Archive Tip of the Week
   TIP OF THE MONTH

March 2010
How to Kill a Houseplant

This is the time of year when thousands of tropical houseplants across the country croak. Sad, but true. And here are the most likely causes for their demise.

Lack of Humidity

In their native environments, tropicals thrive when humidity levels hover around 70%. But in most homes during the winter months, the humidity struggles to hit 15% thanks to the warm, dry air coming out of home heating systems.

Frequent misting helps maintain humidity, but it must be done often, as in several times a day. Grouping houseplants together and placing containers full of water around them is another option. But the best solution is a humidifier, whether a free-standing unit placed near your houseplants or a permanently installed model attached to your heating system. The former is relatively cheap, the latter is relatively expensive. However, both will go a long way toward keeping your houseplants healthy and happy. And chances are you’ll feel better too.
Overwatering

Tropical houseplants don’t need as much water during the winter months. And overwatering – which results in root rot – is probably the number-one killer of houseplants. So water sparingly. If you usually water once a week during the spring, and summer, cut back to once every two weeks or even less. And remember, wilt can be a symptom of overwatering and underwatering. The only way to know for certain the moisture level in the potting mix is to stick your finger in it.

Too Much Fertilizer

Houseplants don’t need fertilizer during the winter months, so even a little is too much.

Lack of Light

The amount of light available in many homes across the country is often not enough to keep houseplants healthy. Move plants as close to windows as possible, but don’t let leaf surfaces come in contact with the glass. Or consider growing houseplants under artificial light, leaving the lights on for up to sixteen hours a day.

Pests

Pests in the garden can be tough to deal with, but pests in the house are an even bigger pain. The most common include aphids, mites, scale, whiteflies, and mealybugs. Most of these critters can be controlled using insecticidal soap, although for serious infestations try Neem, an all-natural insecticide derived from the tropical Neem tree.