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How to grow house plants successfully all year long by Ruth Friendship Horticulture Specialist Rural Organizations and Services Branch in recent years plants have become an Integral part of the interior land- scape at home, work shopping malls and even when you go to the dentist. you see plants. Plants are important today as people are spending more of their time indoors. House plants help to create an indoor emironment to which people can relate as well as providing an economical form of decoration. Most plants used indoors are trop- ieal 0r subtropical in origin. in their natural habitats they would grow quite large howeven when grown here as house plants their growth is restricted by their growing condi- tions. These plants are constantly under stress because of the light, water, humidity and temperature conditions found indoors. The actual environmental require ments vary with the type of plant. Some such as Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen), Sanseveria (Snake Plant). Aspidistra (Cast iron Plant) and many Dracenas will tolerate low light levels. Other plants such as Ficus ben- jamina (Weeping Fig). Hoya (Wax Plant). Asparagus sprengeri or plumosus require much higher light levels. Remember, in the winter the daylight periods are shorter. You may have to move your plants to a brighter location or pr0vide more ar- tificial light to maintain their ap- pearance through the winter months. During the winter no attempts should be made to stimulate growth by fer- tilizing or maintaining high temper- atures as light conditions are not suitable for such growth. In the long days of spring and sum- mer. the sun is very bright and the temperature inside a window may be [6 H & C Summer ’85 so great that the plants will need to be protected part of the day. This can he done by drawing sheer Curtains, placing paper between the plants and the window. or by moving the plants to a window with less direct sunlight. Plants grown in windows tend to become one sided. To prevent this, turn the plants 45° once a day. House plants rcqmre warm temp- eratures (that's why they're indoor plants after all). Most will thrive at a day temperature oi” 18°C and a night temperature ol' 13 - 150C. House temperatures are often it high. therefore it is best to err. plants in the cooler parts of a root usually near a window Avoid pin ing your plants in drafts or near I'r air sources. When drawing blinds. drapes they should come between: plants and the window to prevent r plants l‘rom being in It cold air spat By paying attention to your plan needs you will reduce the stress U: are under and maximize their grtm and performance.