Home Decor Houseplants
Using an unconventional pot to plant flowers would be more stunning in a room. Such as, a teapot, watering can, jars, colored bottles, empty coffee can, or large glass pitcher. Anything that would seem unusual to hold a potted houseplant, will gain the most intention in the room. Remembering, that the outside of any containment, can be painted or decorated in any form or variety, you desire, before adding any plant. Recommend, that you add, some small tiny rocks, white stones, sea shells, gravel stones, broken pieces of clay pots, or one coffee filter, at the base of any enclosed container. This gives any plant, proper drainage, which prevents the leaves from turning yellow and dying. Another type of drainage, making holes into the bottom of the container, where water would drain onto a small dish, underneath the plant. The small dish could be any size, shape or color.
Displaying a plant in a glass jar or large pitcher, would be interesting to observe, what type of drainage is being used inside the containment, and seeing the roots of the plant. Certainly noticeable if the plant needs to be re-potted, into a larger containment. The potting soil should already have all the necessary nutrients added. Sometimes the plant will need fertilizer. An example of a fertilizer, would be PlanTea, which is an organic fertilizer developed for houseplants. The ingredients include kelp meal, rock phosphate, bone meal, and dried botanicals. Planting seeds or bulbs, can be very interesting to see them grow, but patience is certainly a requirement. Types of flowers that grow good in shady conditions include, Amaryllis, Begonia, Bonsai Plants, Avocado, Cactus, Impatiens, and Coleus. Each has a unique appeal to a room. However, certain types of houseplants should be avoiding, since those plants contain poisonous residue that can be toxic to children or pets. Those types of poisonous houseplants include: Flamingo lily, Angels wings, Kaffir Lilly, Cyclamen, English Ivy, Azalea, and Jerusalem Cherry. The average room temperature for a house plant, should be between 68 to 72 degrees fahrenheit, however slight above or below, won’t effect the plant, except if the temperature where to fall below 60 degree’s for any duration of time. Proper watering is always essential, depending on the type of houseplant. A good source of water for houseplants would be collecting, rain water or melted snow.
When purchasing, a growing houseplant to bring home, always check to make sure the plant is perfectly healthy. Check to see if the plant has good color, no distorted leaves or flowers, the plant is not drooping, and there should be no signs of webbing on any leaf, which indicates insects or pest problem. When you bring a new plant home, should then isolate the plant from other plants you have at home, for two to three weeks. This will avoid the possibility exposing the new plant to other plants in your house, in case the new plant has any problems, you may not notice immediately. Also, the same precaution should be followed, if you plan on re-potting the new plant, into another container. Trimming back any leaves on top portion, of the plant, will provide the energy to grow new leaves from the lower portion of the plant. Some houseplant owners would say, that soft music or talking to a houseplant provides, an additional source of fulfillment for the plant to grow healthy.
If you are unsuccessful growing houseplants, allergic to plants, or don’t have the time to devote to the care of a houseplant, then you might consider an artificial houseplant. They are available in many department stores and different varieties. Certainly there are many advantages, and disadvantages. There is no maintenance for artificial plants, except to occasionally dusting them from air pollutants, leaves never die, and never have to be watered. However, the aroma and purification of the air, is not present.
