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Welcome to the Blog! |
Joanne K., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Are you experiencing a post-holiday let down? Does the house seem a little dull without colorful holiday decorations? You might want to add some houseplants in your home to brighten both your mood and your environment.
Before deciding whether to bring some house plants home, consider your light source. The lighting in your house is usually indirect meaning that it passes through another medium such as a window shade or it's reflected off of another surface before hitting the plant. Any plants labeled partial shade, full shade, or low light will probably do well in household light. For more information on measuring light levels in your house, go to the NC State Extension Master Gardener site at https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/18-plants-grown-in-containers#section_heading_8773 Watering is the other big issue for house plants. More of them are killed by overwatering than underwatering. Pay attention to the plant care instructions on the label. For more information on growing your plants, go to the Plant Toolbox on the NC State Extension Master Gardener site at https://emgintranet.ces.ncsu.edu/ where you can search by plant name. The following are some of the easy, low-maintenance house plants that you may want to add to your home. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is a low-light plant preferring partial to deep shade. Its white flower is called a spathe. Keep its soil slightly moist. Allow the top inch of soil to dry slightly and then water until it drains from the pot. Discard excess water from the saucer to prevent root rot. Trim off the spathes when flowering is over. Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) is a tropical plant that does best in bright, indirect light as too much light causes its variegation to fade. Place in a pot with wet pebbles underneath as it needs high humidity. While growing, keep the soil evenly moist but let it dry out between waterings in the winter. It's grown for its interesting foliage rather than its tiny flowers. Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata) is a tough-to-kill plant unless overwatered. From spring to fall, let it dry out between waterings. In winter restrict watering to every other month. It will tolerate very low light.
Of course, be sure to periodically check your plants for pests like spider mites and mealy bugs and treat if needed. Follow fertilization recommendations for your plant when it's growing.
If roots protrude at the bottom of the pot, the leaves are yellowing or drooping, or the plant is drying out too quickly, it's time to repot in potting soil. Occasionally spray the leaves to remove dust. Create an indoor garden and enjoy the fun of caring for plants and the benefits that they can bring to you and your home.
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