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Getting started with indoor plants

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There are legitimate excuses for not gardening outdoors, but any of us can garden indoors. All that is needed is light, water, a pot with drainage hole, soil, and a tropical plant.

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Buying a houseplant is fun and does not require a heavy wallet. I suggest starting with a few easy-to-grow plants and building on your selection as your commitment grows. Don’t be afraid of losing a plant or two. Remember that tropical plants like to grow in the tropics where conditions are perfect and bringing them into a low light and low humidity indoor environment is a stretch.

If you have light coming into your home, you will be able to grow tropical plants. In our home, we find the east-facing window is superb for almost all plants. Our north-facing window is good for plants that tolerate low light. The backyard south-facing window brings lots of light, so we keep the plants back from the window. We don’t have windows on the west side, but if we did, we would likely keep plants away from the long afternoon sun.

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Keep in mind that even an office environment with artificial light will support tropical plants.

The soil and pots that come with new tropical plants will be adequate for some time and repotting will not be necessary until the plant outgrows its pot. If you do not like the looks of the grower’s pot, slip it into a more decorative pot. Keep in mind that good drainage is essential for tropical plants. Make sure your pot has holes in the bottom so excess water can drain away.

Keep your tropical plants away from trouble spots such as heat registers or drafty windows.

Pets are rarely an issue with tropical plants. There are only a very few plants that are toxic to animals and pets are usually smart enough to know which plants are off limits. If a pet destroys a tropical plant, it will likely do so out of boredom.

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If there is a trick or challenge regarding the care of indoor gardening it would involve watering. In our household, we stick to a schedule (Wednesdays) to water. Most plants get at least a bit of water once a week, although we have a few that get water every two weeks. Succulents and snake plants get a drink once a month. We tend to be frugal with water because most plants like to dry out between watering. Like outdoor plants, tropical plants don’t like to be waterlogged.

The following are my top choices for beginner houseplant parents:

Golden pothos is an easy-to-grow houseplant that thrives under neglect. When its trailing limbs become long enough, they can be cut off and set in a jar of water where new roots will form to soon become a new plant to give away.

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Snake plant or Sansevieria has upright variegated stems in green and white colour. Several varieties are available. Our snake plants receive water once a month or so, but they could easily survive a few months without a drink.

Chinese evergreen or Aglaonema thrives with little water and minimal light. This lush-leaved plant is suitable for a bedroom or office environment with artificial light.

Dragon tree or Dracaena is a diverse family of tropical plants with a range of sizes, leaf shape and colour. All are a safe bet for rookie gardeners.

Succulents and cacti are light loving plants that survive with next to no water. They are well-behaved and will never take up too much space in the house.

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