5 Easy House Plants To Grow With The Family
Written By: Ruth Muhtsun
Families of Kansas City, look no further than your windowsill for a new leisure pursuit for the young and older members of your clan. Growing houseplants will spruce up your house and give every relative a chance to make an investment in the home. Maintaining any type of houseplant requires attention to lighting, watering, temperature, and humidity. While some plants may require less attention than others, the fun of indoor gardening and family cooperation are just as rewarding. So whether you are limited by space, time, or a less than green thumb, there are a variety of houseplants that any family can grow.
Even if your still a little foggy on the process of photosynthesis, it’s common knowledge that plants need sunlight. However, different species of plants have different sunlight requirements. A number of plants thrive in full sunlight, while others only need partial light. Full sunlight means that a plant mush have a full day’s worth of exposure to sunlight, while partial light means a plant requires less than a day’s sunlight. For houseplants that require full sunlight, it’s typically best that they are placed by windows facing south. If the plant you choose to grow requires partial light, consider placing it near windows that face the east and west, or in the north for more indirect light and shading.
A fear of indoor gardening can be under watering your plants, but over watering is just as damaging. Standing water rots the roots of a plant, making them harder to revive. Use the condition of the soil as indicator for watering. If the soil seems slightly gray and feels dry, then it’s time to water. There are three methods that can keep you from over watering your plants, watering from the top, the bottom, or utilizing clay pots. When watering from the top, place a saucer or bowl to catch excess water from the draining holes in the pot. Or water can be poured in the saucer or bowl allowing the water to soak into the pot and plant. Watering should stop when no more water is absorbed by the plant. Finally, using clay pots can ease the worries of over watering your plants. Clay is absorbent and can take in the extra moisture. Fill a container with water filled one inch from the clay pot placed within, once the surface of the soil becomes moist, remove the clay pot from the container.
The ideal temperature for most houseplants is between 60° F to 70° F (16° C to 22° C) and a humidity of 50% to 60%. You should also remember that plants are sensitive to rapid changes in temperature and humidity. When gardening indoors, remember to consider excessive heating and cooling from furnaces, air conditioning, and open windows. Humidity changes with temperature, and dryer air is more frequent in colder temperatures. Misting plants with water can help counteract seasonal or abrupt changes in temperature. Another technique is using a saucer of pebbles placed under the pot of a plant. Vapors rise to the leaves as water evaporates from the saucer.
So now that you see it’s not so difficult to take care of houseplants, and the chore wheel is spinning in your head, we’ll take a look at five houseplants ideal for beginners.
1 Aloe has many medicinal uses and can grow under anyone’s care. The aloe plant grows best in well drained soil and temperatures between 50° F to 75° F (10° C to 24° C), and low humidity. Most aloe plants require full sunlight. General purpose potting soil is ideal for aloe plants. Be careful not to over water an aloe plant.
2 African Violets require slightly more care than most houseplants, but the beautiful blooms are worth the extra consideration. African Violets require an environment that is 60° F to 85° F (16° C to 29° C), and medium humidity. These plants grow in bright indirect light. Windows in the south, east, and west normally give best light. You should use a fertile potting soil that retains water, but drains properly. The soil should remain evenly moist and watered regularly.
3 Basket Plants are perfect as hanging plans. They require high temperatures ranging from 60° F to 85° F (16° C to 29° C), and high humidity. Place basket plants in bright indirect light. Organic acid soil is optimal for basket plants. Water these plants until the pot is slightly drenched and let the soil become almost moist between watering. Since they require extra moisture, it’s good to mist the plant frequently with warm water.
4 Woodbine or False ivy are larger hanging plants that are great for novice gardeners. Woodbine plants require temperatures of 50° F to 75° F (10° C to 24° C), and medium humidity. False ivy can grow in general purpose potting soil. The soil must maintain even moisture, however, reduce watering in the winter. The fruit of this plant is poisonous when ingested, so it is not suited for younger children.
5 Song of India is beautiful and also acts as an air purifier. This houseplant is categorized as a tree, but it is still relatively easy to tend to. This plant grows best in an environment that is between 60° F to 85° F (16° C to 29° C), and high humidity. These plants require bright indirect sunlight. Song of India can be grown in general purpose soil, but get a large pot so it has plenty of room to grow. When watering, soil should be drenched, but allow the soil to become fairly dry before watering again. While misting can help the plant maintain moisture, an additional technique is putting stones or pebbles in the draining container beneath the pot.
The whole world is going green, and now so can you. Indoor gardening is the perfect outlet for a family looking to grow closer and beautify their home. Likewise, indoor gardening is not the daunting task exaggerated in the media. Even if gardening aptitude is not in your family DNA, there are numerous sources for information. Check your local library for books on gardening, or check with your local nurseries for individual expert advice.
Families of Kansas City, look no further than your windowsill for a new leisure pursuit for the young and older members of your clan. Growing houseplants will spruce up your house and give every relative a chance to make an investment in the home. Maintaining any type of houseplant requires attention to lighting, watering, temperature, and humidity. While some plants may require less attention than others, the fun of indoor gardening and family cooperation are just as rewarding. So whether you are limited by space, time, or a less than green thumb, there are a variety of houseplants that any family can grow.
Even if your still a little foggy on the process of photosynthesis, it’s common knowledge that plants need sunlight. However, different species of plants have different sunlight requirements. A number of plants thrive in full sunlight, while others only need partial light. Full sunlight means that a plant mush have a full day’s worth of exposure to sunlight, while partial light means a plant requires less than a day’s sunlight. For houseplants that require full sunlight, it’s typically best that they are placed by windows facing south. If the plant you choose to grow requires partial light, consider placing it near windows that face the east and west, or in the north for more indirect light and shading.
A fear of indoor gardening can be under watering your plants, but over watering is just as damaging. Standing water rots the roots of a plant, making them harder to revive. Use the condition of the soil as indicator for watering. If the soil seems slightly gray and feels dry, then it’s time to water. There are three methods that can keep you from over watering your plants, watering from the top, the bottom, or utilizing clay pots. When watering from the top, place a saucer or bowl to catch excess water from the draining holes in the pot. Or water can be poured in the saucer or bowl allowing the water to soak into the pot and plant. Watering should stop when no more water is absorbed by the plant. Finally, using clay pots can ease the worries of over watering your plants. Clay is absorbent and can take in the extra moisture. Fill a container with water filled one inch from the clay pot placed within, once the surface of the soil becomes moist, remove the clay pot from the container.
The ideal temperature for most houseplants is between 60° F to 70° F (16° C to 22° C) and a humidity of 50% to 60%. You should also remember that plants are sensitive to rapid changes in temperature and humidity. When gardening indoors, remember to consider excessive heating and cooling from furnaces, air conditioning, and open windows. Humidity changes with temperature, and dryer air is more frequent in colder temperatures. Misting plants with water can help counteract seasonal or abrupt changes in temperature. Another technique is using a saucer of pebbles placed under the pot of a plant. Vapors rise to the leaves as water evaporates from the saucer.
So now that you see it’s not so difficult to take care of houseplants, and the chore wheel is spinning in your head, we’ll take a look at five houseplants ideal for beginners.
1 Aloe has many medicinal uses and can grow under anyone’s care. The aloe plant grows best in well drained soil and temperatures between 50° F to 75° F (10° C to 24° C), and low humidity. Most aloe plants require full sunlight. General purpose potting soil is ideal for aloe plants. Be careful not to over water an aloe plant.
2 African Violets require slightly more care than most houseplants, but the beautiful blooms are worth the extra consideration. African Violets require an environment that is 60° F to 85° F (16° C to 29° C), and medium humidity. These plants grow in bright indirect light. Windows in the south, east, and west normally give best light. You should use a fertile potting soil that retains water, but drains properly. The soil should remain evenly moist and watered regularly.
3 Basket Plants are perfect as hanging plans. They require high temperatures ranging from 60° F to 85° F (16° C to 29° C), and high humidity. Place basket plants in bright indirect light. Organic acid soil is optimal for basket plants. Water these plants until the pot is slightly drenched and let the soil become almost moist between watering. Since they require extra moisture, it’s good to mist the plant frequently with warm water.
4 Woodbine or False ivy are larger hanging plants that are great for novice gardeners. Woodbine plants require temperatures of 50° F to 75° F (10° C to 24° C), and medium humidity. False ivy can grow in general purpose potting soil. The soil must maintain even moisture, however, reduce watering in the winter. The fruit of this plant is poisonous when ingested, so it is not suited for younger children.
5 Song of India is beautiful and also acts as an air purifier. This houseplant is categorized as a tree, but it is still relatively easy to tend to. This plant grows best in an environment that is between 60° F to 85° F (16° C to 29° C), and high humidity. These plants require bright indirect sunlight. Song of India can be grown in general purpose soil, but get a large pot so it has plenty of room to grow. When watering, soil should be drenched, but allow the soil to become fairly dry before watering again. While misting can help the plant maintain moisture, an additional technique is putting stones or pebbles in the draining container beneath the pot.
The whole world is going green, and now so can you. Indoor gardening is the perfect outlet for a family looking to grow closer and beautify their home. Likewise, indoor gardening is not the daunting task exaggerated in the media. Even if gardening aptitude is not in your family DNA, there are numerous sources for information. Check your local library for books on gardening, or check with your local nurseries for individual expert advice.
Posted by Urban Growth KC at 6/9/2010 1:45 PM 
Categories: For The Home
Tags: planting with children indoor plants easy house plants
Categories: For The Home
Tags: planting with children indoor plants easy house plants
Nice article. Thank you. I'm not familiar with the Song of India. It sounds like it just might like my east window.
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