General Plant Care

Your planting media should be able to drain water easily and also be able to hold moisture. Mixing your own soil can be very beneficial for your plant because then you can change the proportions of your media to meet the plant requirements. Sand, perlite and vermiculite are used often. Organic matters can also improve soil structure.

Plants already rooted and bought from a store will have the right kind of planting media. If your planting from seed and don't want to much of a hassle, regular potting soil will do just fine.

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Containers

The container you will plant or your plant will come in must have holes on the bottom to provide good drainage for your plant. A dish or tray should be put under your pot so the water does no spill when it drains.

Pot size mostly depends on the size of your plant. Taller plants should have wider pots to prevent them from tipping over. If you know your plant will grow larger or you plan to repot your plant, you should buy a pot a few sizes bigger. This will give the plant enough space to grow.

If you are reusing a pot that had previous plants growing in it, it is recommended that you wash the pot. Soaking the pot with a little bleach and a lot of water. This will kill any mold or bacteria that may be living on the pot. Soaking the pot will also clean off any chemicals that might have been absorbed on to the pot.

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Watering

Watering also depends on the type of plant you have and its water preferences. Your media should always be kept moist. You can feel the top layer of your soil in order to decide whether or not your plant needs water.

As a rule plants should be watered twice a day.

Do not over water your plant. If over watered the roots may start to rot. Do not let your media dry out so much that it separates from the container. If this happens it will be very hard for water to reach the root system.

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Lighting

Different types of plants depend on different types of lighting and light quality. Most plants won't do well under specifically artificial light. Plants should be kept at a well lit window or a window that will get much of the light.

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Fertilizing

You should fertilize your plant every two months. You can use an all purpose fertilizer or ask someone at the fertilizer department of the store.

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Pruning and Maintenance

Any dead or fallen leaves should be removed from the container to prevent bacteria and mold from growing. Old and dead branches if any can also be removed to keep your plant healthy.

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Propagation

Propagation of your plant depends on the type of plant you have. You can ask your nearest plant store for advice.

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Pest Control

You should always inspect your plant, container, and soil before you buy the plant. This is to take prevent insect infestations. If only a few leaves or stems are affected by pest, they can be easily removed. You can also dilute some dish washing soap in a spray bottle and mist your plant. This should remove more of the pest infestation.

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