Bringing nature indoors

Unlock the secrets to thriving indoor greenery with this comprehensive guide on how to grow indoor plants.

Indoor plants can liven up or soften a space with minimal effort. They’re also pretty simple to maintain, but there’s a difference between just keeping them, and really getting them to thrive. Here’s a few tips to help you get the most out of yours.

Getting started

Decide what to plant

There are a huge range of indoor plants available:

Foliage

These varieties are easy to grow and stay vibrant all year round. Ferns are a real favourite in New Zealand.

Flowering

Great for adding colour, these varieties can keep their flowers for months.

Cacti and Succulents

These are low maintenance and require little watering.

Hanging Baskets

Perfect for holding trailing house plants.

Terrariums

Create an indoor miniature garden.

Location

Choose your location first, then choose your plant to suit.

Different plants need different levels of sunlight. Flowering plants tend to need more light than foliage plants. Check the plant label or ask in store to find out what kind of light your plant prefers.

In general, bright light but not direct sunlight, and a constant temperature are the best conditions. Plants don’t like to be exposed to very harsh light and struggle to thrive when there are big fluctuations in temperatures.

Look out for pale growth and weak flowering as these are tell-tale signs that your plant isn’t getting enough light and needs to be moved.

Plants may also need to be moved as the seasons change. In Summer, be careful not to expose your plant to harsh sunlight as this will burn the plant, creating scorched brown patches on its leaves.

Too much sunlight can also cause plants to wilt and fade. Positioning the plant further back from the window is a good way to protect it from harsh light.

Rotate the pot if your plant is lopsided from trying to reach the sun.

Potting and re-potting

When selecting your plant make sure you also choose a pot suitable for the plant. Plastic pots and other impermeable containers tend to dry out slowly and help keep soil evenly moist.

All pots should have holes in the bottom so excess water can drain. If you want a more decorative pot that doesn’t have drainage holes, then place the plant in a smaller pot with holes inside your decorative pot.

It is best to re-pot during the warmer months from August to March.

Re-pot when your plant becomes root-bound, looks too big for the pot, or starts yellowing (due to a lack of food in the soil).

Remove any dead, damaged, or unsightly foliage.

Your new container should be approximately 25mm wider than the root ball of the plant. Or select a pot that is one size bigger than your existing one.

Water plants thoroughly before re-potting and allow them to drain.

Partly fill your container with indoor house plant mix.

Tip the plant out of its old pot and gently tease the roots to stimulate new root growth. Position the plant in the centre of the new container.

Fill your container with indoor house plant mix up to 1cm from the top.

The soil should be at the same level on the plant as it was in the previous container.

Press soil gently around the base of the plant.

Water your plant well.

Keep moist until the plant is established.

Watering

Keep moisture levels topped up by watering small amounts often, keeping the soil evenly moist.

Pots always need more frequent watering than the garden, as they can’t hold their moisture for very long.

Watering frequency will also depend on the room temperature. In summer it could be as often as once a week and fortnightly in winter.

The best way to check for moisture is to push your finger down the side of the pot into the mix. If it feels dry, then the plant needs watering. Wilting is also a key sign that the plant needs water.

If your plant does completely dry out, then fill a container with water and submerge the pot right up to the base of the foliage. Hold it under until bubbles stop coming to the surface, then lift the pot out, letting the excess water drain away. Try to avoid this happening too much.

Some plants need additional humidity. Place some pebbles into a saucer and top it up with water. The water will slowly evaporate, which the plants love. Alternatively, spray the foliage with warm water regularly.

Feeding

Most indoor plants will like a liquid house plant fertiliser once a month, but check your specific plant instructions to be sure.

Newly purchased or recently re-potted plants should not be fed with fertiliser until they are a couple of months old as it can burn their roots.

Pests and disease

Keeping plants well-watered and regularly fertilised will ensure they grow strongly and reduces the chance of pests and disease.

Aphids or Mealy Bug are the main pests to look out for and can be cleared up with an insecticide, fungicide, or organic spray, designed for use on indoor plants.

Smaller, pale or patchy leaf growth can be due to a lack of light. Tidy the plant, feed it, and move it to an area with better light.

Limp leaves or soft spots can be caused by too much water. Prune away any affected growth and cut back on watering.

If you have brown leaves or short flower life, your plant may be too hot. Prune away any affected growth and move it to a position with an even temperature.

A sudden change in temperature can cause your plant to suddenly drop its leaves. Move your plant to a location with a more even temperature and move it away from any draughts.