In city life, many people keep indoor plants in a corner of the room for a touch of green. With little space, urban plant lovers satisfy their wish for a garden through indoor plants, using the inside of the house or the balcony as the only space.

Many kinds of indoor plants are now available in the country, and demand for them to decorate homes is growing day by day. But without proper care, they fail to thrive.

Indoor plants need proper care, and since they are kept indoors, their care differs in many ways from that of plants grown in a garden. Knowing these things can turn your room or balcony into a small green garden that brings you joy.

Be careful with watering first of all. Give plants a set amount of water, following the rules, as too much water harms them. Make sure water does not stand at the base of the plant for long, as this can cause rot. Plants do not need water every day. Take particular care with watering in the rainy season.

Check the soil in the pot to see whether the plant needs water at all. Press the soil with your hand before watering; if it feels damp, there is no need. Another easy way is to push a long needle into the soil and pull it out. If damp soil sticks to the needle, no more water is needed.

The right time to water indoor plants is morning and late afternoon, when the sun is less strong. Plants need more water in summer, but water slowly. Always make sure the soil in the pot never dries out.

Keep plants where there is enough light and air. It is best not to keep them in a very dark room or where there is too much sun. New seedlings should be kept on the veranda or wherever light and air reach them, so they grow properly and do not get fungus.

It is best not to keep plants in air-conditioned rooms, where leaves drop easily. With too much sun, the tips of leaves can dry and curl, and the colour of flowers or leaves can fade. If this happens, move the plant out of direct sun to a cooler spot. Sometimes too much fertiliser makes seedlings grow very fast but turns the stem yellow, and the plant suddenly wilts. In that case, water the base of the plant several times a day; once the fertiliser is washed out, the problem will be solved.

Do not let fallen flowers and dry leaves collect in the pot, and keep pots clean at all times. If dust or cobwebs gather on the leaves, wipe them gently with a dry soft cotton cloth or sponge. If a plant has many small leaves, clean it with water from a spray bottle. Following these rules will keep indoor plants healthy for a long time.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.