Foliage Plants are like adding a breath of fresh air to a room and in fact that's exactly what they do - increase the amount of oxygen in a room. They are also very attractive, decorative and functional, as well as being relatively easy to care for.
| Light |
Light is the most important element in successfully growing a houseplant. Without adequate light a plant cannot produce the food it needs to survive.
It is almost always better to give a plant more light than it needs rather than not enough. For example, the Draceana family is generally regarded as a low-light to medium-light family of plants but it is very common to see Draceana massangeans and Draceana marginata, among others, growing in the direct blazing sun of the tropics. This family of plants grows naturally in high light but it also grows naturally in lower light areas and is thus well suited for most homes and offices.
High-light plants such as Fiscus benjamina and Crotons cannot be forced into lower light areas to suit a design function unless they are supplemented with proper additional electric lighting. Additional lighting may be provided in the form of spot grow bulbs, fluorescent grow tubes or various kinds of high-intensity industrial-type lighting.
A good way to determine if an area has enough light to support a given plant is to take a light reading. You can easily do this by purchasing a combination light/moisture meter available from the garden centre.
| Water |
More houseplants are killed by over-watering than by all other combined factors. Water requirements vary for each different type of plant. Generally, the more light a plant is exposed to the more water it requires. Temperature, humidity, soil mix and the type of container the plant is in are all contributing factors to a plant's need for moisture.
It is a good idea to check plants at a regular scheduled time, but it is almost impossible to say that a particular plant will need water every week or at any specific time because the above factors may vary.
Moisture meters can be a valuable tool when checking plants to see if they require water. However, they should be used as a guide only; always use your senses to determine if the moisture meter is working properly. Droopy plants usually indicate a need for water, but may also be the result of stress caused by over-watering.
A plant standing in a saucer or pot of water will absorb too much moisture through its root system. The plant will not have an opportunity to dry out. This will result in a plant performing poorly even though the water given at any one time may not have been excessive.
| Temperature and Humidity |
Tropical plants will survive a wide range of temperatures but like us find that a moderate temperature range of 15-30 degrees centigrade is ideal. Evening temperatures should generally drop about 5 degrees centigrade to sustain plant vitality. Draughts, air conditioning and heating ducts usually have an adverse effect on most tropical plants.
The majority of plants prefer higher humidity levels than the average house can provide, but plants adapt to their surroundings and normal house humidity levels are usually not a problem.
| Fertilizer |
Some fertilization of tropical plants is necessary in order to provide the proper nutrients to sustain overall plant health and vigor. Plants should be fed when actively growing, which in Canada is usually from March to October. It is better to feed more often with diluted concentrations of fertilizer
