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How to Grow Healthy House Plants  ►  1 - 2
Houseplants are easy to grow if you follow some simple rules that include:

☼ Plant Type  ☼ Potting   ☼ Watering  ☼ And Lighting

Plant Type
There are 2 types of houseplants for the beginning domestic gardener. Most houseplants are either succulents or tropicals and each type of plant must be cared for differently.

  How to Grow Healthy Pond Plants
  Video:  Learn how to grow healthy
  pond plants at home.
 

Succulent Plant Care

Purchasing your Succulent
Succulents come in all shapes and colors; they have very thick leaves, and are cactus-like.  The succulent plant is normally sold in a standard plastic container.  However, the succulent actually grows best in clay pottery.  So, when you bring the plant home transfer it into a clay container.

Potting your Succulent Plant
The best potting soil for a succulent is cactus potting soil and can be found at most nurseries.  You may also plant your succulent in 1 part sand to 3 parts potting soil.  Pearlight is a small bead / styrofoam-like planting additive that is also excellent to add to the potting mix. If these items are not available, the succulent will grow in just potting soil alone, but it will not thrive to its full potential.

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Ceramic or Plastic?
Ceramic Only!  Succulents and Cacti should only be planted in ceramic pots.  Ceramic pots absorb excess water and help to prevent from over-watering.  Did you know that the poinsettia plant is a succulent and a distant relative of the cactus family?  Keep your holiday poinsettia alive by taking it out of its festive wrapper and transplanting it in a ceramic pot. Place in a sunny window and it should thrive!

 

Watering your Succulent
Minimal watering is they key.  A small succulent should only receive about 1/4 cup of water per week.  Remember to not let your plant soak in standing water.  This will kill your succulent in no time at all.  Small rocks or broken pottery inside the bottom of your ceramic pot will help with water drainage and keep the roots from getting water logged too.

Lighting:  Most succulents prefer a sunny window, but some like the Christmas Cactus need indirect light. 
ee more lighting tips below.

 Tropical Houseplant Care

Purchasing your First Tropical Houseplant
The very best starter plant is the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) which is native to South Africa and very common in the United States. The spider plant comes in 3 varieties: the regular solid, the variegated, and the variegated curly variety.  This plant is extremely easy to grow, because it adapts well to both dry and very wet soil conditions. 

Potting your Tropical Houseplant
All tropical houseplants (excluding ferns) have the same basic needs.  Vines, broad leaf, and spiders can be planted in ceramic pots, but often do not thrive.  Therefore, it is recommended to only plant tropical houseplants in plastic containers.  Regular Miracle Grow potting soil is an excellent planting medium.

*Note:  If the soil is mounded up too high, water will run off the top.  If there is too little soil, the roots will be exposed and the water will not absorb into the plant effectively. 

Fertilizing your Houseplant
Osmocote is the best fertilizer and is used by many professional nurseries.  Spread one scoop of the fertilizer beads near the base of your plant every six months and immediately soak your houseplant. 

Watering your Tropical Houseplant
Water your houseplant with about 1 cup of water one time per week.  In some very dry regions, 2 times per week might be necessary.  In the summer months, give your houseplants a complete soaking once per month and allow to drain before returning to their place in the home. If you have a little starter plant soaking in a jar, be sure to change the water at least one time per week.

Too much water will attract little flies!  So always remember, do not allow your plant to stand in a pan of water and be sure it has good drainage too.  Watering bulbs are great for those hard-to-reach plants up high, but are not recommended as a substitute for regular plant soakings.   
 

Lighting:
Most houseplants grow well in low light, but a thriving plant grows best near a bright sunny window. The only danger is potential cold in the wintertime and intense heat in the summer.  A window in direct sunlight during hot summer days is the largest threat to tropical houseplants.  Therefore it might be necessary to move your plants to another location depending on the sun's location and season.