Ways to keep indoor plants healthy

1. Ways to keep indoor plants healthy

2. If you are about to buy indoor plants online, choose those that will thrive on the amount of sunlight your house can provide from a good nursery like the Mumbai-based Root Bridges which supports online purchases too. Below are some of the tips for maintaining healthy indoor plants.

3. Place appropriately – The plant must not show signs of infestation or disease before bringing it indoors as an infested plant can infect other plants. It should be isolated for a week or two and then leaves inspected again and do not put it near your other plants until all infestation is eliminated. Plants should not be placed in trouble spots like in between or behind curtains, near a source of draft, or near radiators, televisions, and air conditioning ducts.

4. Use good-quality potting soil - Good potting soil (never use regular garden soil in containers) promotes healthy roots by providing a balance of proper aeration, nutrition and moisture-holding capability. Root bridges, a Mumbai-based provider of indoor plants, carries an excellent selection of packaged potting soils. Use sterile soil to provide best nutrients. It also helps minimise soil-borne diseases.

5. Fertilise - Indoor plants also need to be regularly fertilised by a good fertiliser which contains a balanced formula of vitamins and amino acids. To avoid pest problems, it also pays to use a pest control spray to prevent mites, earwigs, beetles and white flies from destroying your plants. Once a plant gets infected, the infection can spread quickly to other plants near it which requires pest control. The frequent watering required by most houseplants makes them devoid of nutrients which must be replaced by regular fertilization. Additionally, insects such as Aphids, Scale and Whiteflies, can be problematic for indoor plats which should be regularly inspected for.

6. Wash the Leaves-Wash the plant leaves several times a year to avoid any grime and dust from sticking and spoiling their beauty. Do not use a feather duster to clean a house plant because it can transfect insect eggs from other plants. Use a hand sprayer and soft cloth to sprinkle water and wipe the dust and grime off the leaves. Just like people, clogged pores are not healthy for plants as it makes it difficult for them to “breathe” or respirate.

7. Water appropriately – Indoor plants need frequent and thorough watering. Wet the entire root ball, and let excess water run out the bottom of the pot. Don't leave standing water in the catch-tray for more than a day or two as it can promote root diseases. Allow the soil to partially dry before watering again. To check soil moisture, stick your finger into the top 2 inches of soil. If it is dry, it's probably time to water. You can also tell how dry a plant is by lifting the pot. It will be heavy after watering, lighter as it dries out. To prevent salts from building up in the soil, water once every month or two. This is most easily done by placing the plant in a sink or taking it outdoors.

8. Increase humidity and prevent drafts. Keep plants away from heater vents, doorways and drafty windows. Increase humidity by setting plants on trays layered with small pebbles and filled with water. Or, place them in naturally humid areas like kitchens or bathrooms if there is adequate light. Misting plants increases humidity only temporarily and is of little help, plus it can increase chances for foliage diseases.

9. Match light with requirement - Houseplants vary in their light requirements. Some prefer the strong light found next to a south-facing window. Others thrive in the soft morning light of an east-facing window. Distance from the window will affect light intensity and quality. And to make matters more complicated, light intensity and patterns vary with the seasons. All houseplants do best with some light from outdoors. Too much light usually turns the foliage dull green to yellowish, and the leaves may also wilt even if the plant has plenty of water. If plants are not getting enough light, they will get leggy and less compact.