Indoor Horticulture • HO-39-W

Department of Horticulture

Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service • West Lafayette, IN

Indoor Plant Care

B. Rosie Lerner

Indoor plants help create a pleasant home environment. shelves for plants that require higher light intensities.
Small plants add color and scenery to windows or tables, Light from reading lamps is also beneficial, but the new
while larger ones soften and blend with groups of furni­ “broad spectrum” fluorescent lights are usually better.
ture. As a part of the “indoor landscape,” plants create a Generally, artificial, fluorescent light 10 to 14 inches
cool, spacious feeling, even in the warmest weather. above the plants will provide sufficient light for plants
requiring medium light intensity, such as the pothos. A
If you have been puzzled as to why some indoor plants combination of one warm white to one cool white light is
thrive while others refuse to flourish, this publication is for best. If your plants appear spindly, they need more light,
you. Most indoor plant problems can be easily corrected should be closer to artificial light, or your fluorescent light
and even more easily prevented. bulbs are too old to produce the proper wavelength for
growth and should be replaced. For even growth, turn
First, realize that most of the foliage plants known as the plants once a week so they receive light on all sides.
house plants are native to tropical areas. This is why, for
instance, most indoor plants prefer a humid atmosphere Temperature and Ventilation
and indirect light. Of course, there are exceptions, and
these are also discussed. Keep in mind that sound Most indoor plants grow well between 60 and 75oF. They
cultural methods, preventive care, knowing your plant’s may become spindly if kept warmer. Always keep plants
requirements, and careful attention are the best substi­ away from hot or cold drafts, warm appliances, and heat
tutes for a green thumb. registers. Flowering plants will retain blossoms longer if
lower temperatures are provided. Temperatures above
Light 75oF hasten the death of flowers and make plants spindly
as well as less resistant to disease and insect attack.
This publication includes a partial guide to the light
requirements of some common indoor plants. Use it as a Some plants will thrive in hot and dry conditions. Table 1
guide for the selection and placement of your plants. cites examples of such plants.
See Tables 2-4.
Proper ventilation is necessary for good plant growth. In
Plants vary considerably in their light requirements. For most homes, ample fresh air is provided. However,
example, plants such as the croton need direct sunlight, guard against escaping fumes from gas appliances or
while philodendrons will grow under lower light intensi­ furnaces.
ties. If plants are not receiving enough light, their leaves
turn yellow and die. Humidity
Most people depend on natural window light for the Most plants require a higher humidity than that of the
growth of their plants. Natural light may be adequate if average home. Any means of increasing humidity will be
plants are close to windows. However, the amount of beneficial to your plants. Today many heating systems
natural light a plant receives, decreases dramatically the are provided with humidifiers, which should be kept full of
farther it is placed from the window or its source of light. water. Sprinkling or syringing plants with water is not
Usually, plants must be located close to windows to effective as the water evaporates rapidly. Fittonia
receive enough light for them to grow and flourish. (Fittonia verschaffelti), baby’s tears (Helxine soleiroli),
and strawberry begonia (Saxifraga sarmentosa) will
If window sill space is in short supply, hang basket tolerate high humidity conditions. Growing plants to­
planters, make glass shelves, or build a “bay window gether in a terrarium or setting them on a tray of gravel
greenhouse” by extending the window and adding with moisture in the tray are good ways to raise humidity.

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Indoor Horticulture • HO-39-W
Watering the growing season. Often a grower will purchase a
commercially prepared soluble fertilizer. He should then
Improper watering is the cause of most house plant use it according to the directions on the container.
problems. Both under- and over-watering can cause
leaves to yellow and fall. Check plant soil daily to see if Slow release fertilizers save time. Follow the label
they need water (soil dry 1/4 inch down and tapped pot directions. Apply amounts (usually given in teaspoons or
sounds hollow). If needed, add water until moisture drips tablespoons) to the soil. Each time you water, some
out of the drainage hole of the pot. Wait a few minutes nutrients are released. A new application can be given
and water the plant again until moisture drips out of the when recommended on the label. If you have fertilized
drainage hole. Be sure to discard drainage water. Do plants through the summer months, little or no fertilizer is
not allow the bottom portion of the pot to stand in water. necessary during the winter. Plants should be allowed to
become dormant at this time and produce little growth.

Soil Preparation

Adequate water drainage is essential for plants growing

in containers. Ensure good drainage by mixing soil with
liberal amounts of sand or perlite. These materials help
aerify the soil, improve root growth, and allow water to
easily penetrate the mixture.

A good soil mix includes two parts peat moss, one part
sand, and one part perlite; or one part silt or clay loam
garden soil, one part organic matter (peat moss), and
one part coarse sand or perlite. Commercial potting soils
can also be used. These usually require the addition of
one part sand or perlite to improve drainage and plant
With small plants, weight is a good indicator of when growth.
water is needed. Dryer plants feel lighter than those with
moist soil. Sterilize the soil mix to remove weed, insect, and disease
organisms. Place the soil mix in an oven and heat to
If you prefer, water from the bottom. Place the plant in a 180oF for 20-30 minutes. Tools and containers should
saucer of water until the top of the soil is moist. Then also be sterilized. Wash equipment in a chlorine bleach-
remove the plant and let excess moisture drain away. water solution (1:10 by volume) to kill disease organisms.
Never keep ordinary indoor plants standing in water
continuously. Repotting
A well-drained soil mixture is essential for ease of In the spring when new growth starts, turn each of your
watering. Heavy soil mixes hold too much water and plants upside down, tape the edge of the pot, and
often cause the plant to rot at the crown. remove the plant. If the roots are in a solid mass, they
need to be repotted. Shift the plant to a pot (with a
When watering, the water should be visible on the drainage hole) 1 or 2 inches larger in diameter.
surface for not more than a few seconds. If it tends to
stand on the surface, mix perlite or sand into the soil to
improve drainage.

Note: Water all plants from the top once a month to

prevent mineral or salts build-up, and be sure to water
any plant before it wilts. A build-up of white or brown
crusty material on the soil or rim of the pot indicates salt
accumulation.

Fertilizing

Water your house plants with a dilute fertilizer solution, Fast-growing plants may need an even larger pot. Add
especially during the summer. Prepare a solution by new soil to the container. For most plants, use 1/3
mixing one teaspoon of soluble fertilizer in 1 gallon of sphagnum peat moss, 1/3 garden soil (loam), and 1/3
water. Such fertilizer analyses as 20-20-20, 5-10-5, sand or perlite. For cactus, use 1/2 quartz sand and 1/2
4-12-4, or 7-7-7 may be used. Apply once a month during garden soil. After adding soil, water as usual. You may

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 Indoor Horticulture • HO-39-W
need to repot fast-growing plants more often than once a Before you vacation, water all indoor plants well. Either
year. Usually you will not need to water as frequently for have a “baby-sitter” water your indoor plants or move
a few months after repotting. them out-of-doors as suggested. However, drying out
can be delayed for a while if pots are sunk in moist
When an indoor plant has reached a desirable size, do vermiculite or peat moss and kept in a cool spot away
not repot it. Instead, remove some of the soil at the top from direct sun.
of the pot at least once a year and replace with fresh soil.

Additional Care
Table 1. Plants which will grow in hot and dry conditions.
Most plants, except those with hairy leaves, respond to ________________________________________________________
an occasional bath. Syringing the plants occasionally
Common Name Scientific Name
with a fine spray of clean water removes accumulated _____________________________________________________
dust and keeps the stomates (pores) open.
Aeonium Aeonium arboreum
Some broad-leaved plants, such as palms, may be Tiger Aloe Aloe variegata
cleaned by rubbing with a soft cloth. Never use an oiled Zebra Plant Aphelandra squarrosa
cloth. However, special leaf waxes, available in many Echeveria Echeveria gigantea
florist shops, may be used on glossy-leaved plants Mother of Thousands Kalanchoe daigremontiana
without causing harm. Air Plant Kalanchoe pinnata
Lamb’s Ear Kalanchoe Kalanchoe tomentosa
Sedum Sedum sp.
Use a fine, soft brush, such as camel’s hair, to clean _________________________________________________________
hairy-leaved plants. Never use leaf wax on these plants.

Climbing plants may be trained to make them attractive

and easier to care for. Table 2. Plants which will grow in low, indirect light, such as
sunlight filtered through a curtain to shadowless light from a
Summer Care north window. Location usually more than 8 feet from windows,
no direct light - dull hallways.
________________________________________________________
Many house plants can be invigorated by growing them
outside during the summer. Remove all dead leaves and Common Name Scientific Name
prune where necessary. Place the plants in a location ________________________________________________________
suitable for their light requirement, e.g., low light requiring
plants should be placed on a shady porch. Chinese Evergreen Aglaonema commutatum
Pewter Plant Aglaonema crispum
For minimum summer care, dig a hole, put gravel or Chinese Evergreen Aglaonema simplex
Birds-nest Fern Asplenium nidus
cinders in the bottom, and set the pot so the top is at the
Cast-iron Plant Aspidistra elatior
original soil line. Mulch with peat moss, and water. Bamboo Palm Chamaedora erumpens
Usually these plants need watering more often than when Parlor Palm Chamaedora elegants
indoors. Corn Plant Dracaena fragrans
‘Massangeana’
During the summer, lift or twist the pot at least every Pleomile Dracaena reflexa
month to prevent roots from growing through the drain­ Heart-leaf Philodendron Philodendron scandens
age hole in the pots. subsp. oxycardium
Snake Plant Sansevieria trifasciata
‘Laurentii’
Lift the plants with their pots before they are endangered
Birdsnest Sansevieria Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’
by autumn frosts and repot if necessary. Inspect the Asia Umbrella Tree Brassaia arboricola
plants for any insect or disease infestations before Pothos Epipremnum aureum
returning indoors. A shower with plain water or insecti­ ________________________________________________________
cidal soap may take care of most insect problems.
Contact your local county Extension agent for further
advice, if needed. Be sure to follow all directions when
using any pesticide.

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Indoor Horticulture • HO-39-W

Table 3. Plants requiring more than 4 hours of direct sun or Table 4. Plants requiring 4 hours of direct sunlight or bright,
bright, indirect light. Location usually brightly-lighted offices ­ indirect light. Location usually 4 to 8 feet from windows ­
areas with 4 feet of large south, east, or west-facing windows. average well-lighted area.
________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name

________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

Croton Codiaeum variegatum Air Plant Aechmea fasciata

Coffee Coffea arabica Zebra Plant Aphelandra squarrosa
Jade Plant Crassula argentea Norfolk-island Pine Araucaria heterophylla
Wax Plant Hoya carnosa Fern Asparagus Asparagus setaceus
Shrimp Plant Justicia brandegeana Sprengeri Asparagus Asparagus densiflorus
Sea Teak Podocarpus macrophylla ‘Maki’ ‘Sprengeri’
African Violet Saintpaulia ionantha Gold Dust Tree Aucuba japonica ‘Variegata’
Christmas Cactus Schlumbergera bridgesii Rex Begonia Begonia spp.
Caladium Caladium bicolor
________________________________________________________
Peacock Plant Calathea makoyana
Spider Plant Chlorophytum comosum
Areca Palm Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
Ti Plant Cordyline terminalis
Umbrella Plant Cyperus alternifolius
House Holly-Fern Cyrtomium falcatum
Dumbcane Dieffenbachia maculata
False Aralia Dizygotheca elegantissima
Janet Craig Dracaena Dracaena deremensis
‘Janet Craig’
Warneckii Dracaena Dracaena deremensis
‘Warneckii’
Red Edge Dracaena Dracaena marginata
Sander’s Dracaena Dracaena sanderiana
Gold Dust Plant Dracaena surculosa
Flame Violet Episcia cupreata
Crown-of-Thorns Euphorbia milii
Fatshedera Fatshedera lizei
Weeping Fig Ficus benjamina
Rubber Plant Ficus elastica ‘Decora’
Fiddle-leaf Fig Ficus lyrata
Velvet Plant Gynura aurantiaca
English Ivy Hedera helix
Nerve or Prayer Plant Maranta leuconeura
‘Kerchoviana’
Cut-leaf Philodendron Monstera deliciosa
Tricolor Bromeliad Neoregelia carolinae
Boston Fern Nephrolepis exaltata
‘Bostoniensis’
Peperomia Peperomia obtusifolia
Japanese Pittosporum Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegata’
Philodendron Philodendron domesticum
Fiddle-leaf Philodendron Philodendron bipennifolium
Self-heading Philodendron Philodendron wendlandii
Climbing Philodendron Philodendron ‘Red Princess’
Aluminum Plant Pilea cardierei
Staghorn Fern Platycerium spp.
Pteris Fern Pteris spp.
Spathiphyllum Spathiphyllum clevelandii
Nepthytis Syngonium podophyllum
‘Emerald Green’
Nepthytis Syngonium podophyllum
'Green Gold’
Vriesea Vriesea carinata
For more information on the subject discussed in this publication, Australia Umbrella Tree Brassaia actinophylla
consult your local office of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension ________________________________________________________
Service.

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