Speaking of planting indoor plants, most often they mean a transplant to a constant place of growth of purchased seedlings. Of course, you can sow the seeds yourself, but when you purchase a ready-made option in the nursery, there are more chances for high decorativeness. Sowing seeds and planting finished seedlings imply the same preparatory measures, so further information will be useful to any grower.

Basic rules for planting indoor plants

As in any other business, in order to get a good result from planting indoor plants, you will have to take into account some rules of the procedure. The main ones include the following:

1. Optimum pot sizes. The capacity for the seedlings should correspond to the size of their root part, and if you are going to sow the seeds in small pots, be prepared for an early replacement of the purchased option.
2. Suitable soil. When choosing a substrate for a flower, be sure to consider the requirements of a particular plant for alkalinity and soil density (this is especially true for cases of self-preparation of the soil mixture).
3. Maintaining the required properties of the earth. To avoid compaction of the substrate and to prevent “clogging” of the root system of plants, before planting, mix the substrate with sifted sand, peeled fine pebbles or chopped charcoal. In some cases, foam balls are used to maintain friability.
4. Selection of the finished soil mixture. When buying a store substrate, be sure to pay attention to its composition and fertilizers present. Also, do not forget to make sure that the product is suitable, because expired options will not have the necessary nutritional value.
5. Preparing the soil for transplanting. It is better to open the package with the ground in advance, and not just before planting the plant. The nitrogen accumulated inside must necessarily go outside, otherwise it can seriously harm the roots of the flower. Home-made soil mixtures must be steamed in the oven at a temperature of at least 80 ° C, and in some cases the same will have to be done with respect to finished varieties of soils.
6. Compliance with landing technology. Depending on the type of root system of indoor plants, the corresponding depth of their planting is selected. In some cases, with excessive deepening in the soil mixture, the flower lags behind in growth and is not very decorative.
7. Creating optimal temperature conditions. Each plant has its own requirements for environmental conditions, therefore, in the process of planting and after it, the temperature, humidity and lighting must comply with the declared standards. Think in advance which room of a house or apartment is best for placing a pot with a plant.

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How to plant indoor flowers in a pot

The procedure for planting home flowers is a relatively simple task, especially if the grower takes into account all the nuances of each individual stage in advance: choosing a pot, preparing a substrate, creating optimal temperature conditions, arranging lighting, as well as the intricacies of direct planting.Let's consider each of them more closely.

Pot selection

Most often, for planting indoor plants, flower growers prefer only two main types of pots: plastic and ceramic. The former are cheaper and more practical, while the latter are slightly more expensive, but more stable, and it will not be easy to turn them over.

In addition, clay containers absorb plastic better than plastic ones and serve as a natural filter, trapping harmful minerals and letting in air.

The second thing you should pay attention to before buying is the required diameter of the container. If you are going to sow the seeds of medium-sized plants in the soil, then in the first few months there will be enough pots up to 15 cm in diameter, but after about six months it will have to be replaced with a large product.

For a finished seedling, a container that is 2-4 cm larger than the previous one is ideal, but here it is worth considering the growth rate of the grown crop (for fast-growing indoor flowers, it is better to choose pots with a large margin). So, in which pots it is better to plant your plant exactly - only you can answer.Well, the last thing you should not forget about is the presence of drainage holes at the bottom. Usually there are not more than three of them, but if you plant dry-loving plants, you can find a pot with five small holes. So that water does not spill onto the windowsill, an additional tray is installed under each such product.

Important! Sometimes instead of pots, flower growers buy a more interesting flower pot, forgetting about the lack of drainage holes in it. Despite its high decorativeness, such a product adversely affects the root system of plants: excessive moisture often leads to decay of roots.

Soil preparation

If you buy a ready-made substrate in a store, then before planting, you just need to ventilate it and calcine it in the oven (optimal temperature is 80–100 ° C). Factory mixtures already have all the qualities necessary for plants, and you just have to choose a specific option depending on the type of crop.

For example, acidic soils are great for camellias, hydrangeas, ferns and rhododendrons, alkaline soils for palms, lemons, cypresses and laurel. Briefillum, primrose, pelargonium and other plants from the same families can be planted on neutral soils.

With self-preparation of soil at the end of summer, it is recommended to cut the upper layers of sod land from old meadows and pastures. In such places, it is usually slightly acidic, which is ideal for most plants.

In addition to it, you can use leafy substrates (leaves of poplar, hazel, maple, pear or apple tree must lie in a heap all summer) and peat soils obtained from marsh chernozems.For greater friability, small expanded clay, perlite and vermiculite are added to the mixture, and finished mineral fertilizers (sold in flower shops) will help to increase their nutritional value.

Like purchased soils, a homemade substrate needs to be calcined in the oven and sieved, trying to select weed seeds and some other components harmful to indoor plants.

Ensuring optimal conditions

When the main preparatory measures are successfully completed, it is worth considering the placement of planted plants. Temperature conditions, air humidity in the room and the level of lighting play a primary role in the normal growth and development of the planted crop.

Temperature

For most indoor plants, ideal temperatures would be between 22–25 ° C, with a slight drop to 17–20 ° C in winter. This feature should be taken into account when choosing a place to place the pot, additionally paying attention to the presence of drafts or heating devices.

Both options are a kind of extremes and can lead to complete or partial wilting of flowers.

Humidity

This indicator is especially important for tropical and subtropical plant varieties (for example, Dieffenbachia or dracaena) and should be at least 50-60%.You can achieve this result in rooms with dry air by regularly spraying plants from the spray gun or by hanging wet towels on batteries.

Dry air and lower temperature values ​​(up to +10 ° C) will be acceptable only for crops with juicy leaves, but in this case, the possibility of sudden temperature changes should be excluded.

Lighting

Usually standard lighting of city apartments is enough for the normal growth and development of most indoor flowers, the main thing is to place pots in bright areas: on window sills and next to a glass door.

Such places will be the best solution for decorative species from arid or even desert climatic zones, including flowers with juicy leaves.

Important! Direct sunlight should not fall on plants, even despite the fact that some species calmly tolerate this effect (for example, begonia, cyclamen, lily, geranium).

Light penumbra is an excellent solution for ficus, philodendron, dieffenbachia, aralia, cissus and sweat, and on the shelves in the middle of the rooms you can put pots with calathea, arrowroot, royal begonia and tradescantia.

Among the most unpretentious plants that can grow well in shaded places, asparagus, high aspidistra, aglaonema are distinguished.

In winter, when natural lighting is no longer enough for light-loving decorative crops, you can create an artificially lit area using fluorescent lamps.

Planting a plant

Having successfully completed the preparatory phase, it's time to fill the selected pot with cultivated soil and plant the plant.

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The technology for performing this task is simple and provides for the following steps:

1. Laying the drainage layer. So that the water in the pot does not stagnate, a drainage layer is lined at the bottom of the tank, the role of which is perfect for broken brick, small stones or ready-made material purchased in the store. The thickness of the layer depends on the size of the pot and the exactingness of the plant, but in most cases 2-3 cm will be enough.
2. Filling the pot with prepared soil. The calcined and loosened soil mixture should occupy about half of the remaining volume, which in the future will allow more stable placement of the seedling. If you decide to sow the seeds, then you can sprinkle more soil, and after the emergence of the sprouts, transplant the seedling in a larger pot.
3. Seedling placement. When planting a seedling of a selected decorative plant, make sure that it has slightly moist, but clean roots. Then lower it to the soil in an upright position and carefully level all the roots. Pour the rest of the earth on top and lightly tamp with a spatula (when planting seeds, the substrate should not be heavily compacted).
4. Final events. Place the pot with the plant on the windowsill and moisten the earth a little, but only so that it sticks slightly to the fingers. In some cases, moistening is not required if you immediately use a slightly damp substrate.

Houseplant Care

Proper planting is only the first stage on the way to obtaining beautiful decorative flowers, because the success of their cultivation largely depends on further care. By this definition, it is customary to understand watering, fertilizer, pruning and transplanting of grown seedlings, and each of the processes has its own characteristics.

Fertilizer

For good growth and prosperity, almost all home plants need calcium, phosphorus, iron, nitrogen, potassium, magnesium and sulfur, which they can receive along with regular independent top dressing or by fertilizing during irrigation.

The introduction of nutritional compounds with water is becoming increasingly popular, due to the ease of preparation and use of a nutrient solution (crystalline or liquid fertilizer you just need to mix with water, in a dosage well defined by the manufacturer, and then soak the soil with it).

In order not to harm the flowers, at the initial stages of the use of top dressings, you should adhere to the minimum standards for their use, which can be increased only if there are clear signs of a lack of nutrients.

This also applies to the so-called prolonged preparations, which are produced in the form of capsules and, upon contact with groundwater, spread throughout the entire thickness of the soil for 30, 90 or 150 days (the exact duration of action depends on the particular substance inside the capsules).

The best time for applying nutritional compounds is the active growth of flowers, but during dormancy of plants or immediately after transplanting, it is better not to fertilize them, since there is always a risk of burning tender roots.

Watering

The rate and frequency of watering indoor plants directly depends on their type. For example, all aroid flowers, even in winter, do not plunge into a state of rest, but only slow down their growth, so watering can be reduced, but you should not completely stop it.

At the same time, representatives of the Mulberry family (for example, Benjamin's ficus) cease to grow with the advent of cold weather, which means that they practically do not need moisture. Ornamental plants with succulent leaves often survive the winter without any watering, since they have enough moisture accumulated inside.

Regarding the correctness of irrigation, there are several recommendations:

• the introduction of fluid should always be moderate (do not fill the plants, even if they are hygrophilous species);
• watering should be done only after checking the soil moisture (if the ground is moist, you can still wait);
• watering home plants can only be defended with water at room temperature, a cold liquid with the chemical compounds present in the composition will destroy the flowers;
• It is advisable to spray from the spray only those species that are favorable to such a procedure, otherwise the leaves will curl and hurt.

On average, indoor plants are watered 1-2 times a week, but a large role in the regularity of this procedure is played by external climatic conditions: air humidity and room temperature.

Pruning

Beginner gardeners are very wary of pruning indoor plants, but in fact it is simply necessary. Properly executed decorative and sanitary shortening of the shoots will not only not harm the plants, but also significantly improve their appearance, so you should not exclude it from the care plan.

The best time to carry out the procedure is the beginning of summer, although the removal of yellowed leaves and diseased shoots should be carried out all year round to prevent the propagation of harmful microorganisms.

Some types of flowers need a pruning pruning, which will stimulate the active growth of shortened side buds and the appearance of new flowering shoots (usually this applies to roses, ficus, hibiscus and citrus).

Important! Young and not overgrown plants are best cut to a minimum so that they are slightly lost in decorativeness.

Most often it is considered safe to cut 2/3 of the length of the shoots, even if only 2-3 live buds remain on the bush. Subsequent feeding of the flower will contribute to its rapid revival, and the decorativeness of the plant will only increase: it will have the strength to form new shoots.

Transfer

Contrary to popular belief, a transplant should not be performed for all problems with the flower. Thus, yellowing of leaves and a slowdown in growth often indicates a lack of nutrients, and not a lack of space in the pot.

You can check your guesses only after carefully extracting the plant: if, turning the earthen lump upside down, you notice that the roots really pierced the whole soil, it means that you still have to think about transplanting.

For large plants, this procedure should be performed once every few years, while not forgetting to focus on their growth rate after a previous transplant.

If it came to replacing the pot, it is better to transfer the transplant to the spring period, having previously selected a larger tank. For large flowerpots, sometimes it’s enough to simply replace the top of the soil, but medium and small plants will have to be completely removed from the old pot, being careful not to damage the root system.

If it has dried or damaged parts, it is better to cut them off, after which you can put the flower in a new pot, lined with a drainage layer and a soil mixture of a suitable composition.

All further actions are performed in the same way as when planting seedlings: the plant is placed in the center of the tank and, after spreading its roots, just fall asleep with soil. The root neck (the place where the stem transitions to the roots) should coincide with the line of the surface of the substrate.

The remaining soil mixture is poured on top and rammed around the stem of the plant so that there are no empty spaces between the roots. From the surface of the soil and to the upper edge of the pot you need to leave at least 1-2 cm of free space.

Common mistakes

Both planting and transplanting indoor plants usually do not cause difficulties even for beginner gardeners, but no one is safe from errors in the procedure.

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The most common of them include the following:

• improper soil selection (in some cases, even universal options have to be “adjusted" based on the needs of exotic colors, thereby achieving a decrease in density, or, conversely, an even greater compaction of the substrate);
• wrong pot selection (in very large containers, the alkalinity of the substrate decreases, the root system decays and bloom problems appear);
• incomplete transplant: do not try to keep the maximum amount of “native” soil on the roots of the purchased plant, because it is only a temporary place of growth for the time of sale and transportation (you can soften the old substrate with warm water, and this must be done so that not even the smallest grains of sand are left on them );
• high soil nutrient content (the introduction of a large amount of dressing immediately after transplantation threatens with the growth of green mass while grinding the flowers themselves);
• replacing the pot in plants that do not need it (for example, for hippeastrum tightness is even useful, as it does not allow children to grow and at the same time stimulates the flowering process);
• joint planting and flower pruning (This injures the plant twice as much and does not allow it to recover quickly).

What flowers can not be planted at home

Not all plants can be placed at home, even though they seem to you the most beautiful. Representatives of certain types of exotic vegetation are able to release toxic substances into the air that are dangerous for all residents. Therefore, before you buy a seedling you like, you should ask the seller about the possibility of its home cultivation.

The list of "unwanted" home flowers included the favorite of many dieffenbafia. It is really often used for decorating housing, but if juice enters the skin, it leaves burns and can cause severe poisoning.

This fact made the plant conditionally safe, while some others were included in the list of completely forbidden for home growing.

These are:

1. Mimosa. The flower has an interesting ability to respond to human touch by folding leaves. This feature of his attracts the attention of many gardeners, but only the aroma distributed by him is dangerous to health. With a constant presence in the room, mimosa causes prolonged toxicosis and contributes to hair loss.

2. Monstera. It does not exude any toxic fumes, but its juice is even more toxic than dieffenbafia, and can lead to serious burns.

3. Nightshade. This plant is safe only until bright orange fruits appear on its shoots. They contain poisonous substances, and should be away from children and animals.

4. Azalea Sims. This variety is much more dangerous than other similar plants with attractive lush leaves. The juice of the flower can cause severe poisoning, accompanied by colic, cramps and pain in the stomach.

5. Indoor euphorbia. If juice gets on the skin, burns appear, and ingestion causes nausea and upset stomach. In some cases, burns to the mucous membrane and dizziness are possible.

Of course, careful handling of these types of indoor vegetation can reduce the risk of poisoning, but it cannot be completely eliminated, therefore it is better to choose completely safe flowers for the house.

Useful tips for beginners

Beginners in the floriculture business are often unlucky with growing their favorite flowers, therefore, when planting and further caring for the plant, it is worth listening to the opinion of already experienced florists.

The main recommendations in this case will be the following:

• selection of the optimal pot size (it can be larger than the previous one by only a few centimeters);
• choosing the most suitable period for planting seedlings (usually it should fall in March);
• the need for careful handling of the root system, but with the obligatory removal of dried and dead roots;
• use of a drainage layer for any kinds of indoor flowers;
• the use of only special soil, the composition of which will fully meet the needs of each individual species;
• absence of voids under the earthen lump of the plant and around it;
• free space above the ground: the soil level should not reach the very edge of the pot so that when watering, water does not drain onto the windowsill.

After planting the flowers, they should be watered well so that the soil sags a bit (this does not apply to dry-loving varieties), and then you can place the pot in the most suitable place for it.

In general, the process of planting room vegetation will take no more than an hour, but only if you prepare everything you need in advance. And as a reward for the efforts, the florist will receive an excellent decorative element, which, moreover, can positively affect the general emotional state of the household.