Houseplants

House plants are a great way to add life to your home. The greenery is a perfect way to foster the peaceful feeling of being in nature. And, while it may seem easy to go out and buy a plant for your home, being a good plant parent requires a lot of thought and care. 

—

Different plants need different amounts of care, so you want to evaluate what type of plant you can best nurture before purchasing. For example, some plants need to get a significant amount of sunlight, while others need only a couple of hours of indirect sunlight per day. You can find a list of potential options with information from the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society. We also recommend you stop by your local plant nursery if you want a more personalized choice.

When you bring your houseplant home, keep it isolated from other plants for the first couple of weeks and periodically inspect it for any pests. If your plant is infested, you can gently wash pests away with water, or insecticide. By keeping the plant separate from furniture and other houseplants for a few weeks, you can ensure way any pesky bugs won’t be able to hop to another item and cause a large infestation. 

It is also integral to ensure your plant is regularly getting water.  Plants absorb water at different speeds, so they need to be watered different amounts. The general rule is, if the soil at the top of your plant feels dry to the touch, you should water it.

Fertilizing your houseplant is important, too. You can do so by adding a fertilizer solution to the plant's water, or you can add physical fertilizer to your plant's soil. Most plants need to be fertilized every couple of months. 

—

If you don’t see yourself adhering to a strict plant care routine, you can get a plant that requires less care. For example, Sansevieria, known as the snake plant, and Aloe Vera are great plants for beginners who don’t have much time to dedicate to plant care. 

The plant store you go to should be able to provide instructions on how to best care for your plant after purchasing. However, you can always search the internet to find recommendations to care for your plant, especially if you know what type of plant you have. 

Regardless of the type of plant you get, the most important thing is to know your plant. You must understand the amount of care needed and be consistent with your schedule to ensure your plant grows and thrives. 

To explore what type of plant you want to get and learn more about caring for house plants, check out The Garden to Know’s Beginner Guide to House Plants.