Plants – Interior
INTERIOR PLANTS
Plants for use inside the house or office can be grown organically. Plants not only have far fewer problems under the natural program, they provide a benefit other than of looking nice and softening spaces. They also help clean the air.
Potting soil for interior plants should be the same used for outdoor potted plants. The two best mulches for potted plants are shredded cedar and lava gravel.
The fertilizer program is simple. In fact the two most common mistakes made on house plants is too much water and too much fertilizer. Adding a mild organic fertilizer once a year in the spring is usually plenty. Compost, earthworm castings or compost tea along with a one time application of lava sand is all I use. Use about ¼” of lava sand and gently work in.
Adding a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar per gallon of irrigation water will help keep your potted plants healthy and vibrant.
The easiest plants to grow tend to be the most effective at air purifying. My recommended list is as follows:
Bright Areas Semi-Shade
Aloe vera Aglaonema
Areca palm Boston fern
Bamboo palm Corn plant dracaena
Christmas cactus Croton
Croton Heart leaf philodendron
Orchids Pothos ivy
Dieffenbachia Janet Craig dracaena
Lady palm Shefflera
Dwarf banana Warneckei dracaena
Rubber plant
Spathiphyllum
Parlor palm
Spider plant
Shadiest Areas
Aglaonema
Heart leaf philodendron
Red emerald philodendron
Pothos
Sanseveria
An excellent book on the air purifying properties of plants is How To Grow Fresh Air by Dr. B.C. Wolverton, Penguin Books.