If you want to add an organic quality to any room you can accomplish it quite easily by simply adding plants to a space. If you are worried about taking care of plants, start with easy care plants, and then you can expand your collection from there.
Read the Tag: When you are getting a new plant for your space, check the tag that comes in the pot. It will tell you the name of the plant, and the conditions that it needs to survive. Look for a plant that fits your environment. For example, if you have a spot it a sunny window, then look for a plant that loves bright sunlight.
If you have a room with filtered light, look for plants that want to live in the shade. There is a plant that will suit virtually any environment. Keep an Eye on It: After placing your plant in your apartment, watch it to make sure that the environment suits the plant. Check on it at least weekly. Make sure that you are giving it enough water, and more importantly make sure that you are not over watering it.
Look at the foliage on your plant to make sure that it is healthy. Pull out dead foliage to keep it looking fresh. When to Water: Plants are much more prone to die from over watering than they are from under watering. Plant roots need oxygen to live, and if they are swimming in water, they literally drown. So check the soil and if it is moist, you do not need to water.
An easier way to check is to step back and look at your plant. If the leaves are looking droopy, then the plant is too wet, or too dry. Look closely at the leaves and if they have dry edges, then you need to water. If the leaves are yellowing and falling off, then the plant is too wet. You can also try using a moisture meter that you can buy at your garden center or hardware store.
Concerning Containers: When you are growing a plant from a bulb or even a seed, you need to select a container that will allow the plant's roots to develop properly. You can also plant your seed in a small pot, and move it to a larger pot when it outgrows the smaller sized pot. Large plants also outgrow their pots in time and need to be replanted.
Dust your Plants: Just like everything else in your home, plants collect dust. While this may not bother you, it does bother the plant. The dust keeps the leaves from breathing, and may also attract bugs. Get in the habit of wiping the leaves clean with a damp cloth. If you have a plant with tiny leaves, you can clean the leaves by spraying with water.
