Growing Conditions

• 1). Place houseplants in a nutrient-dense planting medium with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5. Professional potting mixes, available at your local garden center, and home-blended media both work well. Different species of plants require slightly different soil properties. For example, flowering houseplants do well in a mixture with equal parts potting soil, perlite and peat moss, while foliage plants prefer a mixture containing more organic material.
  
  
• 2). Place house plants in areas with lighting that meets the needs of the plant species. Many house plants are tropical, requiring bright or direct light daily. South-facing windows best provide such lighting. Alternatively, purchase plants with low light needs, such as Chinese evergreen, Aglaonema, or cast iron plant, Aspidistra.
  
  
• 3). Maintain temperature and humidity at constant levels to avoid stressing house plants. Plants prefer relative humidity in the 70 to 80 percent range. They do best with temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees F during the day, with cooler temperatures of 60 to 68 degrees F at night. Flowering plants like it a bit cooler at night, from 55 to 60 degrees.
  
  

Ongoing Care

• 1). Water house plants according to the directions included on the plant label or packaging. House plants vary widely in their moisture requirements. For most house plants, water when the top half inch of soil feels dry in containers up to 8 to 10 inches in diameter, suggests North Carolina Cooperative Extension. Water large plants more frequently than their smaller counterparts. Provide more water for those growing in bright sunlight or hot indoor lighting, as this causes plants to lose water more rapidly.
  
  
• 2). Fertilize house plants monthly with approximately one-quarter the amount suggested on the label. Increase frequency to every two weeks if the plant takes on a pale green appearance, according to the University of Georgia. Apply fertilizer only every six to eight weeks if new growth is a healthy green but the plant develops only small leaves.
  
  
• 3). Check house plants weekly for signs of disease or insect infestation. Common symptoms include insects or eggs, yellowing, wilting or dropping leaves, holes in leaves or other plant tissue and overall reduced vigor and growth. Treat problems early to avoid more serious problems that may kill the plant. Try easier solutions first, such as manually removing bugs, washing plants off in a strong water stream or wiping leaves down with cotton swabs dipped in rubbing alcohol. Move on to fungicides or insecticides for indoor use only in cases of serious infestation.