Let It Grow
By Tammy Thornton
When cold weather sets in, we find ourselves spending more time indoors. Houseplants, known for their ability to filter the air, can also provide us with aesthetic beauty and bring life inside when it’s dreary out. But while the thought of caring for and nurturing plants brings comfort to some, the responsibility of keeping something alive causes angst in others. Memories of dying plants, languishing in a pot, may give you a guilty shudder. But take my hand and let’s both try anew.
Full confession: yes, though I have had a fair amount of success as a gardener with outdoor plants, bringing them inside is a different story altogether. I have been known to buy adorable houseplants, while full of hope and aspirations, only to see them wither away in despair. Right now my plants are laughing behind my back, wondering why I, a houseplant serial killer, am attempting to give advice. But hope springs eternal, and since one learns from failure, perhaps you will learn from my mistakes and avoid some of the common pitfalls of houseplant parenting.
Like outdoor gardening, it’s beneficial to access your growing area. Do you get a lot of sunlight in your house, or is it on the darker side? Will you spend a lot of time caring for your plants or do you need to pick ones that thrive on neglect? The road to success starts with choosing the right plants for your home and lifestyle. Though you may enjoy the challenge of keeping high-maintenance divas of the houseplant world happy, starting with laid-back easy-to-please plants might be the better option to get an encouraging start.
Ironically, most plants that meet their doom are the result of too much TLC. Often, we will see a plant in distress and rush to give it water, causing its roots to rot and dealing it the final death blow. Before you fill your watering can, take a look at your plant’s drainage situation. We all like a pretty pot, but does it have any drainage holes? If not, you may need to repot your plant and opt for a container with holes in the bottom. Alternatively, you can use an interior plastic pot with holes. Take your plant to a sink and allow it to drain well before placing it back in its pretty container. You can also add stones or pebbles to the bottom of the pot to allow room for drainage. If using a saucer under your container, make sure water isn’t accumulating and causing the plant to sit in water, since they normally hate to have “wet feet”. In most cases, do not water your houseplants until the top one to two inches of the soil feels dry. When in doubt, err on the side of underwatering instead of overwatering.
Lack of light is another common problem when it comes to growing plants indoors. Keep in mind that the days are shorter this time of year, so make sure you are providing your plant with sufficient sunlight. That being said, most houseplants prefer indirect sunlight and will get scorched if direct sun is pounding away at them all day. Also, if you have shifted your plants to be near a sunnier spot, make sure you haven’t exposed them to either a drafty window or a heat vent, as these fluctuations in temperature could cause stress to your plants.
Set yourself up for success by starting with easy-to-grow houseplants. Some low-care options are pothos, dracaena (snake plant, mother-in-law’s tongue), philodendron, dieffenbachia (dumb cane), and peace lily. If you have young children or pets, you may want to research some of these options because they can be toxic. Curious young children (and pets) often explore their world through experimentation. As a child, my husband learned the results of dumb cane first hand. He took a nibble of dumb cane and quickly realized how it got its nickname. His tongue became numb and he couldn’t talk. Fortunately, the side effects were not worse on that occasion. You can find a list of toxic and non-toxic plants on the ASPCA’s website. For safer, low-maintenance options, go with spider plants, tillandsia (air plant), Christmas cactus, African violets, and parlor palms.
Once you learn your plants’ needs and begin to grow them successfully, you may decide to level up and try more finicky options. If you find yourself growing a jungle, you can take most of your plants on vacation to your backyard in the summer. What is your favorite houseplant to grow? We would love to hear from our Shore Local News readers. Please send your pictures, comments, and questions to: shorelocalgardener@gmail.com.
Tammy Thornton is a mom of four, a substitute teacher, and a Sunday school teacher. She is passionate about gardening and cooking, and loves the beach.
