What do plants need to grow?

Like humans plants need water, and nutrients (received through the soil and fertilizer)  to survive. They also need light and air and the right temperature.  It is the balance of these that we need to know about when purchasing plants. How much water? Does it need to be more on the dry side or does the soil need to always be moist, or somewhere in between? Too much water and you are drowning the root system and setting in rot, no plant can survive root rot. Left dry for too long the roots shrink up and and eventually break down.

What about nutrients - what type of soil does the plant require. When purchasing a plant once it is in its home it needs to transferred to the appropriate pot and the right soil added. A minimum of every two years, or sooner if you have a fast grower, the soil needs to be amended with new soil the same holds if you take your plants outside in the spring/ summer and bring them back in for the winter. Both roots and foliage need room to grow. Without enough room plants will become stunted or too small. Overcrowded plants -be it  too many leafy plants in a mixed planter or a planter that is too small - will cause your plants to suffer from diseases as airflow will be limited.

Soil type. Do you know what type of soil you need, is it sandy to allow for water to drain away from the roots while promoting healthy root growth? Is it moisture retaining is it somewhere in between?  In between changes of soil how do you replenish the nutrients your plants need. Fertilizing your plant also provides it with the nutrients it requires, this is best done when watering your plants. The most important nutrients plants need for growing are N nitrogen, P Phosphorus and K potassium. Nitrogen for green leaves, phosphorus for strong roots and flowers and potassium to fight of disease.  Be careful when fertilizing your plant as too much fertilizer will cause root burn and be harmful. 

What  do we mean by light conditions? Light is the most important element for your plant. Without adequate light a plant simply cannot produce the food required for its life cycle.  Too little light will make plants weak and spindly. High-light plants cannot be forced into lower light areas  unless they are supplemented with proper additional artificial lighting.  Remember all these plants we bring into our space to grow, naturally are outdoor plants whose natural habitat are compromised from different environments around the world. When we bring them indoors to help them thrive we need to try and mimic what is natural to them.

Below you will find a  chart to help you make sense of it all in terms of natural light.

When we grow plants inside we also tend to forget that outdoors light moves throughout the day with the plant receiving light on all sides. This is why for even growth turning your plant will ensure a nicely balanced plant. We recommend one quarter turn each time you water.

Fresh, clean air is necessary for a plant's health. Dirty air caused by smoke, gases and other pollutants is harmful to plants limiting their ability to take in carbon dioxide from the air for converting to food (photosynthesis). It can also block out sunlight (ever notice how plants with dusty leaves look sad) which is necessary for the health of plant growth.

Time, don't forget just like a baby it takes time to grow into an adult. Give your plants time. Next time you are looking at plants take a browse at starter plant size to the more mature plants. Most mature plants grown indoors range from fifteen to fourty years old. With proper care a little starter will grow you just have to have the patience.