Indoor Gardening - Houseplants

Houseplants provide a perfect diversion for the weather-bound gardener waiting for spring. They provide a living, decorative touch to a home, or office setting. "Houseplants" is a descriptive category not a botanical one; houseplants span many, diverse plant families. Some houseplants are tropical or subtropical plants from the jungle, and adapted to a darker, low- or filtered-light environment. Others, such as cactus and succulents, require lots of bright light, but not much water or tending. Still others, such as orchids and ferns, require warmth, filtered light, and humidity.

A houseplant livens up an office waiting area.

The trick for the indoor gardener is to recognize a plant’s origins, and find the ideal indoor placement for the plant; or, choose a plant that will thrive in the indoor environment in which you plan to place it. In some cases, you may need to alter the environment slightly, for example, you may need to periodically mist a plant that requires high humidity using a spray bottle.

A great book for learning about houseplants is Taylor’s Guide to Houseplants, which is based on Taylor’s Encyclopedia of Gardening, published by Houghton Mifflin Company, Inc. in 1987. The book describes the light, temperature, and humidity requirements for 320 houseplants; provides pictures and drawings of the plants; identifies how difficult they are to maintain (I like the “Easy to grow” category); and provides cultivation and propagation tips. The book provides the scientific name, as well as common names, which is useful when locating plants for purchase. Armed with a little knowledge, many indoor gardeners may find their thumb is not so brown after all!