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Houseplants can be a benefit for the
winter-weary while we are waiting for Spring. Here are some tips and
myths about caring for houseplants.
1.
The
most prevalent myth is that you should always add a layer of gravel or other
coarse material at the bottom of pots to improve drainage. This is a
common recommendation. The water will not move
from the finer material to the coarser until the finer soil is completely
saturated. 1.
Your
entire pot should have the same high-quality soil in it, and nothing else.
If you need to improve drainage, mix perlite in the soil
throughout the pot, making sure there is a drainage hole in the bottom of the
pot to avoid having root rot.
2.
Should
you water houseplants on a schedule? Probably
not - your plants may not all need the same watering schedule. Plants often
need less water in the cooler, darker days of winter – a plant you water every
couple of days in the summer might not need watering for a week in the
winter. Get to know the needs of your
plants and watering accordingly and do the 'poke
your finger in the soil' to see if it is already moist.
3.
Do
droopy plants always mean it is time to water? If the finger test mentioned above indicates
very dry soil, then you should water that plant. Double check before you water – plants that
are developing root rot due to too much water will also droop, and water is the
last thing they need.
.
Excerpt from Article by Irene Shonle, Extension Program Associate,
Colorado Master Gardener/Horticulture El Paso County, Native Plant
Master.
Complete
article: CSU-houseplants