Introduction

House plants are capable of giving a great deal of long-lasting pleasure, with to care for plants requiring minimal fuss, as long as they're regularly watered and located in a suitable position. Many house plants will require nothing more, except perhaps an occasional re-potting and, if you wish, a spot of plant food now and again.

Watering The most useful piece of equipment in basic plant care is a watering can. Try to get one with a narrow spout, making it easier to water your plant or plants without spills. Be careful not to over-water your plants however, as plants can die if they are given too much water. Over-watering your plants is just as damaging as not watering them at all.

You should also avoid watering your plants when they are in direct sunlight. There are no hard and fast rules covering all plants, but a general approach is the finger test. If you insert your index finger into the soil up to the first joint, and the soil feels damp, then the plant probably doesn't require further watering.

When watering, fill the pot until you can see water bubbling from the drainage holes. Leave the plant for a few minutes to absorb the excess water, and then remove any that is left.

Some plants, such as African Violets, prefer to be watered from below. This is done by standing the plant in a shallow dish of water and allowing it to drink. After a few minutes, return the plant to its regular pot and discard the left over water.
Another important aspect of watering is to ensure that the water is at room temperature. Fill the can the night before, thus allowing it to come - or warm up - to room temperature. This will avoid unnecessarily shocking the plants.

Feeding Plants that have been freshly potted will not require feeding for the first few months. When the time comes to commence feeding, there are a few simple rules to apply.

For foliage plants, such as Weeping Fig, use a food high in nitrogen. This will usually be indicated on the container by the letter 'N'. For flowering plants, such as Begonias, you should look for K2O, which indicates high levels of potash. Slow release fertilizers are sometimes in the compost already. Some plants require specialist feeds, such as Orchids or Cacti. Feeding also tends to take place from early spring to late summer, whilst the plants are in active growth, and should be stopped in the winter.

Light Each plant will have its own light needs, which can usually be found on the care instructions which came with the plant. If no care instructions were provided, consult a good book or use the internet to fully research your plants requirements.

Shade
Good distance from any natural light, but enough to read by. Plants which typically prefer this environment are Aspidistra, Sanseveria.

Semi-Shade
Either near to a window that doesn't receive sunlight, or some distance from a sunny window. Examples of plants that prefer semi-shade are Dracaena and Spider Plants.

Bright
No sun, but a generally bright position. A sunless windowsill or position close to a bright window is ideal. Plants which share these requirements include Bromeliads and Cheese Plants. A little direct sun is fine, but they must be protected from excessive direct sunlight in summer. Other examples of plants requiring a "bright" position are Impatiens, Saintpaulia.

Sunny
Ideally a window which has direct sun, or as close as possible to a south facing window. Some shading may be required in the summer when the sun is particularly bright. Plants that relish in a sunny location are Bougainvillea and Hibiscus.

Humidity

All house plants tend to require a degree of humidity for optimum growth. Although modern central heating creates a less than ideal environment, most houses hold enough humidity for reasonable plant growth. To help promote better growth, increase humidity by placing pots on trays containing gravel, or shingle, that are kept moist, allowing humid air to rise up amongst the plants.

A second method is to place one pot inside a larger one, and fill the gap with compost or stones, again kept moist. This also helps to prevent the compost drying out. Putting plants together can also help to raise the humidity, with the plants creating their own "micro climate". Another good way to improve humidity is to spray the plants once or twice a day with water spray mist.

Temperature Always refer to the care instructions that were provided with the plant as each variety will have specific needs. As a general rule, most plants will thrive in a temperature range of between 15 to 25°C (55-75°F). Most house plants can tolerate temperatures a little above or below this range, but do not like wild fluctuations, preferring a gradual reduction in temperature over night. Sharply rising or falling temperatures will have a negative effect on any plant, especially over time.

Ideally, keep plants away from windowsills (unless recommended by care instructions), radiators and draughts to prevent these sudden changes. Although there are exceptions to these rules, with cacti and succulents well able to cope with a wide range of temperatures, this is due to life in their natural growing habitat. Most plants benefit from a steady temperature, with a gradual rise and fall throughout the day and night if necessary.