Interior Plants: Keep it easy.

I promised Washingtonian Magazine I would write this piece. It's hard talking about interior plants on a beautiful day promising spring might be here to stay.

One thing I hear a lot from customers is that they want to re-pot the plants they've just purchased in to a decorative interior container. I don't think I've ever re-potted an interior plant. And here's why.

First, plants need to drain water, and I don't want water all over my good hardwood floors. Second, interior plants to me are NEVER permanent, I either give them away or they die (because I wasn't around and on vacation to care for them). Finally, I like short cuts. I'm a busy guy.

So here's what I do. I think of best plant/pot combos for desired location in my home. The pottery available today is fabulous. And I must say we have gorgeous pottery from all over the world at the store. Choose a container that matches style and color you like, WITHOUT drainage, and is slightly bigger then the pot your plant is already in. Simply place the plant inside a decorative container. Raise the interior plant slightly to the top of container. You can use pea gravel or broken pottery shards. Then cover top of plant with a decorative soil covering to hide the plastic container the plant is actually in. I like using spanish moss or even smooth river rock. Nobody will be able to tell that you've not re-potted your house plant.

I like watering my plants well once a week. The soil can dry out a bit. Just don't feel like you have to water all the time. Over watering your plants is just as bad as under watering. Use an interior plant food ever so often... when you have a little bit longer time to spare on your chores. Pick off brown leaves and remember it's always good to have some sort of organic insecticidal soap. Plant pest love to make their home in tropical plants, particularly if you leave your interior plants outside for the summer and bring them in for the winter.

To protect my floors, I use cork mats under the containers. Pottery is porous. Cork mats serve the same purpose and works the same way as a drink coaster. Don't forget this step. We have cork mats at the shop.

I'm planning my spring cleaning projects and trying to get my house in shape before my cousin arrives for the visit. I like everything perfect when guest come. I'll add cleaning my houseplants to the list. Plants can build up dust. Clean them, excepts for plants with hairy leaves, with water and soft cloth, or you can rinse them in the shower. Your plants will look and be more healthy.