall, and others will grow like vines. The same is true for the Philodendron and Anthurium groups.

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Note that not all plants sold as houseplants can last long. Many plants on the market are so-called houseplants that are not really suitable for the indoor environment. In fact, many people accidentally buy these plants and often the plants die when they take care of them, making them frustrated and never want to buy houseplants again.

Many houseplants are annual plants (only live for a year and then die). Persian vipets and ornamental peppers will die after flowering and must be thrown away. The pineapple plant will die after flowering but will produce seedlings, and you can separate from the mother plant and plant it in another pot or leave it in place.
Other plants such as mini roses, hydrangeas and Christmas trees are woody perennials or shrubs that really need to be grown outdoors to live like other plants of the same species. Similarly, tulips, lilies, daffodils and other spring onions bloom.
Many other plants that are shrubs, bulbs and tropical perennials, after a period of prolific flowering turn into a less attractive period and require special care to return to their former state. Poinsettias (sold at Christmas), ornamentals, and a variety of summer/tropical herbs such as cycad, gladiolus, and safflower are examples of this type.
There are also other plants that will not look as good after a year or two even with good care and need to be replaced. Examples for this group include ornamental perilla, mirror grass, velvet flower and striped begonia.
Most plants are sold in baskets or pots with multiple species of plants that need to be separated. They are planted in clusters based solely on appearance and not on the needs of individual plants. The exception here are desert plants and special plants grown in glass tanks.

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Determine if your plant is a leaf or flower plant. Plants that give leaves are different from plants that produce flowers and have different nutrient, water, and light requirements. ^{[20] X Research Source}

Most common houseplants are members of a large group called angiosperms, or flowering plants. However, not all angiosperms have the beautiful flowers or the season you desire. Furthermore, many species of plants never reach fruiting age when grown indoors.
Angiosperms that produce flowers and/or fruit include species of jasmine, lily, magnolia, poinsettia, anthurium, and red lily. Most orchids also belong to this group.
Leaf-bearing angiosperms include sedges, marantas, peacocks, spider plants, ivy, and two common groups of plants, and palm and calendula.
Some plants have both flowers and leaves that are eye-catching. A very large genus, Begonias (begonias) is a good example of this group. Other plants include cacti, succulents, and many plants that have been bred to produce beautiful colorful leaves and spots.
Gymnosperms are plants that do not have flowers but have seed pods called cones. Conifers such as pine and spruce are examples of this group of trees. The “Christmas tree,” also known as the Norfpk Island pine, and its closely related thorny trees also belong to this group. The sago palm is not a palm at all, but a member of the stag group, along with the “money tree.” These plants take several years to produce cones, and they are leaf-bearing plants.
Ferns do not belong to the group of angiosperms or gymnosperms. This plant, along with several other moss-like species, produces spores rather than flowers or cones. These are the plants that give leaves.
Some advertised trees are not true to nature. Some places sell plants that attach flowers to a cactus or any other plant to look like it’s in bloom. Phat Loc tree (English name is called lucky bamboo) is not a grass or bamboo but belongs to the species Dracena (set magnolia). Some stores even paint the plants or dye the flowers or leaves to make them think it’s natural. Stained flowers aren’t a big deal, but paint on the plant will block the light needed for the plant’s nutrient synthesis.

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Choose plants that are easy to care for. Some tropical plants require specific environments to thrive, while others such as geranium, sago palm, betel nut and wild garlic are hardy and easy to care for. Most cacti and succulents are also often fancy shapes, and many leafy plants are also easy to grow. ^{[21] X Research Source}

Other plants that don’t need much light include tiger’s tongue, magnolia, and spider plant. ^{[22] X Research Source}
The Aglaonema , commonly grown in public areas, is also an easy plant to live in low light, just doesn’t like cold and humid environments. This plant will gradually shed its lower leaves but can be easily grown in water.

Warning

Some plants have leaves that contain chemicals that are toxic to pets and small animals, including orchids, oleanders, and ornamental plants. ^{[23] X Research Resources} You should research online about houseplants if you are concerned about this when you have children and pets.

Steps

Provide regular water for plants

Caring for houseplants

Learn about plants

Warning

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