Beyond Food - Organics for House Plants

Most of us are very aware of what we put into our systems, be it food or beverage, but what about our houseplants? Do you still fertilize with those synthetically derived products and take your plant water right out of the tap? Where does your potting soil come from? If you follow a few easy steps, you can convert your plants to the organic way of life and be rewarded with happier, healthier plants to beautify your home and help purify and humidify your air.

The simplest thing to start with is your watering routine. Fill as many containers as you need to completely water all your houseplants, then let them sit at least overnight to allow the chlorine to dissipate. The chemicals in tap water can build up in the soil to levels harmful to plants. Signs of this include browned leaf edges, yellowing, and general failure to thrive. When you are done watering, refill your container(s) at once and let it sit until the next time you water. Easy. Most plants prefer enough water at once to run out their drain holes, and then be allowed to dry out until the soil is dry to the touch, but not parched. Pour off any excess water that accumulates in the saucer, as most plants don't like to be waterlogged. Don't let them get so dry that they droop, as this damages the tiny root hairs and makes the plant more susceptible to root rot. It is a fine line, but you can learn it! Of course, you can always share your bottled water with your plants, and in the summer, collect some rainwater for them if you have the slightly fanatical approach to plants that I possibly have!

My plants get a monthly dose of fertilizer, but some folks use a diluted dose every time they water. Do what works for you, but you can kill a plant with overfertilizing faster than you can with benign neglect. Never exceed labeled dosage, and usually a diluted amount works just fine. There are many organic fertilizers for houseplants available. Unfortunately, even though we sell beautiful plants at the Wedge, we don't carry one yet (hint hint). However, they are available at Lakewinds Natural Home Store in Minnetonka, Garden City - just a block south of the Wedge, and at many garden centers. A mail-order source is Garden's Alive, and you can reach them at www.GardensAlive.com, or call 812-537-8650 to request a catalog.

Potting soil varies considerably in quality. Look for soils with compost blended in, or buy or make your own compost to add to your existing soil. Many sources say not to use garden soil for your houseplants, but if you have a nice, rich, organic garden, it's fine to use it for houseplants.

Conventional wisdom says you must "sterilize" this soil first, by baking it in the oven. First, this is a great way to stink up your home, and secondly, I prefer to have the living soil organisms stay in the soil. "They" say plants can get diseases this way, but I've had plants die in store-bought sterile potting soil, while a rich, active, compost based soil helps plants thrive.

Remember two things, though - sift the soil so the worms and other soil critters remain outside. (A pot is just too small a territory for them to live in.) Most garden soils need the addition of vermiculite and/or perlite to lighten the soil and allow for better drainage when used in pots. I also like to add worm castings to my soil as an organic amendment.

With springtime comes that urge to commune with nature and celebrate the rebirth of life. Act on those feelings by converting your houseplants to the organic way of life. Happy indoor gardening with your new organic techniques!