Its Time To Upgrade Your Houseplants Options

Light and Humidity Requirements for Houseplants

There's no room a houseplant can't enliven and, not only do they make homes and offices look more pleasant However, certain varieties can improve air quality. They also absorb or reflect noise pollution such as sirens, noisy neighbors, and loud electronics.

You have to recreate their natural environment to ensure that your plants remain as healthy as possible. For instance, tropical houseplants thrive in humid, warm conditions, whereas succulents and cacti adapt to extreme desert temperatures and require little water.

Light Requirements

Light is essential for the growth of houseplants. Houseplants require a variety of conditions to thrive. These include humidity, water, the correct growing medium and the right temperature range and temperatures, but perhaps the most important factor is light. Most houseplants thrive in indirect light, not direct sunlight. Plants that do not get enough light may be damaged and may die. Only a few plants are capable of receiving direct sunlight during the summer, such as desert succulents and Cacti.

You can measure the amount of light an area receives using a light gauge or simply by watching how bright your plants are. Light meters can be costly, but allow you to measure the intensity of sunlight throughout the day.

Windows facing east or south are perfect for plants which require filtered sunlight. These windows can provide bright indirect sunlight during most of the day and some hours of direct sunlight in late morning or early afternoon. The light is more intense than sunlight from a window facing west that is un-shaded however it may be too much for a plant that likes shade and partial sun.

Filtered sunlight comes into a room through windows but is softened by curtains, blinds or an awning. This light isn't as bright as direct sunlight, but is still sufficient for the majority of plants. If you reside in a northern climate this kind of light is often not available.

Floor lamps and table lamps can provide filtered light to a majority of plants. However they aren't suitable for plants that require full sunlight. They emit more heat than light, and are therefore unsuitable for tropical plants or those that love sun.

Certain plants that require bright indirect light will thrive in a North or East Window, but will need to protected from wind and rain showers that could blow the plants around. They can also be sheltered with an awning or other structures that block the harshest elements of North or East sun.

Water Requirements

The watering requirements for various houseplants depend on the conditions in which they thrive. Tropical plants that thrive in jungle conditions like the humid, warm climate with regular rain. Desert plants, such as cacti, prefer drier soil, drier soil and periodic watering.

If you want to see a houseplant grow it is essential to understand the needs of your plant and then water it according to its needs. A good rule of thumb is to check the moisture level in the soil and only water if the top 1" to 2" of the medium is dry. This prevents the soil from becoming waterlogged and could lead to root rot.

Generally speaking, a plant that is thirsty will display indications of it by falling leaves, or yellowing them, or being slow to produce new leaves. One way to check for the moisture of a plant is by poking your finger around an inch into the soil. If it feels moist it is probably appropriate to wait a few days before watering again. Another helpful tool is to grab the pot and see if it is full of water, it will feel heavy for its size. Alternatively, you can purchase devices that beep, indicate or flash to inform you when it is time to water.

Many people decide to incorporate indoor plants into their offices and homes due to aesthetic reasons: they add interest and colors, soften lines and improve air quality by absorbing chemicals like formaldehyde and Trichloroethylene that are typically off-gassed from man-made materials. However, it's important to keep in mind that these aren't the only benefits of having a houseplant they also offer therapeutic benefits and taking care of a plant can help reduce stress levels.





Most indoor houseplants do better in glazed or ceramic pots than in terracotta ones. They also grow more in spring and summer than in fall and winter. When selecting a watering pot, try to find one that has good control over the spout so that you can direct the water at the soil surface without soaking the leaves, which could invite fungus. If you can't get rainwater, tap water will do provided it's allowed to rest for a few days to allow the chlorine evaporate.

small house plants of the houseplants we cultivate are native to tropical or subtropical climates. To thrive, houseplants they require a warm, humid environment. Most plants thrive in temperatures that range between the 58-86 degree Fahrenheit range. Temperatures that are too cool can hinder growth, while temperatures too hot can cause wilting or other issues.

Flowers and tropical plants, such as philodendrons (philodendrons) palms (peace lily plants) as well as hibiscuses and bromeliads, enjoy warmer temperatures during the daytime. This stimulates photosynthesis and produces sugars and starch to aid in the tissues of the plant grow. The plants require cooler temperatures at night to save energy.

Succulents, such as cacti and the familiar fishhook barrel cactus and string of pearls, require very warm temperatures in order to thrive. They can tolerate temperatures as low as to 40 degrees Fahrenheit but will not thrive in sudden temperature fluctuations.

The best method to ensure that your houseplants are healthy is to ensure they are in a sunny area that is warm during the day and moderately cool during the night. This is particularly important in the winter months, when the sun appears lower and the light levels can drop by as much as 50%. To stop your plants from becoming too dark, you can move them to an area with a brighter view or add supplemental lighting to the room.

In winter, the surface soils can dry out more quickly because of colder temperatures. When it's time to water make sure to use warm (not cold) water to avoid shock to the roots. Water your plants early in the morning so that they are able to absorb the water before temperatures drop at night.

Many types of houseplants can die due to a sudden temperature drop even the most well-known. It is particularly hazardous for tropical and subtropical species like philodendrons and palms and banana trees. Even succulents such as bear paws or agaves could be killed by sudden fluctuations in temperature. It is recommended to bring the plants inside before the temperatures outside begin to drop. Then, gradually acclimate these plants to indoor conditions to allow them to adjust.

Humidity Requirements

Many houseplants require high humidity levels. Many houseplants are native to tropical regions that have higher levels of humidity. Others may be more adapted to the dry climate of forest underbrush and deserts and are not able to adapt to indoor temperatures and low humidity. This is the case for orchids, aroids and other plants such as haworthias.

Humidity is the measure of the air's capacity to hold water vapour. It ranges from 0% (dry), to 100% (saturated, like fog). The average relative humidity for homes is between 30 and 50 percent. plants house will survive in this range. However those that require a high humidity could suffer and lose leaves or buds because they're not able to hold the moisture in the air.

When humidity is too low, plants will become dehydrated as the stomata close and they are unable to replace the water lost with fresh carbon dioxide, which is essential for photosynthesis. This can eventually kill the plant. When humidity is very low, the first indication of this is a dry appearance, as the plant becomes desiccated. Other signs include wilting and browning of the leaves.

Place the plant on a tray with gravel and water to increase the humidity. The evaporating water will give the plant the extra humidity it requires. It is crucial to empty your tray frequently to prevent bacteria from growing in the stagnant water. This can damage the roots of your plant.

Another way to increase the humidity of an plant is to cover the plant with a plastic bag. Make sure to place wooden stakes in the pot to keep the plastic away from the plant and be sure it is not in direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves of the plant. It is important to open the plastic from time time and look for excessive condensation, which could suggest that the temperature of the air is too high.

The plant should be placed in the kitchen or bathroom in areas where the air is generally more humid than other parts of the home. The idea of putting plants that require high humidity in the same area is helpful as they can benefit from each other's speedier transpiration rate and create a pocket of higher humid air around them.