Different Plant Requirements

Plants make a great center piece for your home. Before purchasing a plant, you must consider where you are going to place it and learn about what the plant will need.

Many house plants want indirect lighting such as ivies, Christmas cactus and bamboo, while African violets want bright light.

The amount of sun, soil type and drainage all play a very important role when choosing a plant for your garden. If you have a shady garden with limited sun exposure, you will want to choose different varieties begonias, and impatient plants. Before planting, check to see if the soil type is just right. Sometimes you will have to add mulch or a fertilizer to alter the soil to match what the plant needs to grow and bloom.

If you have a sunny spot, you will choose plants that love the sun and can tolerate the summer heat. Roses, lilies, daises, and lavender all make a great choice. When planting these make sure you have enough room for them to spread out without creating a problem for other plants in your garden. Mulch will be very important in sunny spots because it will prevent the water from evaporating. It will keep the soil cool in the hot sun. Another very important item when having a beautiful garden is having the proper drainage. If it is light and sandy, organic matter will hold the water in the soil. Mixing organic matter in clay will loosen the soil so it will drain the water away from your plants and allow the roots to move through the soil.