Top Common Questions About Houseplants Answered

What’s the best way to care for my houseplants? Where should I put them in my home? Should I take cuttings from my houseplant? These are just some of the most commonly asked questions about houseplants, and fortunately, there are answers! In this article, we’ll answer common questions about houseplants that you may be wondering, from how to tell if your plant needs water to how much sunlight it needs to thrive.

Still struggling to keep your houseplants alive? Get answers to the most common questions about houseplants to help you keep your plants thriving.

1) Which common houseplant is best for beginners?
There's no question that there are easy-to-care-for plants and those with more specific needs. The truth is, most people automatically turn to the classic rock stars of succulents and cacti, but these can get old quick. So some of the best plants for beginners might include. - Zamioculcas Zamiifolia (ZZ Plant), Palms, Sansevieria (Snake Plant), Dieffenbachia, Monstera deliciosa, Epipremnum aureum (Golden Pothos), Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum), Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum) or Fittonia (Nerve Plant) and the list goes on.

2) How much light does my houseplant need?
The most important thing about a houseplant is that it has bright indirect light for at least 6 hours a day! This means that you can’t put it behind glass and expect it to thrive happily. If you want plants to grow well you need to place them where they get lots of indirect sunlight throughout their life as an adult plant. Never place a plant in zero light area or in another words an ideal place to keep a plant is where you can sit and read a book easily.

3) How often do I water my indoor plants?
Many people ask this question, but it really depends on the specific plant you're growing. Cacti and succulents for example should dry out between watering, but if you have other plants in your home, be sure to keep an eye on them by simply testing the soil before watering with your finger or a stick if the soil comes out dry means it requires water and if soil is stuck to the finger or stick means you can skip watering for that day.

4) What type of soil should I use for my plants?
Most plants will be perfectly happy growing in regular potting soil. If you need something fast draining, try a 30% perlite, 70% potting soil mix as this is quite water retaining, with excellent drainage and it’s also great at ensuring adequate oxygen levels (oxygen is crucial for plants to grow). If you are planting something that requires compost or has very high nutrient requirements, then the only option is to use a 3-part potting mix, which is 1-part organic matter (compost), 1-part perlite and the remaining space filled up with more organic matter and if you want an easy hack Shop our Living Soil Mix.

5) What type of pot should I use?
When you're choosing a planter, you want one that works well with your garden and the plants that you'll grow in it. Wood is also a good choice if you have a wide variety of plants in your garden, but wood planters tend to dry out quickly and may not work with all types of soil. Plastic pots are lightweight, cheap and easy to move around, but they can crack or break over time and also not ecofriendly. Terracotta and ceramics are porous as well as decorative with more evenly drying property than plastic, which means that it can retain moisture better. And if you're worried about weight, fiberglass planters are ideal for plants. Ideal size of the pots depends on the plant and its growth so we need to consider these factors while choosing pots.

6) How to take care of a houseplant if I run a busy schedule?
You just need to pick your plants wiser if you're one of the many people who have a passion to keep houseplants but also have a busy schedule. On your next trip to plant shopping go for plants that are low maintenance and are easy to care for. Read the plant requirement list and if it suits you best and can easily care for them then just plant it.

7) When should I repot my indoor plant?
Look for signs like - Through the bottom drainage holes, roots are emerging. The plant is top-heavy and about to topple over and the roots are pushing it up and out of the container. Plant grows more slowly than usual because the soil dries out quickly or has pulled away from the container sides and become hard.

8) What is an ideal location to keep indoor plants?
Many of the houseplants require strong, indirect light, like that out of an east-facing window. As long as the harsh sun's rays don't touch a plant's leaves directly, especially in the summer, south and west windows also function effectively. African violets and other popular indoor flowering plants need a little bit more light than ferns or pothos that are kept primarily for their leaves.

9) Why are my indoor plants leaves drooping or yellowing or turning brown?
Simply observe your houseplant. If you see that some of the leaves are turning yellow while new ones are still emerging, this is means the natural ageing process.
However, if there are no visible signs of new growth and the leaves are becoming dark and drooping, you may be overwatering. You must examine the leaf, if the leaf on pressing is all soggy means it has been overwatered and if the leaves make a crisp sound on pressing then in that event overwatering is not the issue, you could need to relocate your houseplant. Perhaps you simply put it in.

10) What are some signs that my indoor plant needs help?
Look for signs like uneven or lanky growth, white, cotton-like dots on plants, yellowing and wilting of lower leaves, dieback, distortion, black soft or punky roots, wilted plants, white powdery fungal growth on foliage, leaf distortion, leaf drop, leaf tips turn yellow, followed by turning brown; entire leaf may die, or spots on leaves, small leaves or wilting plant, brown leaf tips and spindly plants with few flowers.

11) How to take care of houseplants from pest?
Many pests may be seen with the naked eye. They can be seen crawling on the leaves. However, there are some pests that are not readily visible to the naked eye. They have the ability to destroy your plant or weaken its roots, resulting in its death. Firstly, identify the type of pest, if it is a chewing or a sucking pest. After identifying you can apply organic fungicide or bio pesticide as recommended for that pest type. For prevention of pest one of the things you can do is to simply use a garden pin to rake the top level of the soil once or twice a week. In case you notice that you have an infestation, spray your plant with Activated Neem Oil.

We all have questions now and then, whether long-time gardeners or those who are beginners. So if you have any gardening question, please comment below, we shall answer all your queries.