Healthy Houseplants

Light 

House plants come in several varieties and differ in their care in some regards. Many house plants can sustain and grow with at least medium light. Very few house plants can survive with little to no light (peace lilies, sansevierias, etc…). South-facing windows work best for Oklahoma. Depending on the plant variety, the intensity of the sun or time of year, west-facing windows can work as well. North and east-facing windows don’t tend you give enough light for the length of time needed but can work in certain situations. Below is an overview of our most popular houseplants and the type of light they need to thrive.

Water

Plants indoors tend to dry out less quickly than their outdoor counterparts. Because of this, most people tend to overwater their indoor plants. As a good rule of thumb, water plants thoroughly to the point of saturation, then remove excess water from the saucer. Check the soil before watering by sticking your finger into the dirt to feel the moisture level or you can use a Rapitest Soil Moisture Meter. For smaller plants, check once a week and larger plants can be checked about every 2 – 3 weeks. Just like the outdoors, this depends on the environmental circumstances the plant is in. In the wintertime, plants may dry out faster because of the heater in your home. Larger containers will dry out more slowly than smaller ones. In the end, watering schedules are fluid and change with your home’s environment and the growth of the plant.

If your plants start to yellow, check the soil. If the soil is wet or still moist, ease off of your watering and let the plant dry out. If plants receive too much moisture the roots will collapse and produce that yellowing display much as you might see with not enough water.

Fertilizer

Fertilizing your houseplants is simple. There are two easy options: use Bonide Liquid Plant Food (10-10-10) or Miracle Gro Indoor Plant Fertilizer Stakes. Both are well-rounded fertilizers for indoor plants that provide the nutrients needed to survive. The Bonide simply goes into the water you use and the stakes go into the soil until they dissolve. Follow the package directions for amount and frequency.

Insects

The best way to prevent insects on your indoor plants is to treat them with Bonide Systemic House Plant Insecticide every 6 weeks. Monitor your plants at every watering for issues. As soon as you see a problem, bring in a sample and we can help you find a solution.