Most houses, apartments and many more offices have large windows that provide the intensity of light needed for our indoor garden plants; we can even grow them on window ledges. When natural light is inadequate, supplemental artificial light can be provided.
Widely speaking, houseplants fall into two categories: foliage and flowering. Even though some foliage plants may produce flowers, they are not usually grown for this purpose.
As a rule, foliage plants are the easiest to grow. They are either green leafed or variegated, often with strong, dominating colors such as reds or purples. Green-and-white variegated kinds, such as spider plants, are usually as easy to grow as the green leafed ones, but they require more light. Coleuses, which have varied, vibrant markings on their leaves, are not difficult; nor are the silver-banded, purple-backed wandering Jews.
Many flowering
houseplants will continue to bloom indoors year after year if the conditions are correct. Some popular flowering indoor plants include African violets, miniature geraniums and orchids.
Your chances of succeeding as an indoor gardener are increased if you choose the plants whose needs correspond with the conditions that your particular environment can provide. An additional helpful hint is to have some understanding of the environmental factors that affect the plant growth (temperature, humidity and light).
Thankfully, homes and offices are usually kept at temperatures between 65° and 70° during the daytime, which suits a large variety of plants. Night temperature is important, also, and most plants grow best when there is a 10- to 15-degree drop at night. A greater drop can do harm to many indoor plants.
Unfortunately most heated offices and dwellings have dry air, which can be harmful to indoor plants, especially the tropical and semi-tropical that require high humidity. Fortunately there are enough of us out there that have a problem with dry air and we are now using a humidifier. Plants that need a higher-than-normal humidity such as African violets, some orchids and ferns, do well in moist bathrooms as long as there is sufficient temperature and light or by using a humidifier in rooms with adequate light.
Well-lighted rooms suit the widest variety of indoor plants. South- and west-facing windows provide the best light as long as they are not obstructed by tall buildings, trees or curtains. East windows can be excellent locations for many indoor plants, such as the rubber plant, will grow quite well in the lessser light of a north window.
