I think my success with plants is mainly neglect. More plants die from over watering and over fertilizing then anything else. Don't water by the calendar. The weather or the plant's growth period both affect how much water it will take in. The best way to tell if a plant needs watering is to stick your finger in about an one half inch. If it feels moist-- don't water.

What you use to water them is also important. If you don't have a water filter, use an outside faucet without softened water which adds sodium to the soil. Always leave your filled watering can sitting a few days. This not only warms the water up to room temperature, but the chlorine dissipates. When you water, water thoroughly. If you just water the top few inches it will develop very shallow roots.

The best fertilizer has one drawback, it's very odiferous.  In other words--it stinks! That notwithstanding, plants love fish emulsion. It's also almost impossible to overfeed your plants. If you can't stand the odor, you can use Miracle Gro or a comparable chemical fertilizer. Fertilize about every two weeks during the spring and summer. Some things to remember are:

• 1. Use 1/2 as much as they recommend on the label.
• 2. Don't feed a plant that is bone dry.
• 3. Don't fertilize in the winter when the plants are dormant or if a plant is ailing. The unused fertilizer will build up to lethal levels in the soil.
• 4. Don't feed a new foliage plant, the nursery uses a long-acting fertilizer when they plant it.

Most plants like a full day of bright indirect sunlight. An Eastern exposure is the best, but if that's not possible you can use supplemental lighting. I use flood lights I bought at the hardware store with special blue grow light bulbs. I've had them three years now and the plants are doing fine in a northern window. I set the timer for 4:00-11:00 p.m. every night. You can also use fluorescent lights. They are much more energy efficient and last 15 to 20 times longer. Place fluorescents closer to the plants then you would the incandescents.

Grooming your plants is very important not only for looks, but for their health. Keep the tips of each stem pinched off so the plant will become thicker and bushier. If it's a woody plant use sharp pruners and cut just above where the leaf meets the stem. Keep all dead leaves picked up from around the plants.

My plants get a good shower every few weeks. It's not easy moving some of the larger ones to the kitchen sink--but well worth it. I use a sponge dish scrubber with diluted liquid dish soap and clean all the leaves off and rinse well with tepid water. A lot of pests lay eggs on the bottom of the leaves, so really look them over. Don't worry if you lose some leaves, they'll grow right back. Afterward, I spray them with some insecticidal soap for good measure. If you do this regularly it really heads off many pest problems.

I have come up with a home remedy for whiteflies. A few years ago, I came back from vacation to as bad an infestation as I've ever had. All the books told me to get rid of the plants as fast as possible. Instead, I hooked up my vacuum and used the brush attachment to suck up as many up as I could. I vacuumed and sprayed insecticidal soap daily for a few weeks, and pretty soon they were back to normal

All in all, I really look forward to that wonderful day in spring when I get to start taking my plants back outdoors.

Other Sources of Information

• Caring for Houseplants in Northern Climates
• LIGHT REQUIREMENTS FOR HOUSEPLANTS
• HUMIDITY REQUIREMENTS FOR HOUSEPLANTS
• Houseplant Insect Control
• House Plants: Proper Care and Problem Solving
• Guide to Growing Houseplants