Tips for caring for indoor plants

Varieties sold as house plants such as croton, bromeliad and rhapis palm tend to come from tropical and rainforest areas where they survive with little or dappled sunlight, making them a good indoor choice.

 

A location with morning sun and filtered afternoon light is the ideal position for an indoor plant as too much natural light burns the leaves while not enough results in pale, stunted leaves.

 

Rotate the position of the pots every couple of months to encourage even foliage growth and direction.

 

Over-watering and too much fertiliser are common problems so let plants dry out slightly between watering. Put a finger in the soil and if it’s dry then give it a drink, adding a weak dose of seaweed fertiliser once a month during the growing season.

 

Use a damp soft cloth to wipe any dust off the leaves to unblock pores and allow the plant to respire.