How to Cultivate and Grow Indoor Plants
- 1). Choose containers that are large enough to hold your starter plants' root systems when they are fully grown. Make sure the pots have drainage holes on the bottom and detachable saucers to catch excess water.
- 2). Designate a growing area near a window where your plants will receive some direct or indirect sunlight each day; a window facing south or west will offer the best light. Provide supplemental light with a fluorescent light fixture if you do not have enough natural light in the room. Place the light about 6 inches above the plants and leave it on for 14 to 16 hours each day.
- 3). Fill each pot three-quarters full with a peat-lite mixture that contains peat moss and vermiculite or perlite, which help plants retain moisture and enhance drainage. Do not use garden soil in your indoor pots, because it can contain too much bacteria.
- 4). Create a planting hole with a trowel in the soil of each pot. Make each hole twice as wide as the roots of the plant you will be transplanting, and the same depth as the plant was growing in its nursery pot. Place each plant into a hole.
- 5). Water the plants thoroughly with room-temperature water -- 62 to 72 degrees -- until water runs out of the bottom of the pots. Empty the saucers of excess water when you are finished watering, to avoid root rot. Touch the soil in each pot every couple of days to determine if it is dry. When the mix feels dry to the touch and is lighter in color, give the plant more water.
- 6). Apply a general-purpose fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to your indoor plants, following the manufacturer's instructions for application rates and timing. Feed plants during the spring and summer when plants are growing. Avoid fertilizing during the winter, because this is when many plants enter a resting stage.
- 7). Dampen a soft cloth with water and wipe the upper and lower surfaces of your plants' leaves once a week to remove dust and grease and promote healthy growth.
- 8). Cut off yellow or withered stems, overgrowth or dried flower heads from your indoor plants in the spring and fall, using pruning shears or sharp scissors. Dead or sick plant parts can affect the overall health of an entire plant. Trimming off excess foliage also improves air circulation, allowing the plants room to "breathe" and lessening the chance of disease.
- 9). Check the plants periodically for signs of pests and disease, which is often caused by fungi. Apply a pesticide or fungicide when necessary, following the label directions.
Source...