| Tips for Healthy Houseplants |
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March 19, 2001 -- This living room is made more serene with a potted, oversize palm tree and a mixture of exotic plants elegantly on the coffee table. (SHND photo by Jennifer Levy / Scripps Howard News Service.)
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By Chris Casson Madden
Scripps Howard News Service Houseplants, for many of us, are a lifesaver during the long and harsh winters. The Farmer's Almanac certainly warned us about this last one, but the inordinate amounts of rain and snow surprised even those of us of who had stocked up, like the squirrels and bears, with all the necessary ingredients for a long winter's nap. Certainly cheering up our home this past season were our houseplants. Ranging from azaleas and ivy topiaries to orchids, they filled many counters, windowsills and tabletops -- wherever there was sunlight or a spot to hang a small plant light. Plants are a wonderful way to add warmth, personality and character to any space. Although most are easy to grow, there are some guidelines to follow when selecting plants to use in your home. I like to always experiment with one or two unusual ones to add a bit of spice. If you're uncertain about what types of plants to select, consult your favorite garden center or plant shop, watch a few gardening shows, check out some books on caring for houseplants from your local library or talk to a green-thumbed friend. But here, in general, are a few basic tips for year-round healthier houseplants: - Check Light Conditions: Plants have widely different requirements when it comes to lighting and other specific needs. Note what type of natural light prevails in each room in your home and the amount at different times of the day. A plant such as a cactus, requiring small amounts of direct sunlight, would not flourish in a brightly lit room.
- Reflect Your Lifestyle: If your lifestyle is a hectic one, check to see what type of care the plants you select require. Some plants need constant watering, feeding and special handling. So if you don't have the free time to care for a high-maintenance plant, select ones that require very little care, such as a succulent or hardy and easy-to-grow specimen like a philodendron or ivy.
- Protect Children: If you have children and pets, make certain that your plants are safely out of their reach. Not only can they harm your plants, but some can be a severe health hazard if your child, dog or cat unwittingly snacks on it.
- Protect Furniture: Protect your furniture and other surfaces from the bottoms of pots and other types of planters. Creative plant containers range from porcelain cache pots, metal boxes and bamboo to rattan planters. But check any you add to your collection and make sure you have a proper bottom for them. When you water plants, water accumulates at the bottom of the pot and many, without special bases, may cause water rings or moisture built up on your furniture's surfaces. I always put glass saucers under my plants; nothing is more disturbing than a $1.98 ivy ruining your favorite antique end table.
- Understand Watering: Watering knowledge is key for a long plant life. For instance, I learned from a photographer on a recent photo shoot to place my beloved phalenopsis orchids in a bowl of cool water for 15 minutes once a week, then drain. They've never been happier, healthier or lasted longer.
- Find a Good Home: Place plants around the room as you would any other accessories. I've been collecting celadon-colored containers in different sizes and shapes; they looked stunning when grouped together on a tabletop with a variety of plants in them. Now's the time to search out unusual pots and containers at tag sales.
(Chris Casson Madden, host of the Home & Garden Television show ''Interiors by Design,'' is also author of 13 books, including the newly released Getaways: Carefree Retreats for All Seasons, Clarkson Potter Publishers.)
RESOURCES :
Getaways: Carefree Retreats for All Seasons
Model: 0609603205
Author: Chris Casson Madden
(2000)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Clarkson Potter/The Crown Publishing Group/Random House
Website: www.randomhouse.com
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