People all over the world enjoy the many ways indoor plants can enhance our homes and our lives and those of us who struggle through Minnesota's dark winters have a deeper level of appreciation. What else can offer you such an array of color, form, flowers and fragrance? Indoor plants can bring a touch of spring into your kitchen on the coldest winter day or evoke a tropical feeling in your dining room as you enjoy dining. Your indoor plants will give you the most enjoyment when you understand their basic needs. Choosing the best plant for your conditions will make your job much easier, but you'll also need to learn a little about light, watering, humidity, feeding, soils and potting, temperatures and problems that might occur. It may sound a bit overwhelming, but it isn't.

In choosing and caring for indoor plants, is there a "most important" factor? Undoubtedly the most important factor in choosing the right plant is matching the plants to the available light. Once you have done that, the next most important factor in caring for the plant is providing the right amount of water.

How do I choose a healthy plant? The easiest way to be sure you get a healthy, high-quality plant is to buy from a reputable company who will stand by their products as Bachman's does. When shopping, look at the overall appearance and cleanliness of the display area and the plants. Avoid any plant that is wilted or shows signs of insects or diseases. Don't hesitate to ask specific questions about anything you need to know.

How do I know what plant matches my conditions? Before you choose a plant, take a minute to determine how much light it will received and how much room you have. Then browse and look for that information on the tags or ask a sales consultant for assistance. Bachman's also offers Information Sheets entitled Indoor Plants for Varying Light and Indoor Palnts for Different Temperatures.

Do the tags provide reliable information? The vast majority of the time, tags provide good cultural information for indoor plants. Keep in mind that plants will tolerate slightly different conditions than what is ideal, but they may not be quite as lush or compact.

What is meant by low, medium and high light? High light means a plant needs several hours of direct sunlight, as well as strong light the rest of the day. Medium means the most light possible without any direct sun.  Low light is an area that is away from the window or in brightly lit rooms. You may hear other terms for levels of light, but these are the three usually used on tags and in stores.

Can I use artificial lighting? Definitely. In fact, with enough artificial light, you could grow almost anything, even in your basement or in a closet. many lights are available for plants, including incandescent (regular light bulbs) and fluorescent. Incandescent lights will help, but they also give off a lot of heat and are relatively expensive to use. Fluorescent light provides cooler, less expensive light for your plants. If you are
growing blooming plants, use the special “plant light” bulb; but if you are growing foliage plants, regular fluorescent bulbs are fine.

Are the fertilizers you add to water the best? Liquids are easiest for your plants to use. You can buy dry, water soluble fertilizers such as Excel Gro™ that dissolve easily, or liquid concentrates that you simply dilute according to directions.

How often should I fertilize? Follow the directions on the package of fertilizer. Try to avoid fertilizing in the winter months when plants are resting and receiving much lower light and temperatures.

How often will I need to water? That will vary greatly according to the type of plant, the time of year, the soil, the temperatures and if the plant is actively growing. Generally, plants either like it evenly moist, prefer to get somewhat dry between waterings, or prefer to stay dry. Plants that like to stay evenly moist should be watered frequently, but never left with water in the saucer. The majority of indoor plants would prefer to dry out somewhat between watering. Press hard on the soil surface, or dig down a little. If you still feel moisture, don't water yet. Some plants want to stay dry for weeks at a time and be soaked on occasion. You'll need to find out what your specific plants prefer.

Should I mist my plants? Many plants we use indoors grow naturally in humid conditions. Humidity can be
added to plants by misting, by placing them on humidity trays and by placing them in more humid rooms (such as bathrooms and kitchens). Often, when you grow a grouping of plants together, they will create their own humidity zone as they give off moisture.

Does temperature really make a difference? Most plants have amazing abilities to adapt, but some need
specific temperatures to trigger blooming.

How do I know when a plant needs repotting? Sometimes we repot a plant simply because we want a different pot. That can be done any time if the pot sizes are the same. When the plant looks too big for the container, or if water seems to run straight through, ease it out and look at the root system. If it is almost a solid mass of roots with very little soil, or if the roots are circling around the outside of the root ball, it will need to be
repotted. Selecting a container one pot size larger is usually adequate.

Should I use a certain type of container? Each type of container has its own advantages and disadvantages. Clay breathes, looks natural and is heavy enough to stabilize large plants, but it's also breakable. Plastic is inexpensive and lightweight, but doesn't breathe and may keep plants too wet. Pick out a pot that compliments the plant and your decor and adjust your care accordingly.

Is the potting soil important? Your plant will have to rely on the soil you provide to hold the right amounts of water and air and stay well drained. Quality potting soils will make your job much easier. The best potting soil for most indoor plants will be peat based, lightweight and spongy.

What kind of problems should I watch for? Plants will show you a variety of symptoms when they aren't happy. Common signs of trouble are yellowing leaves, browning edges, brown spots, drooping/wilting, lanky growth, failure to bloom and dropping leaves. If you have a problem with a plant, pick up a copy of our Signs
of Trouble information sheet or ask at Bachman's. We want you to be successful and will be glad to help you.

Additional Bachman's Information
Watering Basics for Indoor Plants
Potting Indoor Plants
Signs for Trouble with Indoor Plants
Artificial Lights for Plants
Packaged Soils and Soil Amendments

Recommended Products
Grow Light Bulbs and Fixtures
Exceloam Potting Soil
Excel Gro™ Fertilizer
Clay and Plastic Containers and Saucers

©Bachman's 2008