Are you a ‘plant parent’? If not, consider few healthy reasons to bring green inside

Houseplants are filling homes once again. A recent survey found two-thirds of American households have at least one houseplant, up from previous years. People are rediscovering the benefits of houseplants thanks to the pandemic and the millennial generation’s desire to become “plant parents.”

Whether you consider yourself a plant person or not, we all enjoy plants for a variety of reasons: They add to home decor, clean the air, lower stress and anxiety, and they are beautiful. The National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture research supports these benefits.

Success with houseplants is easy when adhering to the old garden adage of “right plant in the right place.” Sunlight drives the growth of houseplants through the process of photosynthesis, when sunlight is converted into food and energy. If light levels are not sufficient, the plant will decline.

When considering adding a houseplant, the most crucial step is to assess the light level in your home. These levels will range from low to high light. Low light is typically a north-facing window or the room’s interior several feet away from the light source.

Find higher light levels in east, west or south-facing windows; the closer to the light source, the better quality for growth. Newer lighting technology with LED bulbs can be used as supplemental light for growth. However, most people prefer the natural light.

Before impulse buying a plant, assess your light situation. How long does sunshine come through the window? Are there curtains that reduce the light level? Armed with this information, you can find the right plant for the right location.

Plants tolerating lower lights work best for most homes. These often have larger green leaves as the green foliage is more efficient in manufacturing food. Plants requiring higher light levels include those with foliage in shades of whites, yellows and reds. Plants with variegated foliage have less chlorophyll reducing photosynthesis. Flowering plants require even more energy to set a flower bud and require the highest light source for growth.

Figuring out the light level is the greatest challenge. After that, we tend to fret about watering. How much and how often do I water? Did I overwater or underwater? Watering is straightforward, following a few tips.

Houseplants should be grown in commercially prepared potting mix containing no garden soil or compost. Potting mixes provide the best drainage and the needed oxygen for root system growth. It is almost impossible to overwater a good potting mix.

Houseplants should always be grown in pots with drainage holes. Never let the plant sit in water after watering for more than an hour. Water when the upper inch or so of the soil becomes dry. Breaking these guidelines leads to overwatering and decline. Plants usually thrive better a little on the dry side than those that become too wet.

If you are not one of the American homes with a houseplant, now is a great time to be a plant parent. By adding a plant to your home, you, too, can receive all the benefits that come with having a houseplant.

Dennis Patton is a horticulture agent with Kansas State University Research and Extension. Have a question for him or other university extension experts? Email them to garden.help@jocogov.org.

This story was originally published February 11, 2022 at 5:00 AM.