Caring for your indoor plants

Caring for your indoor plants does not require having a green thumb for you not to cut out. The key is to know about the kinds of plants you want to grow. Then, learn how to take care of it. After all, the ideal watering requirement, humidity levels and sunlight exposure all depend on your plant's classification. 

You can always go through the photos or name through resources online, flower books, or a houseplant handbook in case you were gifted a houseplant and are unsure of what type it is. 

So first determine if your indoor plant is a green foliage plant or a flowering plant/ angiosperms in order to determine the right nutrients, as well as the levels of water and sunlight. Most cacti and succulents are easy to grow beside their attractive shapes. The snake plant and dracaena are good indoor plants since they require low light. If you lack the time, choose an indoor plant that is low maintenance, durable, and are easy to care for such as geraniums, areca palms, and cast-iron plants. 

But no matter the species, most indoor plants require adequate sunlight in order to undergo photosynthesis. The quality, duration, and intensity of light all affect a plant's growth. A well-lit room or a fluorescent light are alternatives to sunlight though. However, avoid direct or too much sunlight. Flowering plants need 12-16 hours of light per day while 14-16 hours for foliage plants. 

While cacti do not require humidity, tropical plants do or they will wilt or develop poorly. For extra humidity, you can spray it with a bottle full of distilled water. You can also try filling a tray with pebbles, then, add water just up below the tops of the pebbles. Or simply buy a humidifier. 

Like most plants, indoor plants also have slow acclimatization to their surroundings. So, it's best not to move them often, especially if it will affect the amount of light, and temperature level resulting in a negative effect on your plants. 

When it comes to fertilizer, most indoor plants thrive in a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer which stands for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium respectively. A flowering plant needs a fertilizer that is high in potassium while a foliage plant shouldn't be short of Nitrogen. Aside from fertilizers, nutrients from potting soils are vital for the survival of your indoor plants. Repot or add new nutrients to the soil every time. Cacti or succulents require a special potting mix designed to drain water efficiently and plenty of holes on the bottom. 

If you don't want to attract bugs or insects that can eat away at your indoor plant, always cut off dead stems or branches and never tip coffee, tea, or sugar, 

especially on those with low acidic tolerance. Last but not the least, don't forget to regularly prune your indoor plant to avoid it growing out of control. For a fuller and healthier plant, prune it at a 45° angle. 

Caring for your indoor plants