Indoor plants and pot plants: what, where and care

	Indoor plants:
	what, where and care

Bright – if your house has big, sunny windows you will make just about any plant happy. Some of the more popular species to choose from are Spathiphyllum (Madonna Lily), Philodendrons, Devil's Ivy, Syngoniums, Dracaenas, Cordyline, Weeping figs, Boston ferns and African violets.
Low light – don't let a darker room stop you having indoor plants; some species that enjoy darker conditions are the Kentia palm, the Parlor palm, Rochford holly fern (related to the Boston fern), Sansevieria and Aspidistra (cast-iron plant).

Acclimatising – remember that once you bring your plant home, it may need time to adjust to its new conditions, including the dry air of indoor heating. If it hasn't adjusted after two weeks, try moving it to a new position.
Humidity – most indoor plants originally came from rainforest conditions. They have adapted to our drier atmosphere but plants do like it if you place shallow trays of water beside them, or place the pots inside larger vessels and fill the space between the two with peat moss. Alternatively you can place single pots on a tray of stones or gravel and then pour water into the gravel, making sure it does not reach the base of the pots.
Child safety – make sure you don't have any hanging plants or plants on top of furniture that your child might be able to reach. Dangling vines can be pulled and bring down the whole pot; potted plants on tables could fall if your child shakes the table. Also check which plants are poisonous and keep them out of reach – or get rid of them.

Watering – whatever you do, don't over water! If your plant has brown spots on its leaves, you are over watering. The amount of water required depends on the conditions and what the plant is doing – if it is growing it needs more. A good way to test if it needs water is to poke your finger down into the potting mix, if this is dry your plant needs water, if it is damp under the surface layer, it doesn't. A good water once or twice a week is better than a little bit every day. Don't leave a lot of water standing in the saucer, it will rot the roots.
Fertilising – too little is better than too much. A slow release fertiliser is the best, just add it once a year and forget about it. If you think your plant could do with a boost, you can add a little liquid fertiliser during the growing season.
Cleaning – plants don't like to be covered in dust. You can use a wet sponge to clean off leaves, or why not take them outside on a rainy day and let them get a nice water, a breath of fresh air and a clean all in one?
Fresh air – on a warm day, open the windows and let the fresh air give your pot plant a boost. But don't place them in a permanent draft or they will not grow well.
Repotting – most plants need repotting the day you buy them. When you choose a pot, make it one size bigger than the last one; pot plants don't generally grow very quickly. Add a slow release fertiliser to your quality potting mix and water in well.

Indoor plants: