Now that winter is upon us, we are spending more time with our indoor plants.  We welcomed back Master Gardener Nicole Christensen.  Nicole talked about the proper care of houseplants and shared many helpful hints and information to succeed at indoor gardening.

Photos of Nicole’s houseplants are taken from her blog “Suburban Farmgirl”

Some of the Basics for Plant Success –
Watering – Do on Plant’s Schedule; not yours
Don’t do Flood & Drought watering! Will stress out plants!
Do knuckle test, insert finger to 1st knuckle to see if dry or moist; not all size fits all
Room temperature water is best, not cold water
If have fluorinated water, let it sit for a while
Brown/wilted leaves usually means need more water
Yellow on bottom usually means too much water
Humidity important, especially in the winter
Spray most thin leaf plants but not fuzzy leaf plants like African violets
Place plants on trays or pebbles to keep out of water
Group plants together to create a humidity zone
Lighting – Full sun – direct, high;
Filtered (like having a sheer curtain); indirect; semi-shade
Seasonal light – Summer be careful, plants can burn; Winter less intense;
Variegated leaves need more light (no chlorophyll in the white areas)
Turn plants a ¼ turn each week to keep balance
Artificial light should be fluorescent
Feeding –  Usually feed between March – October; avoid over fertilizing – can burn roots, leaf tips will wilt
Houseplants in the winter –  Check for pests, dead debris, wilted plants
Prune in the spring; in the winter, some are resting
Plants that you might want to avoid –  Weeping fig, Ficus, Bonsai, English Ivy, Chrysanthemums, Daisies, Sunflowers, Male Palms (shed a lot of pollen – check with reputable nurseries)
Most Lily plants are toxic to cats
Common Pests and how to avoid them – Check under leaves – aphids, mealy bugs, etc
Spray leaves before bringing them indoors
Spider mites common this time of year – dry, spray to keep moist