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 Those plants we call “House Plants’ had their origin outdoors, often in the tropics, growing in the shade or filtered sunlight of the taller trees. Horticulturists have selected outdoor plants which normally grow in an environment most similar to the average indoor household, and after years of testing, the survivors of these indoor environments have been given the title “houseplants.”
All house plants are different and, like people, they all require different care. You should consult with a Wegman’s professional before purchasing your houseplant to ensure that you can provide the right care for your plant.
Successful houseplant culture requires that you meet at least the following five needs of your indoor plants: proper soil, regular fertilization, thorough irrigation, suitable humidity and sufficient light.
Proper Soil:
Your potting soil anchors the plant, holds water and nutrients and has enough space between soil particles to provide the air roots' need for respiration. Cacti, orchids, vines and African violets, for example, all require different soil recipes to ensure proper growth. Under no circumstances can garden soil be used to pot up houseplants. Clay soil, for example, is totally unsuitable for houseplants because of its dense texture. Additionally, it will contain unknown, harmful bacteria and fungi which  can infect your plant.
Regular Fertilization:
Remember--a houseplant originated out in the ‘wilds’ someplace but now you have jammed its roots into a tiny pot. Your plant will use up all the nutrients in the potting soil within two or three months. Therefore, after two or three months, it is necessary for you to fertilize any plant in a container on a monthly basis except during the dormant winter months. Remember to fertilizer monthly from Valentine’s Day to Halloween.
Irrigation:
More plants die from overwatering than for any other reason. Plants should be watered when the top one-quarter to one-third of the soil is dry. Water should then be poured uniformly over the soil surface until it comes out the bottom. This might best be done in the kitchen sink. Under no circumstances should you, for example, give your potted plant one cup of water every Friday afternoon. This might be too much for a African Violet in a six-inch pot and not enough for a Dracaena Palm in a five-gallon container. The African violet would wilt because its roots had rotted off and the palm would wilt because the soil was too dry. Similar symptoms, different reasons, both dead. As you become familiar with your houseplant, you can often tell when it needs water simply by lifting it. When the pot is heavy, it has plenty of water. When the pot is light in weight, it is time to water. Mr. Ed has found that the Rapitest Moisture Meter ($14.99) is a worthwhile investment for determining when it is time to water your houseplants. Additionally, the Moisture Meter can be used in the garden to determine if the lawn is dry or if water is reaching the root ball of recent transplants.
 Humidity (or the amount of moisture in the air):
A humidity reading of 40 to 60 percent is suitable for almost all plants. The average humidity in the Bay Area is about 45% outdoors. If the air is too dry, leaves will shrivel, lose their color and even drop off. If the humidity is too high, plant leaves may drip or develop oedema. The greatest problem from high humidity is that it permits a more favorable environment for growth of soil insects, fungus and bacterial diseases. During the winter, in homes with central heating, humidity inside the house may drop to 10 or 15 percent. This is about what you expect on the Mojave Desert, so you can expect all kinds of unfavorable reactions from your ficus or maidenhair fern. Misting your indoor plants is an almost hopeless task. But if you mass your plants, this will help increase the humidity in their vicinity since plants are continuously evaporating water from their leaves. Another possibility for small plants is to set them on a pebble tray which is kept fill with water.
Light:
Orchids and African violets will not rebloom indoors unless they get between two and four hours of sunshine. “Good, bright light’ is not enough. The old rule is “No sun—no flowers.” Many houseplants will remain green and healthy but not flower if there is insufficient sunlight. For houseplants to have enough light for healthy growth they should probably be within one or two feet from a large window or sliding glass door. Sitting on the coffee table in the middle of the living room won’t work.  One bit of effective subterfuge is to keep the plant in its ideal environment and then move it to the coffee table when company comes. Using artificial light to supplement natural light is a waste of time and money 96% of the time.
Finally, the kindest thing you can do to perk up your houseplants is to periodically put them out of doors in a protected area with filtered sunshine because, remember, all houseplants had their origin out of doors.
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Valentine’s Day is Wednesday, February 14 
One of the most commonly grown ‘indoor orchids’ is the Phalaenopsis. This is the orchid with two to six wide, opposite leaves and a single long flower stalk with numerous blooms. Phalaenopsis is often called a Moth Orchid because the delicate flowers resemble butterflies. These orchids definitely require indoor temperatures but often do not get enough light to bloom regularly. Also, the humidity may get very low in the winter causing the blossoms to drop off. Otherwise, most of the care is the same as for Cymbidiums. (See our article from last week.) They will probably have to be no further than 6 to 12 inches from a window where they get three to four hours of filtered sun. 
Schultz Plant Food Plus
