A Pot for every Plant

How do you know when your houseplant needs repotting? Sometimes it’s obvious, as illustrated by this neglected holiday cactus. 

The soil is dry and crusty and the plant is stressed. Other signs you need to repot your houseplants? You find you have to water more frequently and when you do water, it runs right through the pot, into the saucer. When you turn the pot over, you discover roots growing out of the drain hole. Your plant looks stressed, all growth has stopped and leaves look droopy. All or any of these symptoms indicate that it’s time to repot. 

The first step toward successful repotting your houseplant is to choose the right size container. 

The new container should be no more than two inches wider at the rim. Why not go larger than one pot size? Too big a container will hold too much water, causing root rot and foliage damage. Once you’ve determined the right size, you need to decide between terra cotta or ceramic containers. Both will work well. 

Terra cotta pots breathe more naturally than glazed ceramic and they tend to beautify with age. 

Ceramic pots on the other hand offer more variety in terms of shape, color and design. Whether you choose terra cotta or ceramic, make sure the pot has a drain hole. No matter how carefully you water, if your pot doesn’t drain, excess water will build up over time, damaging your plants. 

Begin the repotting process by turning the pot on its side and gently removing the plant. 

Next, use your fingers to loosen the root ball. Place a small amount of potting soil in the new pot. With well-draining potting soils, it’s not necessary to add gravel to the bottom of the pot. 

Place the plant in the pot and add potting soil in layers. 

Use your fingers to push the soil in place. This will assure an even distribution of potting soil inside the pot. Water the newly potted plant thoroughly, until water runs out the bottom. Along with consistent watering and regular fertilization, the right size container will help keep your houseplants healthy and beautiful throughout the season.

Six Indoor plants for low light

Houseplants benefit us in many ways. They brighten our homes and offices, help change our moods and even clean the air. A common question we get is "will this plant do okay if I don't have a lot of light?" Just because you don't have a bright, well-lit room in your home or office, doesn’t mean you can't grow healthy houseplants. Here are six houseplants that are easy to grow and will do well in areas where they don't receive a lot of light. 

 If you like blooming houseplants then the Peace Lily or Spathiphyllum is the choice for you. This exceptional plant will bloom with lovely white flowers, in low light. 

The distinct foliage of Chinese Evergreens make them a standout display in your room or office. Water, then let the soil dry out slightly before you water again. 

 Sansevieria or Snake Plant is an easy to grow succulent; very tough and durable and very tolerant of low light.  Avoid over-watering and let the soil dry out a little before you water again.  

Pothos plants are fast growing and low-maintenance. A great choice if you're just getting started with houseplants.  Allow the top two inches of the soil to dry out before watering again..These plants can be grown in a hanging basket or in a pot on the table or desk.   

Peperomia plants can handle low to high light. Let the soil dry out slightly between watering. Growing Peperomia supposedly brings you luck with money.  

Dracaenas are easy plants to grow in low light, if you don't over water them. Let the soil dry out about half way down between watering. 

If you're uncertain about when to water your plants, invest in a simple water meter. It will help take the guess work out of watering.  In addition, plan to feed your low light houseplants about every two weeks with houseplant fertilizer. Matching the right plant to your home and office conditions will help your houseplants thrive for many years. 

How to Grow Dwarf Citrus Indoors

Dwarf citrus trees are especially well-suited for container growing indoors. Three varieties that do well are Improved Meyer Lemon, Bearss Lime and Oroblanco Grapefruit. 

Whether you select a lemon, lime or grapefruit, citrus trees grown indoors, in containers need to be planted in slightly acid, well-draining potting soils, such as this one.

 Avoid using garden soil or potting soil with moisture-retaining properties. You can grow citrus trees in any type of clay, ceramic or plastic containers. Choose a container that is slightly larger than the one the tree came in. 

The new container needs to be deep enough to provide room for the roots to expand and to provide stability for the tree as it grows and it must have a drain hole.  To do their best, citrus trees need as much sunlight as possible, at least six hours daily. This means you should place your tree in a window that faces south or south-west.  If you don’t have a bright, sunny location, you can still grow citrus indoors by supplementing natural light with plant grow lights. 

Water your tree when the top 2" of soil is dry. If you're unsure of how wet or dry the soil is, consider buying a moisture meter. You can quickly check the soil and know whether it's time to water. 

 Potted citrus trees need a Nitrogen-based fertilizer. You can use a fertilizer specifically for citrus or an organic natural fertilizer such as Down to Earth Fish Meal. Plan to feed your citrus tree every two weeks.

 In order to flower, potted citrus trees need an average daytime temperature of 65 degrees and a nighttime temperature five or ten degrees cooler. 

In order to set fruit, once the flowers have opened, you’ll need to help them pollinate by gently shaking the tree branch or use a small brush to move the pollen around. With attention to light, watering and fertilizing, you should be able to keep your citrus tree healthy and productive through the winter season.