House Plants

   Houseplants deserve to be grown organically just as much as outside plants. With winter and holidays upon us, a gardener's attention turns to inside plants. Whether in a sun room, greenhouse or beside a sunny window, inside plants need organic soil, natural fertilizers and a blanket of mulch to promote health and deter pests and diseases.

     The most common causes of houseplant problems are over watering, under watering, salt accumulation from synthetic fertilizers, insufficient light and low humidity. Adjust your plants to the light difference when you bring them in for winter. Place them at your brightest window for a few weeks before moving them to other areas of lower light intensity.

     Cut back on watering during winter months depending on the humidity level in your house. Increase the humidity by placing bowls of water near plants or spraying foliage every few weeks with a light mist of straight water or a diluted seaweed solution. Dilute a tablespoon of seaweed to a gallon of water. As a general rule, the foliage of fuzzy leaf plants should not be sprayed.

     It is best to draw tap water and let it sit for a few days before using on houseplants. This allows evaporation of salt and other chemicals. This waiting period also allows the water to reach room temperature. Watering with water that is too cool or too warm can shock a plant, causing stress and promoting disease.

     Another way to avoid salt accumulation is using organic fertilizers instead of synthetic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers for indoor plants include earthworm castings and other low smelling fertilizers. Using organic fertilizers avoids the burning of foliage caused by the use of high nitrogen, synthetic fertilizers. Because growth slows down during winter months, fertilize only about every eight to ten weeks.

     Remove dust from foliage to allow plants to breathe better. Wipe leaves twice a year with water that has been sitting for a few days or with seaweed at a rate of tablespoon per gallon of water. Using a seaweed mixture provides nutrients when wiping leaves. The nutrients are absorbed by the pores of the leaves. Other products that improve the health of the soil of indoor plants are colloidal phosphate, greensand and lava sand. When transplanting or repotting, add any or all of these products at an amount equal to one to two parts of the total container. For example, in a five gallon container, add one part greensand and one part lava sand. For established plants, lightly sprinkle the products across the soil and watered in.

     Just as outside plants benefit from an inch or two of mulch, inside plants deserve the same. Although any wood mulch can be used, cocoa hulls can bring a pleasant scent to the house. Pecan shells are another good choice because their size makes them easy to work with in small containers.

     For spider mites, spray plants with a seaweed solution every three days for nine days. Dilute two Tablespoons of seaweed per gallon of water. Once the mites have disappeared, place plants on a routine spray program to deter further infestations. For scale on plants spray with a light soap and seaweed mixture.

     For fungus gnats, cut back on watering and allow the soil to dry between waterings. If this doesn't destroy the gnats, hang a yellow sticky traps beside the plants for a few weeks. These sticky pieces of cardboard attract gnats with their color. They also work well for white flies.

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Gail I. Morris writes this column for the Star-Telegram.  She is a member of the Organic Garden Club of Fort Worth and Cross Timbers Master Naturalists. 
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