The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 13 Winter 2015 Low res | Page 14

Pot plants

Indoor plants
What to choose?

In Zimbabwe, we have a wide range of indoor plants
of all shapes and sizes available at our local nurseries.
Most indoor house plants available don’t flower but have
interesting shaped foliage. I love variegated leaves or
palms; generally, there is a plant for everybody.
First of all, decide where you want to put a plant in your
house so you will know the size and how much light it will
receive. With this knowledge in hand, it is easier to find
what you are looking for at a nursery.
Always ask your local nurseryman how large the plant will
get and how much light it needs before you buy it.

Generally, stones at the bottom help with drainage, then
fill the pot up with a mixture of two parts good soil, and
two parts potting soil or well rotted compost, and one
part sand. However, different types of plants will need
different ratios, for example, plants that need good
drainage such as succulents and cacti do better in a
sandier mix.

Feeding

I like to feed my indoor plants with a mixture of one
part worm leachate to ten parts of water once or twice

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a month, from my little vermiculture set up outside my
kitchen. However, if you don’t have access to worm
leachate, try a foliar feed, which are available at most
nurseries.

Cleaning

Dust can quickly build up on leaves. This isn’t only
unsightly but also prevents plants from growing properly.
Clean with a piece of cotton wool or sponge dipped in
water, preferably a soapy water to deter the aphids.
Getting into a good cleaning routine also helps to keep an
eye on disease such as mealy bug and scale, which can be
easily removed whilst cleaning.

Watering

Potting up

aspidistra

Pot plants can add as much character to your
house as a piece of furniture. Treat it with a
bit of tender loving care and it will last longer
than you think.

benjamina
ficus
varigated

Most houseplants are killed by overwatering. Try to get
into a routine of watering your plants so you know when
it should be done, rather than dousing them whenever
you feel like giving them a bit of TLC. Aim to keep the
soil moist but wait until it has almost dried out before
rewatering.
Generally plants will need watering more during the
spring and summer growing seasons, and less in winter
when dormant. In summer, it is always a good idea to take
your plants out the house and give them a good soaking –
do this once or twice a year.

Howea
forsteriana

schefflera