House Plant Care
15th January 2005

Christmas is a traditional time for giving and receiving indoor pot plants. Poinsettias, pot chrysanthemums, orchids, cyclamen, azaleas and a host of other common and unusual plants take up residence.

Some of them die before their time, often the result of over watering, cold draughts, extremes of temperature or neglect.

One of the difficulties for every gardener is when to water and how much to give. There is no one piece of advice to suit all plants however, as a general rule, plants require less water in winter when growth slows down and there is less daylight. Allowing the surface of the compost to become dry before applying more water is a common practice.

When you get to know your plants you can tell if they need water by the weight of the pot and the compost. Soilless composts dry out more quickly than those containing some soil. Never allow the compost to dry out to the stage where it contracts away from the pot edge .Any water applied will run straight through at the sides without wetting the compost. To rewet, plunge the plant, in its pot, into a bucket if water and leave it until all bubbling has ceased. Allow the excess water to drain off.

Over watering is often the result of standing the pot in a saucer that retains the water keeping the compost wet. Check that the drainage holes in the base of the container are not blocked.

House plants with hairy leaves such as African violets (Saintpaulia) and begonia rex varieties must be watered through the base of the pot. Water splashed on the leaves will cause the tiny hairs on the surface to die leaving unsightly marks.

Plants may require different composts. Orchids need a very free draining compost with a high organic content while cacti prefer a well drained mixture with additional grit and coarse sand.

Low levels of daylight in winter can cause problems so position your plants close to a South facing window.

Extremes of temperature will cause plants to suffer. Most rooms tend to be hot during the day and evening becoming cold during the night. Where the room temperature difference is more than 10 degrees F. house plants should be relocated.

Less feeding is necessary in winter. Follow the directions on the plant label and if in doubt apply nutrients at half strength or not at all until growth starts.
Wait until spring before repotting.

Remove dead flowers and leaves as they appear especially with cyclamens.

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