Plants help bring a bit of nature inside and are great additions to interior décor. They help reduce noise, screen off unsightly areas and even improve the relative humidity of the indoor air. Some plants help purify the air in our homes by removing as much as 87 percent of indoor pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. These chemicals come from the many building materials, fabrics and products we have in our houses. Consider one houseplant for every 100 square feet of living space.

Houseplant Care Guide
Light: Avoid low light or full sun for most plants. Plants typically do well in moderate to bright indoor light from the north, northeast or northwest. Some like two to five hours of direct light from the east or west. Direct light is especially good for herbs, succulents and flowering plants. Signs of low light include thin, stretched growth or great foliage with no blooms. Match plants with locations that satisfy their basic requirements.

Fertilizer: Fertilizers for indoor plants should contain nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. The fertilizer product will contain the analysis information on its label. Most indoor plants grow vigorously with an equal ratio (such as 20-20-20) fertilizer. As a rule, applications should be more frequent when the plants are in a growth stage. This is usually in the spring and summer when sunlight intensity increases. During the short days of winter, plants will need little, if any, fertilizer. Never fertilize when the plant is completely dry. Water it first and then fertilize when soil is slightly moist. Also, wait six to eight weeks before fertilizing new plants. They usually have fertilizer in the soil.

Water and Humidity: Many plants like to be kept evenly moist; others like to be dry before watering. Find out what the specific species needs and avoid over-

watering. Provide extra moisture by increasing the humidity around the plant. To do this, place shallow pans or cups of water near plants, place a plant in a saucer containing gravel and water, or hand mist in the morning. It also helps to group plants together.

Temperature: Make sure changes are gradual. Keep the plants a short distance from the windows as plants do not like to get too hot or too cold. Decrease the night temperature by about five degrees to allow the plants to save energy.

Pest Control: Check the plants carefully at least weekly. Pest infestations can occur and worsen quickly. Many pests can be removed by hand picking or with an alcohol swab. In other cases the entire affected area must be removed.

Check the tag for care information when houseplants are purchased.