Indoor gardening as house plant growing is not a new art. In ancient civilisations of India, Egypt and Rome, it is grown for the purpose of decoration. In Europe particularly in Britain, it was a common practice for interior decoration during 17th, 18th, 19th centuries.
In smaller room, single plant specimens appear more beautiful and better proportion to their setting. A tall plant like-rubber plant as philodendron may look very good in a room in which horizontal lines predominant.
In an office, tall broad-leaved and tough plants like – dieffenbachia, dracaena, rubber plant, philodendron, etc., can be more effective and harmonious with surroundings than delicate leaved fern or bright – coloured flowering plants which is highly suitable to an interior decor in the home.
Potted plants can be displayed on the disk, window sill, floor, window – ledge, table, book case, trolley on in window-boxes, at sunken bed. In modern architecture, built in planters or sunken beds have become enhancing popular.
Selection of Indoor (House) Plants:
Selection of indoor plants is very important practice.
Generally two types of plants grown in houses:
(i) First Type contains flowering plants, which give attractive look inside the room, but this type of plants use in little quantity because once the flowering oven e.g., Geraniums, African violet, etc.
(ii) Second Type of plants, such type of plants selected which grow regularly and attractive foliage, these plants provide permanent display, e.g., bonsai.
Characteristics of House Plants:
The important characteristics of house plants are given below:
i. The house plants should have the capacity to tolerate the shade of varying intensity.
ii. It should remain evergreen to retain its permanent decorative property.
iii. A house plant should be compact in growth habit.
iv. Flowering plants also be grown.
Culture Practices of House Plants:
House plants required optimum cultural practices, in which different points comes.
(i) Light – Light is very important for plant growth, but different plant required different intensity of light.
(ii) Very Little Light Required Plants – Philodendron, Dieffenbachia picta, Aspidista, Aglaonema, Sansevieria, Syngonium, etc.
(iii) Full Sum Light Required Plants – Croton, Rubber plant, Coleus, Kalanchoe, Geraniums, Poinsettia, Begonia.
(iv) Temperature – House plants required different temperature for will growth.
(v) Day Temperature Required Between 21°-26°C Indian rubber plant, Dracaena, Nephthytis, ferns, Aglaonema, Caladium, Coleus, Cacti, Succulent, etc.
(vi) Day Temperature Required Between 15°-21°C – Amaryllis, Geranium, Begonia, Fuchsia, Poinsettia, Aspidistra, Sansevieria, etc.
(vii) Humidity – The optimum relative humidity for best plant growth is 40-60% RH increase in rainy season and low in summer.
(viii) Watering – The requirement of water of house plants are differ in different plants. Some plants required more water like Alocasia, while cacti or some succulents required less water. Plants should be escape to over watering. Success or failure of plant growth depends on proper watering.
(ix) Fertilisation – For the proper growth of house plants, optimum nutrient supply is necessary. Generally pot bound plants can be fertilised by applying ½ to 1 teaspoon of any complete fertiliser (N : P : K).
Fertilisers should be applied when the plant is actively growing.