Houseplants

Whether as a stunning central feature in your living room or a cute little addition to your bathroom, houseplants are great for bringing the outside, inside! In this guide we will take you through the process of growing, styling and caring for your indoor plants.

House plants – a breath of fresh air

Houseplants have become one of the biggest trends of spring/summer and it’s not hard to see why. A breath of fresh air, they can zhuzh up the dull corners and inject life into spaces that go unnoticed; corners of rooms, hallways, kitchens, bathrooms – just about anywhere! There is an extensive range of indoor plants available online, in garden centres and even the local supermarkets. They’ve become so popular thanks to social media ‘plant influencers’ who have used houseplants to create urban jungles.

How To Style Houseplants

Paired with a decorative pot, you can really make an indoor display your own. Go for a contemporary black metal pot on a tripod stand for a stylish show. Maybe you're more traditional and want to try a more classic ceramic pot. Or you could try a more boho approach and use jute or hessian bags. Whatever fits in with the décor of your home.

Be sure to choose the right plant for the area you want to place it. A large number of houseplants relish in a damp environment like a bathroom or kitchen whilst others are happy sitting on a sunny windowsill. Some need frequent watering, some only require a little misting. Be sure to check up on care tips for the variety you choose.

A Breath of Fresh Air

They’re not just a pretty face either – gardeners have known for years that houseplants are great features for the home. They can help you to get a good, restful night’s sleep, and now we know why. Research by NASA shows that one of their most useful features is their ability to keep the air inside your home clean. They do this by removing toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene, and giving out valuable oxygen at night. As if we even needed another reason to go plant crazy indoors too!

From classics like the Boston Fern and Monstera ‘Swiss Cheese’ Plant to the carnivorous Venus Fly Trap. We have chosen a selective range to stock on our website at Gardening Direct that are both easy to grow and care for. 

Indoor plants care and advice

How much light do indoor plants need?

Succulents and cacti need continuous, daily sunlight. Plants with foliage need roughly 8 hours of light per day. The amount of light depends on the plants you are growing, so we suggest doing research on the specific plants you are growing.

Which indoor plants require low light?

Indoor plants that need little light could be good fits for locations where light is more dim. Some plants that require low light are:

Philodendron – A very common indoor plant that rarely attracts pests. It’s a hearty plant that is adaptable to various environments

Pothos or Devil’s Ivy– A plant with colourful and vibrant leaves. This plant does great in a variety of environments, thriving in low light or in bright, indirect light.

Dracaena– This is another popular indoor plant with long green leaves. This is one indoor plant you will want to prune if foliage gets too long.

Peace Lily– This plant thrives best when the soil is moist, but not overwatered. If you want flowers to appear on your peace lily plant, move your plant to a darker room.

How do you care for indoor plants?

Here are some tips that will help you care for indoor plants:

• Keep potting soil moist- It’s important to make sure soil is not too wet nor too dry.
• Make sure the plant pot has drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.
• Place your plant near a light source, whether it’s natural or artificial.
• Determine what species of plant you have so you can more accurately care for it.

What are some of the common reasons indoor plants die?

Some of the most common reasons plants die are:

• Overwatering or underwatering
• Light Levels (either not enough light or too much light)
• Neglect

How do I get rid of bugs on indoor plants?

Bugs on your indoor plants can be really annoying! If you spot pests, purchase a plant spray – there are many on the market. When you notice bugs, spray the entire plant – the undersides and tops of the leaves as well as the stem. Make sure you follow the instructions and check if the spray might be dangerous to children and animals before using.

How do I know when to water my indoor plant?

Over-watering is a common mistake, and you will want to make sure the plant actually requires water now or if it should wait until later. Here are some ways to see if it’s time to water:

• Soil probe – This probe will measure the moisture at root level, which will help you understand how dry the soil is below the surface and water accordingly.
  
• Lifting the plant up – Heaviness signifies the plant has enough water, but lightness signifies the plant is dry.
  
• Wilting – Wilting typically happens because the plant is not getting sufficient water. Lift the plant to see if it is light in weight or if it’s heavy.
  
• Tipping – If the leaf edges begin browning and are crispy to the touch, the plant likely needs water. If the leaf edges are becoming brown but feel mushy, the plant has likely been over watered.
  
• Yellow leaves – Yellow leaves may also signify that a plant has too much or too little water, but this is not always the case and can be lack of feed – something like Baby Bio will help to keep plants green and lush all year round. Again make sure you follow the instructions on the pack.

House Plant Care Guide

We have specifically selected our range of houseplants to give you the best results in today’s homes. By providing a light space, adequate warmth, and ventilation as well as regular feeding and watering, you’ll be able to ensure that your houseplant thrives.

Positioning Houseplants

Houseplants prefer a well-lit, draught-free spot with an even temperature and good humidity. Most windowsills provide the ideal location if they are not directly over a radiator or other heat source and not subject to direct sun for more than a few hours a day. You will soon know if your plant is not happy where it is. For example, in low light, flowering plants will not bloom, and growth becomes pale and spindly. Therefore, you’ll just need to move it to a lighter position in the room. Remember that some indoor plants such as ferns will prefer a more shaded position, while cacti, succulents, and carnivorous plants like a bright windowsill. Orchids on the other hand will prefer bright, indirect light, fresh air, and high humidity.

Watering Houseplants

Overwatering is probably the single main cause of houseplant demise. Aim to keep the compost moist but wait until it has almost dried out before watering again. Just stick your finger into the compost to check! While certain plants have specific needs, in general, water from above without wetting the leaves. Stand pots in saucers to allow excess water to drain away – do not let plants sit in water. Plants will normally need watering more often during their growing periods (spring and summer), than when they are dormant in winter. Tap water is fine for most houseplants, while some of the more specialist plants, such as orchids, bromeliads and carnivorous plants need to be watered with rainwater or distilled water in a particular manner to keep them permanently moist.

Leaf Dropping

Environmental changes: Many plants are extremely sensitive about changes in their environment, including drastic differences in temperature, light or irrigation. This often happens when a new plant is moved from a greenhouse environment to your home, when outdoor plants are moved indoors for the winter, or after a plant is re-potted or divided. Sometimes, a plant may rebel when it’s moved to a different room. Often (but not always), houseplant leaf drop due to environmental changes is temporary and the plant will rebound.

Temperature: Often, excessive heat or cold drafts are to blame for a houseplant dropping leaves. Keep plants away from drafty doors and windows. Be careful of placing plants on windowsills, which may be too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. Keep plants away from fireplaces, air conditioners and heat vents.

Pests: Insects aren’t typically the most common reason for leaves falling from houseplants, but it still pays to take a close look at the leaves. Watch for scale insects, mealybugs and tiny spider mites, which are difficult to see with the naked eye. Although some houseplant pests can be removed with a toothpick or cotton swab, most are easily treated with insecticidal soap spray.

Fertility problems: If you notice leaves are turning yellow before they fall, the plant may be lacking certain nutrients. Fertilize regularly during spring and summer using a product formulated for indoor plants.

Water: Don’t jump to the conclusion that dry soil is to blame when leaves are falling off houseplants, as the problem may be due to either over- or under-watering. Although some indoor plants like consistently moist (but never soggy) soil, most plants shouldn’t be watered until the top of the potting mix feels slightly dry. Use lukewarm water, as very cold water may cause houseplant leaf drop, especially during the winter months.

Humidity: Certain plants are prone to leaf drop when the air is very dry. A humidity tray with a layer of wet pebbles is one effective way to rectify low humidity. It may also help when grouping plants together.

Brown Leaves on indoor plants

Fun Fact: Many plant varieties that require higher humidity levels can benefit from a daily misting. Research your particular plant variety to see if it will perk up with some additional spritzing.

What Causes Brown Leaves?

Keep in mind that it might be perfectly natural for the lower leaves on your plant to first turn pale yellow, then turn brown and drop off. This happens to many kinds of tropical plants as they grow. Over time, the plant will form a bare stem.

Not enough light: If lower leaves start turning brown or yellow, the plant might not be receiving enough light. If the discoloration is isolated to the side of the plant away from the light source, it’s probably receiving too little light.

Too much heat: This often occurs in conjunction with too little water, but too much heat will cause leaves to curl, become crinkly and then fall off. If the plant is also wilting, increase water. If the rest of the leaves are healthy, introduce some airflow to cool down the plant.

Too little water: Under Watered plants will first wilt, and then the leaves will brown and fall off. This most often happens from the bottom up, but it might also start on outer leaves on bushier plants.

Too little humidity: If the browning is confined to the leaf tip, and the leaf margin is still green, it’s possible the plant isn’t receiving enough humidity. If it’s a tropical plant with a high humidity requirement, increasing misting. Too little humidity might also cause black spots to form on leaves.