'House plants’ are not house plants everywhere in the world. Somewhere in the world, what we grow indoors is growing happily outdoors. Most plants that we grow indoors in Ireland are from tropical places with fairly stable temperatures. Within our homes, we can create different conditions to care for different types of plants.
When you are caring for a houseplant, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind: temperature, light, humidity and water, as well an any ongoing trimming or shaping.
Temperature: Most houseplants dislike very hot places, so avoid keeping them too near radiators, fires or cooking surfaces. They enjoy the type of temperatures that we enjoy, eg approx. 14º to 24ºC. Just like us, they dislike cold draughts, so avoid windy halls or leaky windows in winter. A slight downward temperature change at night time promotes better flowering. Some 'indoor' plants can actually survive for much of the year outdoors. In fact, the light and fresh air dows them good. Begonia, Alocasia, Asparagus ferns, Cacti etc all enjoy a spell outdoors when the weather is mild.
Light: All plants require a degree of natural light. Some houseplants, such as Cacti and succulents, require as much light as can be found in Irish homes – including direct sunlight. These should be placed in sunny windows. Other plants, such as orchids and ferns, require light, but not direct sunlight. These plants can be placed further into the room. Some plants, such as Spider plants, bromeliads and Sanseveria can survive very low light levels, such as bathrooms with small windows. No plant can survive for long in a room with no natural light.
Humidity: Many houses can be very dry, especially when heating is on over the winter. Misting the plants occasionally with water keeps the leaves clean and the foliage fresh. Some plants (eg air plants, some ferns, begonias) enjoy the lower light level and humidity of bathrooms.
Water: As a general rule, plants require at least twice as much water in the summer as in the winter. In winter, allow the compost to get dry between watering. Empty any excess water from the saucer or pot after watering to prevent soggy compost. In the warmer months, increase watering and allow compost to be moister, but still remove excess water.
Feeding: Use a liquid fertiliser during the warmer summer months, added to the water every 2-3 weeks. Some plants such as orchids, citrus and cactus have specific fertilisers.
In our own home, left to right: Peperomia, Aspidistra and variegated Monstera. These plants are 2 or 3 metres into the room. The room has west facing windows and is bright, but rarely receives much direct sunlight. Watering approx every week in summer, less water and less frequently in winter. Average temperatutre is approx 17-degree Celcius.
Euphorbia millii on a piano indoors in a bright, easy-facing hallway with rooflights. This plant likes a bright, not necessarily sunny location and can get pretty dry between watering. As you can see, we grow many of our houseplants in terracotta pots, often by Bergs Potter.
Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) indoors in bright-ish sitting room, several metres from a large window. This plant is many years old, approximately ten. This is in a 'Artstone' pot with an intergrated saucer / drainage layer and removeable plug. We allow it to get pretty dry between watering, and remove any old / unsightly stems from time to time
Left to right: Chamaedorea elegans, Pilea, Begonia, Pilea, Paphiopedilum orchid. This little collection seems content at the brighter, sunnier end of a dresser, approx 150cm from a west-facing window. Sometimes we soak our plants in the sink for an hour or so. This occasional soak re-hydrates them. Allow most plants to become dry between waterings... but not too dry.