Starting A Houseplant Collection: What You Need To Know

Owning a houseplant collection is a thrilling experience you’d love in your home. They help purify indoor air, beautify the environment, ignite creativity and enhance mental health. Indoor plants can benefit your mental and emotional well-being, but only if you choose the right ones and care for them well. So, what are the things to check before setting up a successful in-home greenery? Here’s what to know before starting a houseplant collection.

You Need An Aesthetic Container For House Plants 

Growing plants for indoor decoration have limitless possibilities. Restrictions in creativity only arrive by constraints of time, money, and physical space. There are numerous plant containers for home decoration. When selecting plant pots, you may either follow the advice of an interior decorator or let your tastes serve as a guide. 

Ensure to drill a few holes in the bottom of the container for drainage. You can also place stones in containers without holes. The goal remains to improve the plant’s rigidity in water. When planting in a plastic pot with drainage holes, you must place a drainage dish within the copper pot. Any transparent material will do for a terrarium’s container. Simply uncovering the terrarium will solve the problem of excessive fogging caused by glass or plastic. Even though your terrarium is not covered, it still needs regular watering.

Check Soil Condition

Selecting the proper soil for your indoor plants is just as important as it is when planting outside. Most houseplants may get by with only a standard potting soil blend. Orchids and cacti, for example, require specialized soil purchased at any gardening supply store; these soils are clearly labelled so you can tell exactly what you’re getting. Orchids like growing on tree trunks with plenty of bark and minor soil, whereas cacti need better drainage. 

Because they can’t get their nutrients from the ground, indoor plants need high-quality potting soil much more than their outside counterparts. Peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite are the three main components of most potting mixes. Fertilizing your houseplants regularly is essential, mainly if you use soil that does not include fertilizer.

Be sure to give your new houseplant plenty of drainages when you repot it. Find a container with a drain and use a saucer to prevent water from damaging your floor or furnishings. You may also avoid root rot by placing a layer of rocks or stones in the bottom of the container to keep the roots above the water.

Sufficient Lighting Is Essential For Growth

Houseplants need bright light to thrive and grow beautifully; therefore, consider the lighting conditions. Start by reading the plant’s tag after purchase to assess the correct amount of light it needs. If the potted plant is a gift, find out from the giver what type of lighting they recommend. Plants grown inside can thrive in either bright or dim indirect light. In comparison, some depend only on natural sunlight to blossom.

It is best to always go for houseplants that adapt well to indirect sunlight, like Areca palm. Shop online for an Areca palm from reliable shops like The Stem. They’re an excellent plant business that shares happiness through indoor plants. 

The best source of plant lighting is naturally through your window. A window that faces south will let in the most light. Before setting up your houseplant collection, learn to differentiate the ones that depend on sunlight and others that don’t. Start by placing the indoor houseplants that rely on solid light near a south-facing window and giving it at least four hours of bright sunlight daily. Place your high-light houseplants no more than 6 feet away from a window for optimal growth.

Fertilizers Are Essential For Optimal Growth

A balanced fertilizer for houseplants is helpful to most plants, but it’s not required. After all, plants may generate their nourishment through photosynthesis. However, if you want to give them a boost, fertilize just throughout the spring through the autumn growing season.

Like watering, there is no hard and fast rule for determining how much fertilizer to use: Time of year, plant age and growth rate, and other factors all have a role. The optimum time to fertilize houseplants is during the spring and summer when they are actively growing. Because of the shorter days, most houseplants don’t require as much fertilizer in the fall and winter. Refer to the label to determine the correct amount of plant food.

Maintenance Is Key 

You’ve finally made it to the plant store and made your purchase. After providing the perfect lighting, another factor to consider is watering it properly. One of the most prevalent causes of houseplant death is overwatering, especially for succulents, which store water in their leaves and stems.