House Plants - Questions and Answers

All about House Plants and Gardens

House plants are beautiful and practical for decorating indoors.  They bring life and fragrance to the air in your home while also adding a touch of color.  If you're thinking of adding house plants to your home decor, you'll find the questions and answers below helpful.  Use these tips to spruce up every room of your home.

Q: What types of plants are considered house plants? A: There are many different types of house plants.    Below is a categorized list of some of the most popular types of house plants and their characteristics.

1.  Foliage House Plants

*Survive year round inside.
*Have foliage all year also.

2.  Flowering House Plants

*Can be stored inside all year, but flowering (and normally foliage) only occurs seasonally.

3.  Cacti

*Have small patches of woolly aureoles on its stems.
*Leafless and most have spines.
*Live all year round, and some will flower.

4.  Indoor Aquatic

*Plants to place inside an aquarium.

Listed Below are Some Very Interesting Plants:

There are a few plants that will clean the air in your home and keep it fresh!  These are listed below:

- Aglaonema sp. (Chinese Evergreen)
- Aloe barbagensis (Aloe Vera, burn plant)
- Chlorophytum (comoseum, spider plant)
- Chrysanthemum Mums
- Dieffenbachia sp. (Dumbcane)
- Epipremnum sp. (Golden Pothos)
- Hedera sp. (Common English Ivy)
- Philudendron sp. (Heart Leaf philodendron)
- Spathiphyllum sp. (Mauna Loa)
- Gerbera sp. (Gerbera Daisy)
- Fecus sp. (icus)

Popular Plants for Everyone:

Some of the most popular plants that are also easy to grow are Spider Plants, Japanese Bonsi, English Ivy, Dumbcane, Chinese Evergreen and Aloe Vera.

Q:  Which houseplants should be used in each room?  Does it matter?

A:  Yes, it does matter.  Some plants will need more moisture and/or sunlight than others.  Once you decide which room you'd like to decorate with a plant, take note of the atmosphere, moisture and sunlight availability within that particular room.  Then, use these features to find the perfect plant.  For example, a bathroom has more moisture than others as well as the kitchen.  However, the bathroom might or might not have an abundance of sunlight.  Therefore, you would take this into consideration when searching for the perfect plant for your bathroom.

Q:  How often should I water the house plants?

A:  Adhering to a set schedule of watering might or might not be sufficient for some plants.  Each plant absorbs water differently, therefore, testing the soil is a good way to tell when it's time for water.  Place your finger two inches down into the soil to feel if the soil is dry.  If it is dry, then water the plant.  Also, you can keep an eye on the leaves of the plant to see
if they're wilting.  You can "over" water plants.  If you sit a saucer underneath the pot to drain the water, empty the saucer when finished.  Don't allow it to sit with water in it.  This can cause your plant to receive too much water and die.

Q:  What type of pots should I use to contain my house plants?

A:  There are three common types of pots used for house plants.  These are plastic, unglazed clay and glazed ceramic. There are also unique wooden planters that are very decorative.  Which type of pot to use is a matter of preference, however, keep in mind that the type of pot you choose will affect how often you will need to water your plant.  Water evaporates quickly in unglazed clay pots, which would result in more frequent watering.  Glazed ceramic pots and plastic pots hold water longer, and you won't have to water as often.  The only other difference in the three is the price, obviously!

Q:  What's the best time of year to purchase house plants?

A:  House plants can be purchased any time of the year, but you do need to be cautious when selecting a plant.  Examine the foliage carefully for insects, damaged leaves or stems and also excess pruning.  The plant could have a disease, which resulted in the store owner pruning away the damaged areas.  Purchase healthy plants that have all of their foliage if possible.

Helpful Hint:  Each plant will have to adjust to the new environment in your home.  Be patient. The leaves might wilt for a while or even fall off temporarily as it adjusts.  Don't panic.  Care for the plant as usual and watch it for a couple of weeks.

Q:  How are my house plants affected by the temperature of my home?

A:  The temperature requirements vary from plant to plant.  An average of 65 to 75 degrees will be a suitable day temperature for many foliage plants.  During the winter, be very careful about where you place your plants during a freeze. Placing the plant in a drafty area or near a window could expose it to outdoor temperatures.

Q:  Will house plants last all year, or are they seasonal only?

A:  Most house plants will survive year round if proper care is given.  Flowering plants will lose their blooms just as if they were outdoors, but the blooms should reappear each season.  Some plants lose leaves during the winter also, so don't discard them, just put them in a safe place until next time.

Q:  Is the location of the house plant in each room important?

A:  Yes, the location is important.  Be mindful of drafts (such as from windows, doors and even heating and air vents).  Drafts can affect the temperature surrounding your plant tremendously. Also, you'll want to select locations based on sunlight availability.  Remember to read the care instructions for each particular plant.

Q:  How can I extend the life of my house plants?

A:  Water them as needed, but not too much. Carefully examine your plants often for signs of insect infestation or possible sickness.  Catching things early enough could save your plant's life!  Carefully follow each plants requirements for sunlight, temperature, humidity, watering, etc.

Q:  If planting seeds myself, what supplies will I need?

A:  Some of the most common supplies used for successful planting are seed starter kits, plant labels on a stick (to keep up with which plant is which), soil tester, peat strips, peat pots, potting soil (fertile), window greenhouse for multiple growing, handheld seed sower and lots of tender loving care.  You'll also need larger pots as the plants grow if you start out with small pots.

If you have a question that's not answered above, a great way to find answers is to ask your local "farm and garden" retailer.  The Internet is also a great place to research information about house plants.

House plants can bring delight to an ordinarily dull room, and can become a key item in your home decor.

Article written by Candice Pardue, web content and brochure writer. Go here to license an article like this for your website or publication.