Plants

Indoor plant advice

Watering

Overwatering is a much bigger indoor plant killer than underwatering. Plant roots need oxygen, and too much water prevents that. Stick your finger into the soil and only water when it feels dry 2 cm down. If not, come back in a few days and re-check. Exception here is Calathea: they like it damp, but never wet! Youtube: I Stopped Killing Calathea Once I Knew This

And when watering, drown them properly in water and make sure it can drain well. Don’t do little dribbles every few days.

Water quality is also important. Chlorine will slowly kill your (sensitive) plants. Use a chlorine remover for aquariums (like this one: https://www.apifishcare.com/product/stress-coat) to treat your water.

Soil

Youtube: Why You Should NEVER Use Soil Indoors Never use only soil or compost!! Soil and compost is very compact, and gets even more compacted when wet. Plant roots won’t get enough oxygen ⇒ root rot.

Always add Perlite! Or bark, sand, coconut husk, Vermiculite, etc. They create air pockets in the soil mix so we don’t suffocate the roots (Vermiculate also retains some moisture).

Tropical plants usually like 30% perlite to 70% compost. Cacti and succulents like 1/3 perlite, 1/3 compost and 1/3 sand.

Bark or coconut husks are great for Monstera, Philodendron and Alocasia, anything with air roots. They like “chunky” airy soil.

Best is to ditch compost/soil entirely and just use coconut coir. Coconut coir helps retain moisture but also provides great drainage and aeration. Mix it with perlite, and that’s perfect for most indoor plants. Compost can introduce mould very easily. Inside with high moisture and temperature, lack of air flow, etc. the mould can take over quickly. Also, gnats are more likely when using compost. Downside of coconut coir is that it is quite inert and doesn’t hold on to nutrients. So you have to fertilise well.

Pilea peperomioides (elefantöra, Chinese money plant, UFO plant, pancake plant, friendship plant)

• https://www.thespruce.com/growing-pilea-peperomioides-5090425
• Nettle family
• Native to Southern China, grows along the base of the Himalayan mountains.
• Needs:
  • Well-draining soil, pH 6-7
  • Partial sun exposure, medium to bright indirect light
  • Semi-regular watering: Allow to dry out completely, then water well. About once a week.
  • Light fertilizing (once per month) in spring and summer, all purpose fertilizer
• Avoid:
  • Locations that receive harsh, direct light ⇒ leaves will burn
  • Temperatures < 10C
  • Fertilizing during autumn and winter
• Rotate around for even growth
• Very easy to propagate the offshoots. Keep the soil moist until the new plant has established own roots.
• Common problems:
  • Curling up leaves: Not enough light, room temperature too high, room humidity too low, watering too much or too little
  • Yellow or brown edges on leaves: Room humidity too low
  • Browned leaves: Too much direct sunlight
  • Yellowed leaves that fall off: Too much water

Hibiscus

• https://platthillnursery.com/hibiscus-as-a-houseplant/
• Needs:
  • Bright window with as much light as possible. The sunniest place in the house is best.
  • Like to be watered, but not over-watered. Once the soil is dry to the touch, water.
  • Moderate to high humidity.
  • Mist plants weekly with room temperature water.
• For increased humidity, set up trays of pebbles and water around houseplants, and group plants together.
• Avoid:
  • Temperatures < 10C
  • Keeping them near open windows
• Common problems:
  • Brown edges on leaves, bud droop, drooping foliage: Lack of humidity.
• Pruning:
  • When young, pinch away the first few buds to encourage more blossoming.
  • Prune in autumn/winter when the plant is semi-dormant.
  • Clip away the longest branches every few months to manage the shape of the plant and stimulate new growth.

Calathea (Goeppertia)

(Calathea rufibarba (Goeppertia rufibarba, furry feather calathea))

(Calathea ornata (Goeppertia ornata, pin-stripe calathea))

• https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-calathea/, https://mylittlejungle.com/calathea-rufibarba/
• Native to Brazil, Amazon rain forest, forest floor (= warm, humid, indirect light).
• Needs:
  • Bright indirect light, but **can grow well in shady areas **too
  • Keep soil moist most of the time (but not soggy). Water 1-2 times per week. Water little but often.
  • Maintain high humidity (best > 50%). Mist the leaves or put pebbles in water nearby.
  • Soil that drains well and retains moisture (mix something moisture retaining - like coconut coir - and something draining - like perlite). Also good: 2:1 soil-based compost and perlite.
• Avoid:
  • Drafts
  • Direct sun
  • Water with high mineral content
  • Never let the soil dry out more than an inch on the top!
  • Temperatures below 18C.
  • Overfertilizing
• Common problems:
  • Burnt tips and edges: Mineral burning, i.e. too much minerals in the water. Use filtered, distilled or rain water.
  • Leaves drying up or drooping: Too low humidity.
  • Burnt leaves, brown patches: Too much light.
  • Leaves that curl inwards: Underwatering
  • Yellowing or wilting leaves: Overwatering
  • Faded leaves: Too much light.
• Occasional lukewarm shower is good to remove dust from the leaves. Best with distilled water, as mineral-rich water can leave white chalky deposits on the leaves.
• Very good for bathrooms (high humidity), but they do need some light.
• Give the plant a good trim to remove dried leaves.
• Doesn’t need much fertilizer. Half-strength during growing season.
• Propagate by repotting: Gently separate the plants, disentangle the roots, repot into new pots.

Crassula ovata (Jade plant)

• https://www.almanac.com/plant/jade-plants
• Needs:
  • Full sun

Aralia (Fatsia japonica)

• https://www.blomsterlandet.se/produkter/vaxter/inomhus/grona-vaxter/aralia-2918/
• Half-shady to sunny spots, but not southern facing window. Likes bright, but not direct sunlight.
• Indoor temperature, not below 15C.
• Let the soil dry slightly between watering, but never dry out completely. Once every week or once every two weeks.
• Likes a shower every now and then (esp. in the winter, maybe once a month).
• Fertilise between spring and autumn.
• Origin: Japan (Ryuku islands), Korea
• Use flower soil.
• Can be easily propagated with cuttings.

Sophora, Dvärgkowhai (Sophora prostrata Little Baby)

• https://dmp.cz/en/blogs/zelene-listy/sophora-little-baby-a-jak-o-ni-pecovat
• https://plant.studio/products/sophora-prostrata-little-baby
• Likes bright light, can stand outside in the summer.
• Don’t over- or underwater. Check soil; if the first 2 cm are dry - water! Sensitive to underwatering, so don’t use too loose soil.
• Benefits from being in a slightly larger pot to reduce risk of drying out.
• Esp. in winter it likes to stand slightly cooler, e.g. hallway.
• Originally from New Zealand.
• Sheds leaves if it’s too stressed (e.g. due to over/underwatering, change in temperature or light condition). Can often happen in the winter when temperature changes.