Tips for plants in your house

Here are some tips for houseplants.

Exposure
Too much light — especially direct sunlight — will slightly burn a houseplant's leaves. Any plant that looks long and limp is searching for more light. Figure out the levels of light in each room at various times during the day. Then try different plants in different rooms and see how they react. Most houseplants will respond to any environment in a week or so, letting you know if a certain room is suitable.

Water
Over-watering is the most common cause of death for houseplants, so you should always inspect the plant before watering. Press your finger about an inch or two into the soil and if you feel dampness, the plant doesn't need water. If the foliage is drooping at all, water immediately. Water thoroughly until it drains through the bottom of the pot.

Temperature
Most houseplants enjoy the 70° F temperature of your home as much as you do. But keep them away from heating ducts and drafty windows because most can't withstand hot or cold air blowing on them — even for a brief period of time.

Humidity
You don't need to turn your living room into the Amazon Rainforest, but you do need to provide your houseplants with a decent amount of moist air. The bathroom and kitchen are the best places for higher humidity because of the running water and escaping steam. An inexpensive humidifier is also a good option for increasing the humidity in your home.

Before buying any houseplant, make sure you read the informational tag or ask a knowledgeable clerk to find out the treatment requirements of the plant.

Questions or comments: write or email eugene.dougherty@realliving.com