January 29, 2009
Thursday

Use room temperature water if possible. The preferred way to water is to take the plant to a sink, patio, etc. and soak the plant's entire root ball several times. Let it sit and drain, then return it back in place.**

Alternatively, water the plant from the top until it fills a saucer under the plant. Check in approximately 10 minutes. Give it more water if all the water has been absorbed. Drain off any extra water in the saucer.

Watering once a week or less works fine for most plants in the winter. Succulents, however, may only need water as little as once a month.

Wipe your plant foliage with a damp, soft cloth regularly -except succulents. This helps raise needed humidity this time of year, plus removes dust and helps prevent disease.

Frequent misting of top and bottom leaves in the morning is helpful. My Fine Mist Sprayer works well for spraying most of my plants plus my blooming orchids.

I also like to sit my humidity-loving plants on a humidity tray or atop saucers filled with pebbles and water. You can easily make a humidity tray using a tray such as our Multi-Purpose Tray filled with small rocks and water. Make sure the water does not touch the bottom of the plant pot as it could cause root rot to occur.

Go up only one pot size. Use a quality potting soil mix that has been mixed with vermiculite or perlite, plus some sphagnum moss for best drainage. For extra humus, I like to add some Ultimate Seed Starter. I also use it as a topdressing on other houseplants to give them an extra winter boost.

*Plants especially known for cleaning indoor air:

• Spider plant
• Golden pothos
• English ivy
• Philodendron
• Peace lily

Happy Indoor Growing,