5 Tips for keeping your houseplants happy this winter.

Keeping your houseplants healthy and thriving during the winter months comes down to these five things. First  make sure they have enough light. You may have to move your plants around the house during the winter in order to provide the best light situation.

Another way to increase light is to add plant grow lights like this Jump Start Light System. It comes complete with stand and light and is easy to set up. Great for starting seeds too.  You can also buy grow bulbs that will fit a standard socket. Second, water your houseplants consistently. Regular watering will keep the soil moist. You want to avoid letting the soil dry out completely or keeping the soil soggy.

A simple way to make sure you're watering correctly is to buy a water meter and use it to help you know when it's time to water.

Third, fertilize your plants every three weeks with a mild liquid fertilizer such as Schultz Plant Food or Jack's Houseplant Special. Another way to increase your houseplant's vigor is by giving them a supplement such as Superthrive every two weeks. Superthrive's kelp and vitamin formula strengthens roots and improves leaf growth. Fourth, increase the humidity.  Houses are dry during the winter, which doesn't help your houseplants.

One way to increase humidity is to group your houseplants together. This will help raise the humidity and make maintenance easier.  Another way simple way to increase humidity is to  place your plants on a pebble tray. Make a pebble tray by spreading an even layer of small pebbles in a saucer or shallow pan and then add water. As the water evaporates, it increases the humidity around your plants. Be sure that the bottom of the pot doesn't sit in the water.

Fifth, keep an eye out for bugs. Soil gnats, mealy bug and scale can appear suddenly and cause damage to your houseplants. Inspect your plants often for any signs of insect damage.

Use an insecticidal spray such as Safer Insect Soap at the first sign of insect distress.

Spraying the leaves of your plants with Leaf Shine will help deter insects and keep your plants cleaner. Doing these things will help your houseplants stay healthier and happier through the winter months.

Clean the air with these houseplants

We've always known houseplants are good for us. They add beauty to our homes and offices, they have a calming effect on us and they give us a sense of well-being. We show how much we care about others in our lives when we give houseplants for birthdays, special occasions and as get well gifts. In addition to beautifying a room, houseplants work hard to make us healthier, by removing pollutants from the air and adding oxygen back into the room. All houseplants do this to a certain extent and some are really good at purifying our indoor air.

One outstanding air-purifying plant is the Peace Lily or Spathiphyllum. Peace Lilys are very easy to grow. Place them in a spot where they will receive bright, indirect light, keep the soil moist and feed them every three or four weeks and they will reward you with beautiful white flowers and cleaner air for many years.

Pothos are a great houseplant choice to help clean the air. They're easy to care for and they'll do well in areas where you don't have a lot of light.

Sanseveria or Snake Plant is another air purifying plant for your home or office. Snake plants do best in bright light. You can keep them in a place with low light. They just won't grow as fast. They also like their soil on the dryer side.

Dracaena plants are slow growing, can take low to medium light and they also like their soil on the dry side, so avoid overwatering them. They'll do a great job keeping the air clean.

A houseplant that helps clean the air and blooms throughout the year is the Anthurium. Anthurium do best in bright light and moist soils.

Looking for a houseplant that likes low light and helps clean the air, get a Chinese Evergreen plant. Known for its unique foliage, the Chinese Evergreen likes moist but not soggy soil. Let the top inch or two of soil dry out before you water this plant.

Another interesting foliage houseplant that will aid in cleaner air is the Dieffenbachia. This houseplant prefers bright light but will do okay in low light situations, so it's a great choice for many offices. English Ivy, Boston Ferns and Rubber plants are also good choices to help improve the air in your home or workplace. Not sure which houseplant is right for you? Stop in and we'll help you pick out the best plants for your home and office. You'll feel better surrounded by houseplants and you'll breathe better too!