Indoor Plant Care - How to Houseplant Care

Orchids - Tropical Houseplants and their Care Orchid Flowers Orchids are beautiful  and unique flowering plants that you can keep in your home. Often considered difficult to care for, there are varieties that can be grown in the home. They do require good light , some humidity and proper temperatures but most anyone can keep one of these gorgeous tropical house plants with a little care, proper watering and some patience. There are thousands of types of Orchids  but only a few can be kept successfully in the average home. These include Phalaenopsis , Cattleya, Cymbidium and  Dendrobium orchids . You will find one or more of these types of Orchid available at most stores that sell indoor plants.  Phalaenopsis Orchids , or Moth Orchids, are the type generally found in local stores that do not specialize in plants and flowers, such as your neighborhood grocery store. That is because they are one of the easiest to care for Orchids. Read more about Orchids an...

Aglaonema Firecracker Top Ten Easy Care Houseplants  As an interior landscape technician  for more than 20 years, I have learned which indoor tropical plants are the best houseplants. When you work in the interior plant care industry, plant care is what you do all day and everyday. Dealing with plants that are in less than optimal growing conditions has become second nature. You also learn which plants are most adaptable and durable under adverse growing conditions. These are some of the most commonly used plants in the interior landscape industry and for good reason. Check links for more specific plantcare information. Here is my list of  top-ten best indoor houseplants .

Aglaonema Emerald Beauty - Question from Linda Aglaonema Emerald Beauty What could be wrong with my # aglaonema emerald beauty #plant if some of the leaves have started turning yellow. My plant is also a lot less full than it used to be. I am not sure how to prune it. Do I prune the leaves from the top to help the bottom get full again. Do I need to use new soil? Here are some photos of my plant. I have had it for at least 5 years. It used to be much fuller and healthier. My watering has been pretty consistent. It has been in a bay window which faces a covered patio. Aglaonema Emerald Beauty - Houseplant Answer Thanks for the pix. This is assuming it is not a problem from too much water... You can , and should , cut back a stalk or two of an aglaonema every once in a while. I would cut back the most bare, or the tallest and (or) anything that seems to be falling over. Just cut the stalk, about 2-3 inches above the soil level. You can root the cut stalk(s) in wate...

Question from Kate... Pothos Marble Queen  I'm wondering if there is any way to revive a pothos plant? I received it in beautiful, healthy condition - about 6 vines? ranging from 1-3ft long. I promptly left it in my un-garaged car for 3 days in 30-50 degree temps. I remembered it, brought it inside, watered it but many of the leaves & vine stems are now dark green & limp - not completely wilted, but getting there. I feel awful and am hoping it can be resurrected. Any advice will be very much appreciated, as is this forum -thank you! Answer...   Hi Kate, The best advice I can offer would be to cut back the vines and hope there was no root damage. If the roots are okay the plant should regrow. The damaged foliage will not recover and needs to be removed, in any case. I know many people balk at cutting their plants back. In my experience, the plants that I keep pruned on a regular basis are also the best looking plants. Pruning promotes new growth and ne...

Creative Container Ideas It can be difficult to find that perfect container for your #indoor plants and even your #outdoor #plants. Some of us like to use the old standards such as terracotta, ceramic and plastic or even those old oak barrel containers. However, sometimes it is fun to be really creative . I have seen plant enthusiasts use an old porcelain toilet or tub to display their pretty plants and flowers in the front yard. Recycling old items is a great way to avoid waste and creatively contain your houseplants and exterior plants. Just be aware of concerns with water leakage. You may need to line some items to avoid drips, leaks and water damage. Here are some cute and creative ideas for planting that you may not have thought about before. Take a look at these interesting ideas and pictures for planting succulents and cactus from LagunaDirt.com ... One of the favorite succulents for use as an indoor houseplant is the Sanseveiria  or Snake Plant . Come read more a...

It is just about a week since the first official day of  Suzy's www.WorthingCourtBlog.com spring but, as usual, the weather tends to be quite fickle during March and April. It still feels  like winter in so many places. Check out this blog with some cute ideas for bringing some spring into your indoor space. Even when it is still a little chilly outside,  you can enjoy your lovely indoor plants. Thanks for the great blog Suzy! If you need some help with your houseplants or are trying to find one that is just right for a certain spot in your home, come on over to PlantAndFlowerInfo.com for #houseplant ideas that can help brighten up your indoors and for some great houseplant care help and advice. Have a great Spring!

The #Bellagio Hotel in #Las #Vegas is famous for its fountains, but did you know they also have a conservatory and #botanical #gardens? There are many great sights to see in Las Vegas, so if you're visiting in Las Vegas, Nevada soon, consider putting the inside of Th e Bellagio on your "places to see" list.  http://www.bellagio.com/attractions/botanical-garden.aspx Then, once you get home, head on over to  www.PlantAndFlowerInfo.com  to pick out houseplants for your own indoor gardens.

Do you love  #houseplants  but you're not really sure how to place them in your home? Take a peek at this blog for some interesting ideas for different containers and interesting placement ideas. http://www.designsponge.com/2013/04/sneak-peek-best-of-indoor-plants.html  Then come take a look at  www.PlantAndFlowerInfo.com  for help in deciding which plants you are going to use...

Houseplants and Care, Dracaena Janet Craig Dracaena Houseplant A member of the Dracaena family, Janet Craig, or Corn Plant, is one of the more common Dracaena found in homes and interiorscapes. Dracaena Janet Craig is grown in a variety of forms including the tip, bush and cane. This glossy, dark green plant can be anywhere from one foot tall to twenty feet tall, though it is uncommon to find them at that height except in interior landscapes or the tropical jungle. If you are trying to find a nice looking houseplant that will tolerate lower light, the Dracaena Janet Craig...read more about this great indoor plant

House Cat, Wheat Grass Houseplants, Cats and Dogs I have recently posted some information from the ASPCA about # houseplant s that may or may not be toxic to your beloved #pets. Here is that link again.  ASPCA list of toxic and non-toxic plants, including houseplants. I know that all of my pets like to eat grass. If they can't get to grass, they will eat your houseplants, if they can get close enough to them. That can make your plants look really bad (if there is anything left to look bad ;}) and some of these plants may be harmful to your pets, so it is best to keep them out of reach. You can also grow grass specifically for your pets. This is great when you keep them indoors. One thing I have found is you need to plant your "pet" grass in a fairly heavy pot or they may knock it over and damage the plant (before they get a chance to nibble on it). Here is a link for more information on  growing wheat grass for your pets, both cats and dogs. For information and ...

Grandfather Mountain NC These are a couple of photographs I took of Trillium flowers. The first one to the right was growing on the East coast, near Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. From what I have read, this particular Trillium is fairly rare and Grandfather Mountain is one of the few places that it grows. That may or may not be so. Any information about Trilliums? The next photo of what I assume is a Trillium was taken in the forests of Oregon. I happened upon it as I was taking a little hike with the dogs and spotted it on the side of the trail. There were only a few but they are kind of pretty. Oregon forest I just thought I would post these, even though my website is about the care of indoor houseplants. Any one out there an expert on Trilliums or have any information to offer about them? Houseplant care and information available here . If you need some advice, I would be happy to help out. Hope everyone's new year is going great.

Fittonia Plant If you walk into your neighborhood greenhouse or house plant retailer and you see a Fittonia plant , you will want to have it in your collection of indoor plants. It is an attractive, creeping plant with either red, pink or white veins throughout the leaf and hairy stems. Mosaic Plant, Nerve Plant or Painted Net Leaf are some other common names for Fittonia . The larger leaf varieties can be difficult to grow and require a warm, humid environment. The dwarf variety, Fittonia argyroneura nana, is less demanding and may have a better chance at surviving the average household conditions. Houseplant questions or problem? Read more about Fittonia and houseplants and their care...

Arboricola is a common houseplant and is sometimes referred to as an 'Umbrella Plant'. The Schefflera Arboricola and Amate are the two types most commonly used as interior houseplants. They are most often grown in a bush form but sometimes can be found in a standard or braided trunk form. Pictured to the right is the Schefflera Arboricola. Arboricola is also known as Dwarf Umbrella tree or Parasol Plant. In some plant information it is named as Heptapleurum arboricola but it is usually sold as Schefflera arboricola. Schefflera is best in bright, indirect light but can be acclimated to medium light placements. Very low light is not recommended. Read more about Schefflera Arboricola plants and their care...

Birds Nest Fern Ferns have been popular houseplants for centuries even though some of them can be difficult to maintain in normal household conditions. There are many varieties from which to choose. Most ferns will do well in bright indirect light and require a regular schedule of watering and care. They will need more attention than most houseplants. One of the easiest ferns to care for as a houseplant is the Birds Nest Fern or Asplenium Nidus. It is more likely to let you get away with a few mistakes than many other ferns. An added attraction is the leaflets that often fall from other ferns, creating quite a mess, are not present on Birds Nest Fern. A great looking, easy care fern that doesn't make a mess on the floor! You can't beat that. Read more about Birds Nest Fern houseplants and their care... 

Healthy Houseplant If you want your houseplants looking great, you need to know that the available light and how you water your  indoor plants relative to that lighting is more important than any other factor. Forget the fertilizers , the re-potting, pinching and pruning and concentrate on learning how to water your plants properly . This alone, if done right, will make more difference than anything else you can do for your houseplants. Watering indoor plants correctly can be tricky. Improper watering is the main cause of death with indoor plants. Usually this would be from over-watering but if you are not caring for your plants on a regular schedule, under-watering can be a problem. Advice that give you watering intervals, amount of water, etc. are really not reliable. Having cared for thousands of plants as a Plant Lady, I know that the only way to determine if a plant needs water is to check the moisture level in the soil at regular intervals. Every plant is differ...

Houseplant Eater! Meow! Being an animal lover as well as a plant lover, as many people are, I thought it would be helpful to add this link for those with pets.  The ASPCA list of toxic and non-toxic plants ...I also put a link to the list on the homepage of my website  Plant And Flower Info.com  for future reference, if needed. A few emails have come to me with questions about pets and pets that eat houseplants. I have had many animals and plants, all in the same house, for many years and have not had too many problems. The houseplants usually seem to be the worse off if any close encounters do happen. They often end up on the floor with broken leaves and dirt everywhere! The cat somewhere nearby, licking his paw and giving me that, ' You need to tell your plants to quit jumping off the windowsill' look! I always make my best effort to keep houseplants out of the reach of pets. That can be difficult, especially with cats, as they seem to be able to get just about...

Healthy Houseplant When caring for your indoor potted plants it is helpful to have a basic knowledge of plant functions. This can aid in determining what is needed to help keep your houseplants green, growing and gorgeous. The root system is an important part, really the most important part, of the functioning of your indoor houseplants. Unlike an exterior landscape plant, your potted plants rely on you to provide the correct amount of water to the root system. The leaves, stems and flowers are the most obvious parts of a plant. They are above the soil level and it is what we see when we look at a plant. I have been in the interior plant care industry for a few decades and have cared for and maintained thousands of interior plants in almost any kind of environment that you can imagine and I know that the most important part of any plant is the root system. The way that your plant looks above ground is determined by the health of the root system, the part of a plant that...

Palm - Rhapis excelsa Palms make great indoor plants and they bring the essence of the tropics to any interior decor, adding a lush, green feel to the environment. Bamboo Palms, Neanthe Bella and Areca Palms are some of the more often used interior palms. The Parlour Palm, or Neanthe Bella Palm, has been used an an indoor plant for centuries and is quite adaptable to the conditions in the home. Most palms are easy to care for once they have acclimated to the home environment and should make a fantastic addition to your houseplant collection. Different palms have different growth habits and leaf types but one thing that is true of all palms is that the growth point is at the tip of each stem.  Read more about indoor palm plants and their care...

Purple Orchids Submit Photos of Tropical Plants and Flowers First of all, Happy New Year to everyone... I have recently posted a  pictures of Orchids  page to my website. I would love to have pictures that others have taken to add to the gallery. If any readers have some favorite Orchid pictures or even houseplant pictures that they would allow me to post to my  plant pictures page , I would love to have them. You can email information and upload photos by visiting my website  www.PlantAndFlowerInfo.com  and going to the contact page. Please note that pictures must be under a certain size or they will not upload. Information about your plants type, variety, etc. will help in adding a page and picture description. And your name, website link information if you would like that to be included. I hope to see some great Orchid and houseplant photographs... A great way to add a touch of color to your home is to use elegant and beautiful Orchids. Phalaen...

New Marginata A Favorite Houseplant, Dracaena Marginata Dracaena Marginata is one of my favorite houseplants. That might be because it is one of the first large indoor plants that I ever owned. I was the Plant Lady at the huge Xerox Research Center in Palo Alto, California. They had a 6 foot tall Dracaena Marginata in lower light that was getting a little leggy and it was decided with my contact person, Gary, that it would be replaced with a brand new plant. He did not want to keep the old plant and told me that if I wanted it, I should take it home. That is exactly what I did!  The Marginata did quite well at my house, placed next to a large sliding glass door in bright light. Ever since that time, Marginata has been one of my favorite houseplants. They are really easy to care for once you know how. And they are very beautiful and graceful plants when they are grown in the home. You can let them grow large or easily keep them at the size you want them. Read more a...