Indoor cultivation of green plants is a good choice for newly decorated houses, which can not only purify the air but also be used as decorations. However, planting indoor also have a disadvantage－there is not enough sunlight, and plants cannot thrive without enough photosynthesis. If the growth of plants can meet the following requirements, any plants can be maintained well indoors.
Six Key Considerations for Indoor Planting:
Pots Soil Water Temperature and Light Ventilation Maintenance
Pots
Before planting indoors, choosing a suitable pot is very important, which can not only help your plants grow better, but also decorate the room for you. The selection of pots is diverse. For large plants, it is necessary to choose a large pot, so as not to limit the growth space of them. For small plants, it is not suggested to choose a large pot, since it will not show the shape of your plants and there will be too much soil to affect the root respiration. Besides, we should also consider the material of pots, such as ceramic pots, plastic pots, tile pots and wooden pots. If your plants like wet soil, you can choose a ceramic pot or a plastic pot with poor drainage, while for plants that like dry soil, you can choose a pot with good drainage and water permeability, such as tile pots. Choosing the suitable pot according to the plants you are planting.
Types
Advantage
Disadvantage
Ceramic pots
Good appearanceDecoration
Poor air permeabilityPoor drainage
Plastic pots
ColorfulConvenientWide use
Poor drainage
Tile pots
Good air permeabilityGood drainage
Fast soil moisture loss
Wooden pots
Good air permeability
Produce bacteriaPoor corrosion resistance
Soil
The soil for planting is the key if you want to keep the plants well and flourish. The roots of indoor plants are limited in pots, and people have high requirements for the physical and chemical properties of potting soil. So more attention should be paid to the selection of soil.
1. The soil should be loose, with good drainage and air permeability, meeting the needs of root respiration.
2. Sufficient nutrients, rich in humus and good fertilizer, continuously supply nutrition for plant growth and development.
3. The PH value should meet the requirements of plant growth. If the soil is planted with acid-loving plants, the PH value should be controlled at 5.0-6.5.
4. The soil should not contain harmful substances such as harmful microorganisms or living organisms.
You need to improve or replace the soil if it doesn’t meet the quality requirements for your plants.
For instance, when choosing suitable soil for succulents, the primary consideration should be good ventilation, good drainage and soft texture. Humidity is not suitable for this kind of plant to grow. Because the original environment of succulent is arid, and some of them are in desert areas. The proportion of particles in the soil must be increased to at least 60%, the soil will become dry in time after watering, and the roots of succulents will not rot so that long-term soil moisture. For soil requirements for growing succulent plants, there are several preparation tricks: ① The proportion of particles can be increased by mixing the pine needle soil with the particles of river sand in the ratio of 1:1. ② Mix garden soil, coconut bran, rotten leaf soil and coarse sand in the ratio of 1:1:1:1, which is more suitable for those with fewer leaves. ③ For general succulent plants, garden soil, coconut bran, rotten leaf soil and perlite can be prepared in the same proportion.
Water
In general, 80% of indoor plants die because of excessive watering. If the leaves of your plants turn yellow or start to fall, please give it a break. On the contrary, if the soil in the pot dries out, the flower buds fall off, and the leaves of your plants are exposed, then your plants are thirsty. The easiest way to check is to pick up the pot. If it feels very light and the soil is completely dry, you should water it without hesitation. For example, if you grow flowers indoors, sufficient water is required throughout the growth and mature period. When flowers open, the water should not be too much, which is conducive to the normal opening of flowers. Of course, the growth characteristics of various plants are different.
Aquatic Plant
lotus, water lily, water hyacinth
Wet Plant
ornamental fern, calla lily, saxifrage
Mesophytes
hibiscus, pomegranate, jasmine
Semi-drought-tolerant plant
camellia, rhododendron, geranium
Drought-tolerant plant
tiger tail orchid, cactus,agave, pearl palm
Temperature and Light
Temperature is another important factor for the growth of plants, but various plants have different requirements for temperature due to the different climate of their origins. If the temperature is higher than the maximum or lower than the minimum, the growth of plants will be impaired, or the plants will even die. Therefore, before you plant, you must know the suitable temperature for your plants growth first. For example, rose, honeysuckle and lilac, which are native to the temperate zone and sub-frigid zone, can generally tolerate low temperatures of around -20℃; Chrysanthemums, plum blossoms and magnolias, which are native to the temperate zone and warm temperate zone, can generally endure the low temperature of -5℃. Cactus, helium and rubber trees are native to tropical and subtropical zone, so they need to be maintained at 15-18℃. Also, Plants have to grow, develop, blossom and bear fruit under sufficient light, but indoor plants often fail to grow normally because there is not enough sunlight. Nowadays, it is more and more popular to use grow lights instead of sunlight to cultivate plants with a comfortable growth environment at home. Different kinds of plants have different requirements for light intensity and area. Base on your plants and choose the right plant grow light.
Ventilation
Many people think that putting plants indoors can absorb carbon dioxide and purify the air. That is kind of true. However, if your plants grow in a closed space, they will carry out anaerobic respiration and release carbon dioxide, which is harmful to human body. And the plant will also be vulnerable to the invasion of bacteria. In addition, your plants need to stay away from air conditioners, air purifiers or other electrical applications, so as to avoid discomfort caused by obvious environmental changes. Therefore, if you plant indoors, you should open windows more at preferable time. You can open at 9:00 and 11:00 in the morning or 2:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon, during these two periods, the temperature has risen and the harmful gases deposited at the bottom of the atmosphere have dispersed. Or you can move plants near the windows or balcony for ventilation. Otherwise, your plants are easy to get sick.
Maintenance
If you want your plants to live longer, careful maintenance is essential. For potted plants, soil fertility can only last for about one year. If the root system withers or grows too vigorously, it is necessary to trim the root system to prevent damage of the plant. If it is a slow-growing plant, it can maintain for two or three years without changing pots. If there is dust on the leaves, it will affect the photosynthesis of your plants. So you need to wipe the leaves with a sponge or moist soft cloth and spray your plants with water. If you see some black, brown and red spots on your plants, it is likely to be infected with fungal diseases. You need to cut off the diseased leaves and branches in time, remove the residual leaves in the pot, and then spry chlorothalonil or methylthiophanate solution every 5-7 days. If insects are found on plants, you have to spray insecticides in time. Also, the pruning of your plants every week is very important, trimming your plants in your house can promote a fuller and denser growth structure of plants.
How to Grow Plants Indoors
Indoor cultivation of green plants is a good choice for newly decorated houses, which can not only purify the air but also be used as decorations. However, planting indoor also have a disadvantage－there is not enough sunlight, and plants cannot thrive without enough photosynthesis. If the growth of plants can meet the following requirements, any plants can be maintained well indoors.
Six Key Considerations for Indoor Planting:
Pots
Soil
Water
Temperature and Light
Ventilation
Maintenance
Pots
Before planting indoors, choosing a suitable pot is very important, which can not only help your plants grow better, but also decorate the room for you. The selection of pots is diverse. For large plants, it is necessary to choose a large pot, so as not to limit the growth space of them. For small plants, it is not suggested to choose a large pot, since it will not show the shape of your plants and there will be too much soil to affect the root respiration. Besides, we should also consider the material of pots, such as ceramic pots, plastic pots, tile pots and wooden pots. If your plants like wet soil, you can choose a ceramic pot or a plastic pot with poor drainage, while for plants that like dry soil, you can choose a pot with good drainage and water permeability, such as tile pots. Choosing the suitable pot according to the plants you are planting.
Soil
The soil for planting is the key if you want to keep the plants well and flourish. The roots of indoor plants are limited in pots, and people have high requirements for the physical and chemical properties of potting soil. So more attention should be paid to the selection of soil.
1. The soil should be loose, with good drainage and air permeability, meeting the needs of root respiration.
2. Sufficient nutrients, rich in humus and good fertilizer, continuously supply nutrition for plant growth and development.
3. The PH value should meet the requirements of plant growth. If the soil is planted with acid-loving plants, the PH value should be controlled at 5.0-6.5.
4. The soil should not contain harmful substances such as harmful microorganisms or living organisms.
You need to improve or replace the soil if it doesn’t meet the quality requirements for your plants.
For instance, when choosing suitable soil for succulents, the primary consideration should be good ventilation, good drainage and soft texture. Humidity is not suitable for this kind of plant to grow. Because the original environment of succulent is arid, and some of them are in desert areas. The proportion of particles in the soil must be increased to at least 60%, the soil will become dry in time after watering, and the roots of succulents will not rot so that long-term soil moisture. For soil requirements for growing succulent plants, there are several preparation tricks:
① The proportion of particles can be increased by mixing the pine needle soil with the particles of river sand in the ratio of 1:1.
② Mix garden soil, coconut bran, rotten leaf soil and coarse sand in the ratio of 1:1:1:1, which is more suitable for those with fewer leaves.
③ For general succulent plants, garden soil, coconut bran, rotten leaf soil and perlite can be prepared in the same proportion.
Water
In general, 80% of indoor plants die because of excessive watering. If the leaves of your plants turn yellow or start to fall, please give it a break. On the contrary, if the soil in the pot dries out, the flower buds fall off, and the leaves of your plants are exposed, then your plants are thirsty. The easiest way to check is to pick up the pot. If it feels very light and the soil is completely dry, you should water it without hesitation.
For example, if you grow flowers indoors, sufficient water is required throughout the growth and mature period. When flowers open, the water should not be too much, which is conducive to the normal opening of flowers. Of course, the growth characteristics of various plants are different.
Temperature and Light
Temperature is another important factor for the growth of plants, but various plants have different requirements for temperature due to the different climate of their origins. If the temperature is higher than the maximum or lower than the minimum, the growth of plants will be impaired, or the plants will even die. Therefore, before you plant, you must know the suitable temperature for your plants growth first. For example, rose, honeysuckle and lilac, which are native to the temperate zone and sub-frigid zone, can generally tolerate low temperatures of around -20℃; Chrysanthemums, plum blossoms and magnolias, which are native to the temperate zone and warm temperate zone, can generally endure the low temperature of -5℃. Cactus, helium and rubber trees are native to tropical and subtropical zone, so they need to be maintained at 15-18℃. Also, Plants have to grow, develop, blossom and bear fruit under sufficient light, but indoor plants often fail to grow normally because there is not enough sunlight. Nowadays, it is more and more popular to use grow lights instead of sunlight to cultivate plants with a comfortable growth environment at home. Different kinds of plants have different requirements for light intensity and area. Base on your plants and choose the right plant grow light.
Ventilation
Many people think that putting plants indoors can absorb carbon dioxide and purify the air. That is kind of true. However, if your plants grow in a closed space, they will carry out anaerobic respiration and release carbon dioxide, which is harmful to human body. And the plant will also be vulnerable to the invasion of bacteria. In addition, your plants need to stay away from air conditioners, air purifiers or other electrical applications, so as to avoid discomfort caused by obvious environmental changes. Therefore, if you plant indoors, you should open windows more at preferable time. You can open at 9:00 and 11:00 in the morning or 2:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon, during these two periods, the temperature has risen and the harmful gases deposited at the bottom of the atmosphere have dispersed. Or you can move plants near the windows or balcony for ventilation. Otherwise, your plants are easy to get sick.
Maintenance
If you want your plants to live longer, careful maintenance is essential. For potted plants, soil fertility can only last for about one year. If the root system withers or grows too vigorously, it is necessary to trim the root system to prevent damage of the plant. If it is a slow-growing plant, it can maintain for two or three years without changing pots. If there is dust on the leaves, it will affect the photosynthesis of your plants. So you need to wipe the leaves with a sponge or moist soft cloth and spray your plants with water. If you see some black, brown and red spots on your plants, it is likely to be infected with fungal diseases. You need to cut off the diseased leaves and branches in time, remove the residual leaves in the pot, and then spry chlorothalonil or methylthiophanate solution every 5-7 days. If insects are found on plants, you have to spray insecticides in time. Also, the pruning of your plants every week is very important, trimming your plants in your house can promote a fuller and denser growth structure of plants.