How to grow house plants requires a good eye for decorating.As you can see from the photos in this hub,the plants in my home are quite huge.

When buying a house plant,don't choose the first one you see.Be choosy,

Find a reputable house plant dealer.You may have luck with bargain plants,but it is best to buy from a nursery,as they are cared for better.

Survey the general plant selection.Do they look healthy and happy?The plants appearance usually signifies good products and proper care of the plants.

Is it free from leaf damage and pests,is the color good,does the shape appeal to you?Is it pot bound?If the roots are growing out the drainage holes the plant needs repotted.If you want a large plant don't buy a small one as it takes years for the plant to grow.A large plant adapts more readily to it's environment.

Buy a decorative container,as it will add luster to the plants surroundings.

Different types of containers offer growing advantages for plants with special needs.Plastic pots and other non porous containers keep soil damp the longest.This is a good choice for moisture lovers.Porous pots such as red clay allow air circulation around the root system,this hastens moisture loss in potting mix.This is good for plants that require a dry out between waterings.

Try to obtain containers with drainage holes and with a drip saucer.This enables you to move the plant around the house and protects your furniture.

A clay pot is your best bet as it retains moisture and lets oxygen in through the pores in the clay.

To be a succesful indoor gardener,you will need to understand the conditions a plant needs to remain healthy,You need adequate lighting,correct temperatures,and a proper humidity level.Good esthetics and care of plants,such as hanging them from ceilings,setting on the floor,placing them on shelves,plant stands,shelves or maybe upside down.

Plants survival depends on two processes.Photosynthesis and respiration.The products created in one process are utilized in the cycle of the other.A third process,transpiration,causes plants to lose moisture.Understanding these processes and what conditions permit them to take place will help you find a good location for good growth.

Prosynthesis is the process by which plants make food.They take in energy from sun or a light source,carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil.These items are combined to produce plant sugars.Plant sugars are a versatile food as they supply energy to the plant immediately and can be stored as food for later use,or used as building material within the plant body.Nutrients in the soil or potting mix help in the production of plant sugars as well as plant growth.The next process is respiration,whereas the plant sugars are burned to create energy from the topmost leaves to the deepest roots.Oxygen is taken from the air,carbon dioxide is given off as a by product.

These two processes set up a continuing cycle in which the products of one process are used in the function of the other.

Transperation of house plants is a process of the plant giving off moisture through it's leaves.Unless you restore the moisture the plant will die.

Because indoor plants are completely dependent on the keeper,good watering practices are essential.

One benefit of transpiration is the humidity created when moisture evaporates.Grouping your house plants can create a mini atmosphere of humidity.

Each plant has it's own needs to survive.The best way to choose a plant for the house is to choose a future location.Ask this question;Will a house plant enhance this particular spot?How much light is available?Are there seasonal changes in light.and temperature?How much humidity is present?

Once you answer these questions you will get a feeling as to where the plant will thrive.

Sometimes you have to provide artificial light to make a spot for the plant.You can also move the plant from one area to another for decoration,but is not practical.Try to find out about a plant before you decide to buy it,this will help you decide a location for it.

One thing for sure,you need light.Blooming plants need more light then folige plants.Some require direct sunlight and some need filtered light.For some plants ,shorter days indicate winter and signal the start of dormency or rest period.

For some such as Chrystanthemums Christmas Cactus,the lenght of day controls their blooming cycle.This can be controlled by adding more artificial light.Plants grown in limited light require less water and fertilizer than other plants growing in better locations.

Potting mix for house plants is the all important ingredient for a healthy plant.It forms the medium in which plants grow and thrive.For most indoor gardeners buying a commercial potting mix is the most efficient method of selecting house plant soil.

Use a mix which is specifically formulated for the plant you are growing.It provides the nutrients for that specific plant to grow and thrive.Packaged potting mix has been sterilized to eliminate any diseasesor pests.Some light weight mixes need to be moistened before planting.By squeezing the mix in your hand it should form a compact ball,this is just right for planting your plants in.If it has water running out it is too wet for the plant and could cause root rot.

You can also make your own potting mix by blending equal amounts of clean sand,that has been washed to get the salt out,and topsoil from your yard,and peat moss or fir bark.For each two quarts of mix add 1/2 cup of charcoal and 1/2 cup of perlite.

Every ingredient in the potting mix has a purpose for the growth of good plants.Topsoil has clay in it which holds fertilizing materials for the root growth.Sand,perlite and leaf mold hold air around the roots,which is essential to good plant growth.Charcoal bits keep the soil sweet.

All potting mix you make yourself has to be sterilized.Follow these steps for sterilization;Mix all ingredients thouroughly.Dampen the mix slightly.Spread it in shallow oven proof pans.Not more than 4 inches deep.Place pans in a 180* oven and bake for 2 hours.

Prepare yourself for the nasty odor of baking soil.Remove the soil from the oven and let sit for a couple days.Use it or store it in plastic bags.

When you plant always use a clean container to keep the pests and fungus out of your new plants.Wash containers with soap and water and rinse well.

Transplanting and watering house plants

1;Remove plant and root ball from original container.

2;Cover drainage hole with pebbles or pot shards and add some potting soil.

3;Fill container with soil until root ball surface is near pot rim.

4;Center root ball and begin to fill in sides with potting mix.

5;Thump pot carefully on working surface to settle potting mix.

6;Smooth soil surface gently with fingers ;;avoid plant stem area.

Adjustment to new containercan be traumatic for a plant.

Place the well watered plant in a cool,sunless spot for a week.If it wilts do not water unless the soil is bone dry.Try misting to rejuvnate the plant.Seal the plant pot and all in aplastic bag.Once it has adjusted move the plant to it's permanent location.

A plant that loves sun is an exception,place it immediately in a permanent location.

Watering;

Perhaps the most important service you can give a house plant.More plants fail from improper watering than any thing else.You need to familiarize yourself with each plants watering needs,this way you will not over water and drown the plant.

Watering is usually done in the morning.Fill your watering cans in the evening,so they will reach room temperature.This also permits the chlorine to evaporate.If you have salty,hard,or mineral water you should buy bottled or distilled water.You need to water the plant when it needs it, not when you feel like it.