Indoor gardening with foliage plants

Plants that are grown primarily for their leaf characteristics and used for interior decoration or landscaping purposes are called foliage plants. As our society becomes more urban, live plants are on the rise as part of the interior landscape. The use of live foliage plants brings people closer to an outdoor type of environment, and the wide variety of plants gives us the opportunity to select species that will serve as attractive additions to interior décor. Foliage plants are excellent for growing indoors, as they can survive in environmental conditions that are unfavorable to many other plants.

Most avid gardeners continue to grow plants throughout the year. We plant seeds in the living room, grow ferns in the bathroom, bring in begonias from the outside garden year after year, and have potted herbs in the kitchen. Today there are so many interesting plants that can be grown indoors that there is simply no reason a gardener should not be surrounded by plants all year long.

Everyone can grow foliage plants indoors with little effort if the right plant is used in the right place. Large-leaved species such as Rubber Plants (Ficus elastica), Monstera deliciosa, Silly Cane (Dieffenbachia amoena) and Philodendron are especially well suited for commercial building interiors. They provide the size required to make them focal points in interior landscaping. These large plants on the left, as well as smaller specimens such as ferns, vines, and ivy, may serve a similar purpose in the home or apartment.

Practical steps to buy indoor plants

Houseplants are raised in glass greenhouses where the air is warm and humid. When brought into the average home, they must withstand harsher conditions than the average outdoor plant. Challenging conditions like minimal light, inadequate ventilation, warmer temperatures, drafts, and dry air all contribute to stressful conditions for plants. Taking into account the following points will help in the selection of houseplants that will complement your interior decoration and will live for many years.

1. Strong and vigorous. Give the plant a quick shake. A plant that wobbles in its pot may not be well rooted. Shaking the plant also tells you if the plant has whiteflies which will scatter in all directions if the plant is infested.

2. Evergreen – Since it will be seen every day of the year, the plants should be perennials.

3. Attractive – Some of the foliage plants will flower from time to time, but the main reason to buy them is the foliage on the plant and how the plants grow. Leaves can be selected for color or shape, or both, and the growth habit should be attractive and require minimal maintenance.

4. Slow Growing – Select plants that grow slowly without much pruning or training. They will perform better over a longer period of time.

5. Crowded Roots – Check the underside of the plant for roots sticking out of the drainage hole. Roots emerging from holes in the pot do not necessarily mean the plant is under the pot, but it is often a first symptom. Root bound plants will require a transplant when you bring the plant home.

6. Unhealthy Roots – If you can, have the clerk remove the plant from the pot to check for root mounds. Roots come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They should always feel firm and not mushy. Soft roots are a sign of root rot.

7. Stem or root rot: Smell the potting mix. Signs of rotting smell like the sickly sweet smell of a rotten potato. Don’t buy this plant, as it likely has a bad case of stem rot or root rot.

8. Leaf spots, yellowing leaves, or profuse leaf loss – Leaf spots can be a sign of disease or can be caused by pushing plants in a garden center. One or two yellow leaves at the base of the plant are not a cause for concern. However, if you see a lot of yellow or drooping leaves, the plant is probably stressed and therefore not a good choice. Damaged sheets are never recovered. Ask yourself if you are willing to wait for the plant to produce new leaves or if you would rather buy a healthier looking specimen.

9. Plants that are leggy or brown leaf tips – These conditions are signs of a plant that has not received proper care for a period of time. Thin plants indicate a lack of adequate light.

10. Signs of insects or disease – Look under the leaves and in the leaf axils (where the leaf meets the stem) where most pests hang out. Do not buy this plant, as you will not only have a problem with it, but it may infest the other plants in your home as well.