Potted plants, or houseplants, are where many of us get our first taste of gardening. Whether it was grandmother's African violets or mom's prized philodendron vine, somewhere along the way we realized there was something great about having plants around the house. In cold climates, potted plants bring color and beauty to the indoors when cold temperatures and wintry weather have us confined.
One of the first considerations for selecting and growing houseplants is how much light they'll receive where you want them to grow. Most houseplants need bright, but indirect light, like that of a bright east-facing window. South and west windows work well, too, as long as the intense rays of the sun don?t hit a plant?s leaves directly, especially in the summer. Flowering plants, like the popular African violet, might require slightly brighter light than plants like ferns or ivy that are grown just for the leaves. Flowers take more energy, and energy comes from more light.
Watering is the most important and often most abused requirement for healthy potted plants. Erring on the dry side is actually better than waterlogging them so their roots can't breathe. Food is also important. Remember that these plants have their roots confined to a pot, so their roots can't go exploring in the surrounding soil for nutrients. That's up to you. Generally speaking, a monthly feeding of liquid houseplant food, such as Miracle-Gro® Pour & Feed Liquid Plant Food, or other water-soluble fertilizer, such as Miracle-Gro® Watering Can Singles All Purpose Water Soluble Plant Food, will lead to happy, healthy, long-lived plants that bring the indoors to life.
