Plants that are adapted to grow indoors are known as houseplants or indoor plants. It is most common to grow tropical plants from warm, frost-free regions of the world within portable containers in colder climates. So, most houseplants come from tropical or near-tropical regions. The species that are best suited to living indoors are those that adapt to the rather warm, dry conditions found in indoor environments. Although many plants can be successfully grown indoors, there are a few that are generally considered to be the best houseplants due to their easy care and attractiveness. There are certain plant health hacks also that will help you to save your indoor plants easily.
The benefits of indoor plants
The Journal of Physiological Anthropology published a study that found that having plants in your office or home can make you feel more comfortable, relaxed, and natural. Researchers observed that participants' stress levels decreased when they were engaged in indoor gardening. While using a computer, the study participants had higher blood pressure and heart rate, even though they were well-versed in the use of computers. The researchers discovered that working with plants relieved physiological and psychological stress. Besides absorbing carbon dioxide, indoor plants also keep oxygen flowing, purify the air by removing toxins, ease tension, lower tension, and create a relaxed and happy atmosphere, all of which enable you to work better through improved concentration, heightened attention, enhanced creativity, and improved productivity. Plants purify and filter the air indoors, ultimately promoting a happier and healthier working environment.
Care and maintenance of indoor plants
1. Providing Consistent Water to Your Plants
Overwatering or too much moisture can damage the roots of your plants and prevent them from growing. It is also possible to kill your plant if you overwater it. If the leaves of the plant are lush and thick, they need more water than if the leaves are waxy or leathery. Each indoor plant has its own preferred frequency. It is best to do your research on each type of plant first, and then determine how often it should be watered by following recommendations provided by that type. The soil will begin to mold or there will be standing water at the bottom of the container if you have overwatered the plant. Plants that have lighter soil or cracks should be watered. The succulent family requires dry periods between waterings.
Make sure there is no standing water in the pot or under the pot, so that the plant does not sit in it. Plants can die from standing water.
2. Choose a pot that drains well
Drainage is very important in the pot where you keep your plant because over or underwatering your plant can cause it harm or death. Check for drainage holes on the bottom of the pot. Keep in mind that water will soak up much less from plastic, metal, and glass than from ceramics or clay.
3. Choose an area in your home that receives sufficient sunlight
Photosynthesis occurs only when plants receive sunlight. Lighting intensity, duration, and quality have a profound effect on plant growth. Do not place the plant directly in the sun. Rather than placing them in a poorly lit room, give them plenty of indirect light. You can substitute fluorescent bulbs for sunlight in some cases. Provide 12-16 hours of light per day for flowering plants. Provide 14-16 hours of light per day for foliage plants.
4. Keep your plants from being moved around too much
It is best not to move plants around too often because they acclimate quite slowly to their surroundings. This also involves putting it in a place where the temperature would drastically change. Plants will be negatively affected if they move suddenly from a dark area to a bright one. Move the plant for one hour a day to the new location if you want it to move. After it has fully adjusted to the new environment, leave it there for a longer period of time.
5. Add a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10 to your pot
A balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer is ideal for most houseplants. Fertilizers and potting soils provide the essential nutrients that plants need to grow. A plant that doesn't receive new nutrients or is not repotted will eventually die due to lack of care. Number one denotes nitrogen, number two denotes phosphorus, and number three denotes potassium.
6. Prune your plants regularly
There are certain plants whose roots need to be pruned at different intervals, so it's important to research how often you should prune your plant. When plants aren't pruned, they can grow out of control, and their roots can outgrow their pots. Pruning your plants regularly will keep them healthy, and will prevent you from having to replant them. Trim dead branches or stems to keep bugs away. To encourage the growth of a fuller, more robust plant, cut at a 45° angle above the leaf node.
7. Your houseplant should not be tipped over with tea or coffee
If you place coffee or tea in your indoor potted plant, flies will be attracted and your plant will be harmed. The sugars in these beverages also make them an ideal habitat for insects. There are some who claim that adding coffee grounds to plants is beneficial, but doing so on plants whose acid tolerance is low can actually cause them harm.
To get the best indoor plants to grow in your home, check out Urja Seeds for the best indoor plants for health.
FAQs
Q1: What is the average lifespan of indoor plants?
Ans: Indoor plants last an average of two to five years. A plant stops thriving after a certain period of time, so it's best to invest in a new one.
Q2: When indoor plants die, what are the most common causes?
Ans: The following are some of the most common reasons why indoor plants die:
- Watering too much or too little
- Lack of or too much light
- Ignorance
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