How To Pick a Healthy Houseplant

Having plants inside the house provide many advantages. People who have vegetation in the house have been found to be happier. Houseplants also improve the air quality and humidity indoors by providing additional oxygen and as such will greatly improve the resident's health. While it may be tempting to readily pick out the first pot of houseplant you find, it will be wise to follow some tried and tested ways to ensure that your newly acquired houseplant does not die on you.

1. Identify where to place your houseplant.  Houseplants need the correct amounts of light, water and humidity. Since most houseplants are of tropical origin, which means that they have been grown in greenhouses where the conditions are controlled for optimum growth, then the same should be achieved as much as possible in your home to let the houseplant thrive. The most suitable place for a houseplant will be your kitchen or bathroom where humidity is closest to a greenhouse environment. After humidity, light source comes next in the list of must-haves for a healthy houseplant. A windowsill on the kitchen or living room will be ideal for most houseplants. Just make sure that the houseplant will be secure in those places to avoid accidents. Watering is another very important factor for a houseplant to be healthy. To know when to water, dig your finger at least an inch into the pot, if the soil is moist, then watering is not yet needed. Too much watering will cause severe damage to the plant.
2. Now you're ready to buy your first houseplant.  Once you've determined that your home is a suitable place to grow a houseplant then it's time to hit the market for your very first houseplant. When picking out one, best to check it for harmful bugs and pests. By "harmful" we mean aphids, leaf miners or spittlebugs. Other insects like ladybugs and green lacewings are in fact "good" insects that help control destructive insects at bay. To know if the plant you're eyeing is not infested with harmful bugs, check the leaves, roots and stems. Plant diseases should be watched out as well. Do not buy those with leaves that have yellowed and feel squishy. Black spots on leaves signal plant distress as well and as such should be avoided. Check the plant's roots by gently lifting it off its pot. Healthy roots look firm and white. When checking out flowering plants, do not be easily lured by the huge, fragrant flowers. A good rule of thumb when buying flowering plants is to purchase those with tight, healthy unopened buds.

Now that you have your houseplant, all you need to do is a little watering, a little plant grooming and some more relaxation.