Growing conditions can vary around Australia. If you have any queries please contact your local Independent Garden Centre. See www.gardenreleaf.com.au
How To Have Superb Indoor Plants
Indoor Plants or House Plants have been immensely popular in recent years but were very popular in the 1970s and 1980s too. This just proves that fashions keep on changing.
The move to smaller houses and gardens have contributed to their popularity as of course has the move to apartment living for many.
Most are easy to grow providing that proper care is given. Treat them as a decoration to your house.
Importantly, do remember that plants assist your health and wellbeing.
See: 16 NASA Approved Plants to Improve Your Air Quality – Home Stratosphere
BRIEFLY:
* Depending on variety.
- Indoor or out? Warmth or not?
- When to water? Feeding? Repotting?
Where to Grow?
The majority enjoy light, fresh air and some filtered sunshine. In some cases, such as Cyclamen, they are best grown outside on a sheltered veranda and brought inside as decoration for days or weeks at a time.
Spathiphyllum and Aspidistra thrive in low light.
Some definitely prefer a heated room in Winter whereas others, Cyclamen again, don’t, so ask for advice.
When to Buy?
Anytime at all when you see a plant you can’t possibly resist. Supplies may be a little limited in Winter.
Soils ‘Aint’ Soils
If you decide that your plant needs repotting into a larger container, see below, then always buy the best quality Potting Mix available.
Repotting
In most cases, repotting is best during warmer weather. Remember that Indoor Plants don’t need a huge pot and usually don’t outgrow their pot very fast.
Types of Pots & Containers
You will find plastic, terracotta, ceramic, metal & more in many shapes, sizes and colours. Some are called cover pots and don’t have a drainage hole so be sure to check when buying. Cover pots let you mix & match your plants that you will buy in plastic pots and swap them around if you like. It is usually best to remove the plant from the cover pot when watering.
Feeding
Indoor Plants are best fed with a controlled release granular fertiliser and supplemented by half strength liquid fertiliser. Generally, they don’t grow as quickly as outdoor plants so don’t need as much feeding.
How Much Water?
This is the big question and hard to explain.
More Indoor Plants are killed by overwatering than any other cause so be careful. However, most need a good watering at any one time and then be allowed to be slightly dry before watering again. Don’t just add a half cup of water a day to keep the soil wet as that does not work.
But, if the plant gets too dry, then you will need to stand it on a saucer when you water it from the top and let it soak up excess from the saucer too. Remove water from the saucer after the plant is soaked and don’t leave water in the saucer particularly in cooler months.
Can You Trim Them?
Certainly, but it is not normally needed. If you wish to shape them or trim back an untidy shoot, then that’s fine.
Any Pests to Worry Them?
There are a few but if your plants are kept clean and growing then they are generally pest-free. Ask your Garden Centre if you have any concerns.
Many are suitable for hanging baskets
Some of the climbing varieties of Ivy, Pothos, Philodendron etc are ideal but ask your local Garden Centre.
The Varieties Available Include:
Spathiphyllum – easy to grow
Aspidistra – easy to grow but might be hard to find
Refer to the NASA link above for others.
There are really too many to list so do see for yourself.
There are Indoor Plants to fit in with any house. Group a number of them as a massed feature or grow some individually as a feature in your home. Garden Centres can help with your selection.
© Garden Centres Association Australia
Photos by courtesy of Bay Road Nursery, Sandringham, VIC; Gills Nursery, Cheltenham, VIC; Gardenworld, Braeside, VIC.
