Indoor House Plants

Plants are known to bring with them a kind of positivity and peace. Growing plants indoors is one of the means to reconnect with nature. You need to have knowledge of the various requirements a plant has in order to take proper care of them.

Plants for Growing Indoors

Activity of growing indoor house plants requires a lot of care and knowledge of the different needs; one should first make arrangements for indoor plant stands in order to provide them with a suitable place and positioning. The use of indoor plant hangers also is recommended. Light requirement is an important aspect to be considered in the cultivation of these plants. Plants with pale and light green leaves have greater light requirement than the ones with dark green leaves. Although plants can adjust to varying amount of light, it is advisable not to change their location frequently. In such cases one can make use of indoor plant lights. Use of indoor plant pots having the correct/suitable size is necessary. There are many indoor plant varieties which can be found in the different parts of the world. The indoor tropical plants are one such type. The examples of indoor tropical plants are as follows:

• Kentia Palm
• Chinese Palms
• Lucky Bamboo
• Bromeliads
• Spider Plant
• Peace Lily
• Ivy
• Gerbera Daisy
• Anthurium

Common Indoor Plants

The popular examples of plants used for growing indoors are presented below. The indoor palm plants are amongst the commonly used house plants. The descriptions of these plants are provided in short.

Aloe Vera: The Aloe Vera plant has potential to attain healthy growth with minimal care; it is one of the best indoor plants. This plant grows well in full sunlight; it can also survive in light shade. Offshoots of the mother plant are taken for the propagation of Aloe Vera. Growing the plant indoors would require a pot that provides proper drainage. It is advisable to water the soil thoroughly; one should allow the soil to dry completely before watering the plant again. Fertilization should be carried once a month. These points pertaining to Aloe Vera care should kept in mind for healthy growth of plants.

Croton Plants: These indoor tropical house plants are characterized by long leaves which possess different colors ranging from orange, yellows, greens to red. Leaves of crotons are initially greenish in color; however, as the plant matures, different colors appear. Height attained by crotons when grown indoors is comparatively less than in outdoor environment. The crotons can grow in bright sunlight as well as low lighted conditions; however, the plant do well in bright sunlight. Those plants which don't receive enough light are unable to develop any colors and thereby, remain green. A moist soil which is not waterlogged should prove to be ideal for plant growth. Water with lukewarm temperature should be used to fulfill the moisture needs of crotons. Liquid fertilizer need to be used twice a month to allow a healthy growth.

Dracaena Indoor Tropical Plants: The Dracaena plant is amongst the best indoor low light house plants. Broad strapping leaves and stems that resemble canes are the main characteristics of these plants. It is necessary to avoid two things i.e. windy location and direct sunlight for proper growth of Dracaenas. There are about 40 species which come under the genus Dracaena. These indoor plants require a well-drained soil for healthy growth. Over watering results into root rot. Exposure to bright light is not good for this plant and causes bleaching of leaves. Maintaining a humid atmosphere prevents problems like tip burn.

Orchids: To grow these plants indoors, one should try and recreate the natural conditions in which orchids flourish. Amongst the important indoor flowering house plants, orchids have around 30,000 species. A humid atmosphere and strong light are the conditions suited for growth of orchids. The orchid grows well in a temperature range of 50 °F-85 °F. Root zone of the plant should have enough air circulation. Orchids available in the nurseries come in pots with no scope for air flow. One shouldn't think about repotting such a plant but allow it to bloom; the dead flower spike should then be removed and repotted in a mixture composed of charcoal, pine bark and styrofoam. Heavy watering on a weekly basis is recommended for proper growth of orchids.

There are many other plants which can be grown indoors; one can avail many benefits of indoor plants if proper care is taken. Those enlisted above, are picked from different categories (i.e. tropical, low lighting, flowering, etc.). Thus, a rough idea of how to maintain different types houseplants with varied needs is obtained.