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House Plant Care
Cleaning the Leaves
Wipe
the leaves with a damp cloth or tissue to remove any dust and
insects. Use soft water if possible, because the lime in hard
water may leave marks on the leaves. Remember to wipe the
underside of the leaves as well as the top. Specially formulated
leaf shine can be bought from most garden centres. It brings a
glossy shine to the leaves, though it is not necessary.
Increase Humidity One
key factor in house plant care is the central heating. In late autumn
through to spring it will significantly reduce the humidity levels
in the house. The easiest way to combat this is to spray the
plant weekly as shown in the picture to the right. Hold the
sprayer about 5 cm (6 inches) from the plant and spray all over.
Again, use soft water if possible. Do not spray in strong
sunlight, and do not spray any flowers on the plant.
Feeding in Autumn and Winter Reduce the level of feeding for your houseplant to about a third from November to March. If
in doubt, don't feed. It is always better to slightly underfeed
than to overfeed. Never feed a sickly plant.
Autumn to late spring are good times to give your house
plant some care. A good leaf clean, altering the
feeding frequency and a weekly spray will help keep your
houseplants in tip-top shape.