The plants will need a change of air every day, though, or gas, smoke, and dust can harm them. Gas from a pilot light that has been blown out, for example, can kill a plant very quickly. Simply opening the doors to your home for a while will clean out the air for your plants.



In the winter, you cannot open the doors for long periods of time though because direct drafts of cold air can harm the plants. You need to clean out the air while keeping the plants sheltered.

In addition to ventilating the air in your home, the roots of the plants need ventilated as well. To do this, you should turn over the surface inch or so of the soil from time to time. This will allow air to get down to the roots. Also, it will allow the plant food to get closer to the roots.

Watering

Water is the main ingredient that any organism needs to live, including houseplants. There is no simple answer to the question of how often to water your plants. Basically, the plants should be watered whenever they need it. This will depend on the soil type, humidity, temperature, size of the pot, drainage, and the type of plant. Watering houseplants can be tricky.

In a hot, dry room, plants will need watered more often than plants in cool, moist rooms. Cacti are used to a lack of water, so they will not need watered as much as ferns or other tropical plants.

If you need some kind of rule to base your watering habits on, it is that if the surface of the soil feels dry, the plant needs water. Be careful though, because over watering is as bad for your plant as under watering. With waterlogged soil, the roots will rot an kill the plant.

When you do water the plant, don't be afraid to soak it fully. It is best to water less often, but more completely. The water needs to get down to the roots, and the excess needs to be allowed to drain.

You will learn rather quickly how much time you should allow after watering your plants before they need it again. Once you are able to observe this, you can make a schedule for house plant watering to make sure you don't water too often or infrequently.

If you are out of town and can't keep exactly to the schedule, the plant can handle being waterless for a couple days. It is healthier overall to give the plant care regularly rather than sporadically.