Indoor-gardening expert Mary Henry tells Jan Goldsmith, host of HGTV's The Great Indoors, how to water and fertilize houseplants. If you haven't grown houseplants before, it's easy to get started: small plants in 4" pots may be purchased for $2.50 or less apiece, and with proper care they'll be worth much more in a few years' time. In order to keep your small plants healthy, you must water them correctly: overwatering is the leading cause of death among houseplants. Don't water your plants on a set schedule. Instead, get in the habit of feeling the soil in the container with your finger (figure A). Before you water, the soil should be dry to the first knuckle on your index finger. Add water until it runs out the drain hole in the bottom of the pot (figure B). Allow the plant to drain, then place it back in its saucer. Don't let indoor plants sit in standing water, or the roots will rot. Houseplants must be fertilized during their growing season: spring and summer. Provide fertilizer at half the recommended application rate every two weeks. Don't fertilize more often, or your plants may suffer damage from excessive salt buildup. Add fertilizer to the watering can (figure C), and water as described above. Clay pots will absorb some of the excess salt from fertilizers and hold it away from the soil and roots (figure D). To clear the potting mix of salt buildup, flush the soil monthly with a mix of 1 gallon water and 1 tablespoon vinegar.
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