Houseplants

Growing plants indoors may offer some challenges, but these links may help you to be successful:

Indoor Plants: Care and Management - CCE has compiled resources on houseplants from cooperative extensions across the nation in one spot. Start here for an overview.

Caring for Houseplants - this University of Missouri Extension page has information on watering, lighting, temperature, etc. to keep your plants alive and healthy

Common Houseplant Insects & Related Pests - Clemson University Extension page has many different sections on prevention, non-chemical control, chemical control and common pests for indoor plants

Houseplant Problems - Purdue University Cooperative Extension shows many common issues with indoor plants and how to manage them. 

Fertilizing Houseplants - this University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension PDF has information on fertilizing houseplants.

Common Houseplant Problems

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Winter Care:

Most houseplants grow well in warm environments, with temperature between 65 and 75ºF. Keep houseplants away from cold drafts, radiators, and hot air vents. You may need a humidifier to increase the humidity in the room, especially in winter when our heating systems dry out the air inside. To prevent drying out, place houseplants on saucers filled with pebbles or gravel and water. The bottoms of the pots should be above the water level, but the moisture will reach them. Actively growing plants need more water than those at rest during the winter months, make sure to not overwater your plants during rest periods. Fertilization is also not usually necessary during the winter months because most plants are growing very little or resting. Check the soil before watering, if it is still wet you do not need to add any.

From the NYS IPM Program at Cornell: Dr. Betsy Lamb provides insights about caring for indoor house plants, managing conditions that contribute to pest problems, and addressing pest issues. Dr. Matt Frye highlights pest issues associated with bringing firewood indoors.

Last updated December 28, 2023