Houseplants ~ Not just for decoration!

Most decorators would agree, a few dramatic plants can provide pizzazz and punch to an interior design.  Houseplants can also lift our spirits, especially plants that burst into bloom long before spring arrives outdoors.   Bulb plants, such as Amaryllis (genus Hippeastrum), provide a dramatic display and often are planted in December/January to give a splash of color to wintry days that might be cold and bleak.  Some indoor gardeners enjoy planting Paper Whites (genus Narcissus) so they can enjoy a visual display and intense aromas as well.  A favorite of mine is the tropical Hibiscus plant (shown here) which spends fall and winter indoors and graces us with cherry-red blossoms every winter.

Some plants, like Chrysanthemums, help purify our indoor air; however, I understand multiple mum plants are required to accomplish significant purification.   But even the most common houseplants—green foliage plants—photosynthesize each day and create small amounts of oxygen to enhance our indoor air.    Foliage plants, as well as succulents, contribute something special to our interior spaces, especially this time of year, as they bask in additional hours of sunlight.  You may witness new growth on one plant, deeper green leaves on another.

Most houseplants benefit from sunshine, so following are tips to ensure your plants remain healthy throughout fall/winter:

RINSE OR MIST FOLIAGE:  Dust-coated leaves inhibit sunshine from reaching leaf surfaces (my horticulture teachers claimed dust can reduce a leaf’s ability to absorb sunlight by  20%).  Place plants in shower once monthly and rinse foliage gently with lukewarm water.  NOTE:  Some plants do NOT like wet foliage; I do not recommend this practice for geraniums or cactus.

DIRTY WINDOWPANES prevent sunlight from reaching foliage.  If your plants reside in a bay window or windowsill, take advantage of a warm day and wash the window, inside and out. 

FRESH POTTING SOIL: Re-pot most plants once per year to provide fresh organic matter and nutrient-rich, insect-free soil.  With regular watering, nutrients leach from the soil and plants consume available nutrients, so the soil (or soil-less mix) lacks nutrition after a year or so.  It often becomes compacted, so re-potting allows you to loosen and inspect roots before placing into fresh soil.  Late winter/early spring is the ideal time for re-potting houseplants before you become preoccupied with outdoor plantings.   Choose a quality potting soil to give your house- plants the nutrients they need to thrive and survive!

M. Lynn Schmid,   Certified Master Gardener
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture