Indoor Plant Care
To ensure that your indoor plants are always healthy and in the best condition, there are many things such as containers, air, light, temperature, watering, soil and feeding that you need to take good care of:
Containers
Containers or pots that made of glazed china or of plastic materials are good in a room with dry air as they are able to prevent evaporation through the sides. Regardless, you need to make sure that there is a hole at the bottom so that excess water can be drained away as no plants will grow well if their roots are in sour or stagnant soil.
Since the pot you use will have a drainage hole, you need to make sure that the surface on which the pot will stand must be protected. You can do this easily by standing the pot in a saucer but care must be taken that the drainage hole is not closed, and that the water which runs through is not left so that it is in contact with the bottom of the pot. The correct way to do this is to have a low stand or put in a few pebbles so that the base of the pot is always above the level of the water.
Air
While most indoor plants need a moist atmosphere to survive, indoor plants from hot dry countries can actually do quite well in a room with dry air. Fresh air is desirable for healthy growth but is not always easy to provide. In good weather it is not difficult to open windows, at least for some period each day, but when it is cold and frosty outside, it is more difficult. That's why certain plants can only be kept indoor for a limited periods.
Light
No green plant including indoor plants can grow entirely in the dark. With that said, the amount of light required depends on the type of plant and the natural environment from which it has come. For example, ferns can be found grown in woods so you can place them in parts of a room which are not well lighted. Similarly, plants that require ample amount of lights are best placed at near the window sill.
Spraying
Spraying is needed by some plants which normally live in moist air. When spraying indoor plants, make sure that the water you're using is about the same temperature as the room in which the plants are growing. When spraying, make sure that you avoid getting water on the flowers as this is liable to damage them.
Soil
If your indoor plants are starting to look sick or if you notice that their roots are getting cramped, then it's time that you repot them into a larger pot with fresh soil. Make sure that the new pot is clean and it has a drainage hole at the bottom over which a good layer of broken crocks must be placed. Also make sure that the roots of the plant are carefully freed from the old soil and spread them out nicely before you add in the fresh soil gradually and evenly all round.
Feeding
Since indoor plants are confined to their pots, you need to give to feed them some fertilizers to give them the necessary nourishments for better growth. Make sure that you read the instructions carefully so that you do not accidentally overdose yours plants and cause them to suffer.