Basic Houseplants Needs
Willl Prevent Problems

Basic steps to help keep your plants attractive and healthy

You may have been puzzled about why some of your house plants did thrive, while others could not be coaxed to show any interest in life.

The solution is here, just tend to your houseplants needs and hopefully you will not have to worry about problems.

Here are a few tips that should give you some answers to prevent most problems. Better still, you may learn how to prevent them.

First off, it takes just a few basic steps and a minimum of attention to keep your plants attractive and healthy. But before we look at these steps, we have to know their origins.

Once you know that most of the foliage plants we call house plants are actually natives of tropical forests, you’ll understand why they flourish in a subdued light – as if filtered through leafy trees – rather than in the full sun that scorches tender leaves.

But many are extremely tolerant of near-desert conditions that prevail in our homes in winter.

None of the popular house plants we grow today has been completely tamed.

Old favorites remain slightly unpredictable. Yet, all are adaptable, and will respond to your care.

Basic house plants needs: you’ll find these remedies around your home:

==>plant food (to cure starvation);
==>lamps (to give an extra amount of light);
==>soft cloths to clean off plant pests).

The most stable plant occasionally acts up and starts to drop its leaves or attract bugs. If it receives a severe shock – too much sun or too much water – the response is quick... and the reason easy to find. But in most cases, reaction is slower.

What to look for, What to do:

Light

If there is too little light, for a short period of time, your plants may not show any ill effects. They will continue to produce new leaves by using their stored energy. But, if light is insufficient for a longer period, new growth will be spindly and the plant will finally starve. To cure, move first to brighter light, and later to a sunny window. You should make the shift by stages.

Plants in a home seldom get too much light. But rays of direct sun will burn their foliage if they have become accustomed to filtered light.

Water
If there is too little water, the plant will wilt. This seldom causes damage unless it occurs often. Then it causes flower droop, stunts growth, and then results in brown and dead leaf tips and edges.

Too much water is more common. The first symptom is often yellowing of foliage, then bottom leaf drop. New leaves may appear; but plant gets leggy.If you suspect too much water, tap the plant out of its pot and look at the roots. Root tips should be white. If they are brown, repot in a loose, spongy soil mixture, and provide better drainage.

Food
If there is too little food, the new leaves may be smaller than normal, and perhaps they will be lighter in color.

Growth will be slow and both stems and leaves will be smaller than normal.

To cure these conditions, adopt a regular feeding program for your plant.

If there is too much food, applied accidentally or by carelessness, the roots of the plants may be burned. The leaves will wilt even when the soil is moist. To cure, flush soil and extra plant food out of the roots with lots of water, and repot in fresh potting soil.

Insects
If plants have insects, you can cure them with chemicals you use to control similar pests outdoors. For convenience, the new aerosol sprays are excellent.

To prevent pests from getting a start, clean plants regularly by syringing them in the sink, or by cleaning their leaves with a soft, damp cloth. The water you use should be lukewarm.

Even with good care, pests sometimes get a start. When they do, isolate the infested plant until you have destroyed the insects or disease.

Diseases
If tips of the leaves turn brown, spray them daily with water. Low humidity frequently burns the thin-leaved plants.

Setting the pots into a tray of pebbles and water often raises surrounding humidity enough to prevent burning.

These few basics steps will help keep your plants attractive and healthy with a minimum of attention.

Enjoy