See tips for not killing plants at home – 05/29/2023 – Equilíbrio

I would say that most potted orchid deaths are the result of waterlogged roots. On the other hand, I’ve seen people let cacti dry out because they believe they don’t need water.

It is true that I rarely water my cacti for six months of the year. But in high summer I water every week. And my potted orchids get plenty of water all year round.

Every houseplant likes some things and dislikes others. But once you learn the basic rules, there are few homes where you can’t grow a plant well.

I’m a botanist and my work takes me all over the world in search of plants. Observing a plant in the wild helps you understand how it adapts to a given environment — and how you can recreate that environment in your home.

When I bring a new plant into my home, I ask: how would you grow it in the wild? And where would you be happiest?

The roots of Phalaenopsis (a popular species of indoor orchid) cling to tree branches in their natural environment. The roots of an orchid need air around them and cannot survive submerged in water.

But watering the orchid regularly and allowing the water to dry out spontaneously mimics a tropical storm and serves the plant’s needs perfectly.

Once, in a tropical forest in the Philippines, I observed a alocasia (popular foliage, with striking veins) growing a few feet from a bird’s nest (another houseplant with bright green foliage).

Alocasia was growing in the ground, in the shade of the forest. The bird’s nest sprouted from the fork in the trunk of a tree high above her. Alocasia likes indirect light and, like orchids, bird’s nest likes good drainage.

To care for a houseplant well, you need to learn to think like a plant. The following are my tips for keeping your houseplants healthy.

1. Where should the plant be located?

Houseplants are taking over homes. Hence, there is a huge variety of them available now. But it’s good to remember the old teaching: “right plant, right place”.

It is not advisable to grow a cactus in a shady corner. It simply won’t work. Start with the conditions you have at home and go from there.

A bright, humid place, such as a windowsill in the kitchen or bathroom, is perfect for most tropical or subtropical houseplants. Cacti and succulents are adapted to living in deserts and need as much sunlight as possible all year round.

Many houseplants also do well outdoors, especially in the summer. This is when I place my succulents outside against a warm wall.

But avoid moving a plant, exposing it directly to the sun, too fast. Even banana trees, which thrive under the tropic sun, can get scorched if you abruptly change your conditions.

2. When and how should you water them?

Plants generally prefer generous watering in the summer months when they are actively growing, and much less water in the winter.

Considering these extremes, I keep cacti and succulents in an unheated greenhouse—and don’t water them—through the fall and winter. Desert nights are cold, so many of these plants are surprisingly cold hardy when dry.

On the other hand, I keep an Adam’s rib in a shady corner—I water it every other week in the winter and weekly in the summer. Like people, she likes routine.

But even so, it’s important to water all your plants with lukewarm water, never cold. This increases absorption and prevents temperature shocks. A good rule of thumb is to use water at human body temperature (37°C).

Carnivorous plants, such as Venus Flytrap, which obtain their nutrients by capturing and consuming insects, need rainwater. They hate tap water.

3. Should you feed them?

Most houseplants survive on little or no plant food supplements (such as liquid fertilizers). But some—including foliage such as rubber tree and Adam’s rib—will thrive if you choose to feed them.

Fertilizers work best in the summer months when plants are actively growing. I use a tomato one to feed pretty much all of my houseplants in the summer. But the feed must be diluted for some plants—such as orchids, which can be sensitive to too much fertilizer.

Using tomato fertilizer for houseplants is unconventional, but it works for me. Garden stores sell specific concentrated liquid fertilizers for potted houseplants.

4. When to change pots?

Many houseplants can remain in the same pot for a surprisingly long time, especially those that grow slowly and continuously, such as cacti.

But if you keep foliage in a hot environment, particularly in homes with underfloor heating, you’ll likely need to replant them in new pots regularly to keep them from drying out.

When making the switch, choose pots that are one or two sizes larger. They provide space for the roots, preventing excess stagnant compost.

It is also important to use the correct fertilizer. Most plants do well with all-purpose compost, but there are exceptions.

Orchids prefer their own substrate, which provides drainage and plenty of air between the roots. Carnivorous plants also require specialized compost, as they don’t like the high nutrient concentrations of all-purpose formulations.

And be sustainable by avoiding peat — destroying peat bogs to make garden compost is bad for the environment.

To make your houseplants thrive even more, cover their pots with gravel or small rocks. This will keep the fungus flies (those nasty little flies) at bay.

People often tell me that they have a hard time keeping their houseplants alive. But caring for a small shrubbery indoors doesn’t have to be difficult.

Learning which plants to choose, how best to water and feed them, and how often they need to be repotted will help you keep your houseplants healthy.

* Chris Thorogood is Head of Science and Public Engagement at the University of Oxford Botanic Gardens in the UK.

This article was originally published here.