Writen by Isa Moon
Well, I really don’t know why people always ask me about houseplants. I’ve killed my fair share, especially this year when I lost about 4 plants to frost. (I was moving out of the dorms for X-mas break and couldn’t leave my plants but they didn’t enjoy the move.) Everything that I have learned about my plants has been from other people or through observation.
Firstly, I suggest getting to know you plants. Find out where they are originally from and accommodate them to that environment as much as possible. African Violets, a very popular houseplant, is a rain forest plant. It grows on low branches of trees where it is protected from direct sun. Therefore, you’ll want to keep your violets out of direct sun. If you notice its leaves turning white or yellow and getting soft try moving it to a north facing window or deeper into the house. They also like more water than most plants, being from the rainforest. Were most of your plants can go for a week or more without water your violet, though alive, won’t grow much.
Plants need more water in the warm summer months than in the winter. As the temperature drops outside, let it get a little cooler inside, this will clue your plants that it’s time to stop growing. I’m not saying expose your plants to frost, as this would kill them. Just let it get cool, as long as you’re comfortable, your plants should be as well.
Fertilizer, now I’m not a big fan of it. I’d rather mix my potting soil with a nice rich compost but in the spring time, right before my plants start their growth spurts I might put a couple of fertilizer sticks in their pots. They will drain the soil of nutrients and transplanting them is a shock.
Speaking of transplanting, have you noticed one or two of your plants needing more water than any of the other plants, maybe it’s starting to look sickly it’s leaves falling off, or instead of growing it’s shrinking. Take a butter knife and give the pot a few sharp whacks all the way around, turn the pot upside down placing your hand around the base of the plant. If the plant doesn’t fall out take the knife and gently place it on the inside of the pot just where the soil meets the pot. Cut down through and slowly cut along the edge, pull gently and the plant should come out. When you get your plant out look at its root formation. Can you see its roots? Are there just a couple or a whole freakin’ lot? If you can see a lot of the root mass your friend needs a new home. You’ll need a pot, preferably several sizes larger than the pot it lives in now. Take your potting soil, compost, or mix and fill the new pot until the plant, when sitting on the soil, is level with the rim of the new pot. Fill in the edges with soil, using your butter knife to make sure there are no air pockets, which can cause root rot and plant suffocation.
From Scott Cunningham’s Earth, Air, Fire & Water:
Houseplant Blessing: Items: houseplant, pencil or green pen, 1" square piece of paper, water
Draw a picture of the plant in vibrant health draw lines of energy streaming out from it. Visualize the plants future health while doing this. Say: "Shoots unfurl; flowers bloom; leaves uncurl in this room. Plant of green forever strong, grow now here where you belong. Roots push deep and branches climb by the power of this rhyme. Grow now plant; it is time." Don’t think about past failures with houseplants! Fold the paper and push it into the soil saying: "I give you power!" Move the plant to its place and water saying: "I give you life!" Hold your palms over the plant and say: "I give you love!"
Cactus Blessing: (same as above but substitute sand for water), plate
Draw a picture as above. Place the picture face up on the plate and pour sand over it. Hold hands above sand and say: "Denizen of arid lands; secret keeper of the dew; none can touch you with their hands but I touch the heart of you. Roots push deep and branches climb; by the power of this rhyme: cactus grow! This is the time!" Carefully pick up the paper leaving as much sand as possible on it. Pour the sand in a clockwise motion around the cactus (in the pot). Fold the paper and push it into the soil next to the wall.
