Houseplants - care

Houseplants are more like aquariums (another subject of great interest to me - see my other blog http://completeaquarium.blogspot.com/ ) than garden plants in many ways, as the conditions they need are almost completely under our control, and what's more need to be carefully controlled for optimum growth.

It’s extremely important that their indoor environments suit all of their growing needs. The most important elements required for healthy houseplants include light, water, temperature, and humidity. If any or all of these factors are not properly implemented, your houseplants will inevitably suffer.

What a particular houseplant needs is largely indicated by its origin and growing conditions in the wild. It's obvious to state that a tropical jungle plant doesn't need the same conditions as a Cactus - but how many people (and garden centres) just think of them both as 'houseplants' and assume they will grow together.

I was prompted by all this by an article on the pH of tapwater, which in many cases is too alkaline for most house plants, which prefer a softer water.

http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/2008/mar/15/ph-balance-water-important-healthy-plants/

Another good general article that explores the environmental areas important to house plants is:

http://www.allsands.com/Gardening/indoorplantcar_wow_gn.htm