When there is cold weather outside, it is the ideal time to turn your gardening focus to houseplants to fill your need to be surrounded by nature! This is a wonderful time of year to spread your horizons and turn your thoughts to creating an indoor oasis at your home, office, dorm or any other location that could use some green drenching. Take advantage of the cooler months to transform yourself from a rookie to a savvy gardener by surrounding yourself with beautiful indoor plants.
Plant Décor: More Than Just Aesthetic
Plant décor is a very real thing. They add a measure of warmth and life to any room which is especially good during winter. Dress up your Texas home with their texture and colors and can make a room feel dramatic or cozy. You’ll be amazed at the various shades of green that different plants offer. It’s not just green but many houseplants include other colors to enhance your spaces.
The Benefits of Indoor Plants
Many studies have proven that indoor plants improve your mental and physical well-being, but they go well beyond better air quality. Our very nature as human beings includes the desire to nurture. As we tend to the needs of our living décor, we feel a sense of achievement that enhances our own self-worth. Having plants located throughout your home makes it look fabulous, and they make us feel good – having indoor plants is truly beneficial.
Why Houseplants Are Easy and Fun
- Sometimes it is just as advantageous to look at things from a unique perspective.
- Plants are not a huge commitment. They will thrive with just a bit of care.
- No need to ask the landlord if you can have a plant and there is no plant deposit to worry about.
- Plant parents don’t need babysitters. Houseplants can take care of themselves when you go to dinner and a movie.
- However, they are very habit forming. You’ll want more and more once you get started.
Caring for Your New Best Friends
Caring for your houseplants turns out to be a great little winter activity and you won’t need to bundle up in a coat, hat, and gloves. Embrace the joy of the slower winter pace and use the time to immerse yourself in learning more about these fabulous potted beauties. Plant growth is highly affected by the light, water of the environment, quality of the soil and nutrition.
Lighting
Since light is such a key factor, it’s helpful to have a general idea of their light needs so you can then place them in the right areas of your home. The plant label may have this information or one of our many Texas Certified Nursery Professionals can answer all of your questions. Remember you are getting advice from a real plant enthusiast, and they want your plants to flourish as much as you!
The appropriate light has two components: time and intensity.
Here’s something interesting that will also help you determine the best placement. Windows with a northern exposure provide the least light and the lowest temperature. The United States is in the northern hemisphere, so it receives most of its sunlight from the south. This means that windows with a northern exposure receive the least light and heat year-round. Light coming into your home from the east is cooler than sunshine from the south or the west, so it causes less water loss. Knowing how long sun fills a room will help you know where to place everything so they will all flourish.
5 Plants Excellent for Low Light:
- Pothos Ivy – this lush trailing vine has gorgeous heart-shaped leaves is renowned for its hardiness and low maintenance. It easily adapts to low light areas and is full of fuss-free foliage. Learn all about your Pothos Ivy here.
- Split-Leaf Philodendron does well in low or high light, versatile!
- Sansevieria or Snake Plant is low maintenance and thrives in low light areas.
- ZZ Plants have lush, dark green leaves that add a lot of color and like bright, filtered light as well.
- Aglaonema is one of the most colorful houseplants you can find! Highly decorative with color ranging from green and white to red and white.
5 Plants for Sunnier Areas
- Cacti & Succulents are great for bookshelves, tabletops and anywhere you wish to add a pop of texture and color! Their low-maintenance nature makes them a perfect accessory.
- Ponytail Palm as adorable as its name and is great in sunny rooms.
- Dracaena plants enjoy 2-3 hours of bright, indirect light and there are so many Dracaenas to choose from.
- Fiddle Leaf Figs are incredibly dramatic in your décor and do well with bright, indirect light for up to 5 hours a day.
- Rubber Tree – a statement plant prefers 6-8 hours of bright, indirect light. Colorful, variegated leaves or dark leaf varieties.
Watering
Now that you have the right plants to liven up your home, make watering them a treat with handy watering cans. Having the right size, style, or color is always fun. Handy tip: group your plants with similar light and water needs to keep things simple. It is even a fun indoor activity to get your kids involved in!
A Healthy Plant Starts with Great Soil
Potting mix retains moisture and nutrients for the roots and allows for enough air as well. Fast-growing plants will need to be repotted annually because they soak up the nutrients faster. Other plants may only need to be repotted every two years or so. To help you stay on schedule, remember that spring is a good time to replace the soil.
A good potting mix makes all the difference in the world. Your potting mix should be light and fluffy to the touch, a great option is our Calloway’s Premium Container Potting Soil.
Helpful Repotting Tips:
- If the soil is hard to the touch or feels compacted, it is a good time to re-pot.
- If water drains right through it is a sign that there is not enough organic material left in the soil to absorb the water.
- Roots are growing out of the drain hole – this is a good indicator that your plant not only needs fresh soil but also needs to be in a bigger container. A good rule of thumb is to increase the size of your pot by an inch or two.
Nourishment
Now that you are head over heels for houseplants, you’ll want to keep them nourished so they can stay at their very best. Calloway’s Premium Tropical Plant Food is a great source of food for your indoor plants. Our 15-5-10 special formula contains a controlled release nitrogen, Fx Iron®, calcium, and other key components to help your tropical plants have healthier growth. Fx Iron® is an environmentally friendly source of iron, promoting new growth and dark green foliage. Your new plants will get the right blend of nutrients to stay healthy and beautiful.
Now you are ready to be the best plant parent you can be. Enjoy shopping for all of your new houseplants! If you need help choosing the right plant for your space, ask one of our friendly Texas Certified Nursery Professionals, we are here to help!
