Maintain Proper Conditions for Indoor Potted Plants, Container Plants, and Greenhouses

Whether we grow them for food, to beautify our surroundings, or as a natural air purifier in our homes, we want our plants to grow big and have a healthy garden. The key to achieving successful gardens, flower beds, container plants, house plants, or potted plants is not as simple as just add water. There are a lot of parameters to pay attention to and a wide array of conditions to control. In addition, many gardeners also maintain a home composting bin or compost pile. It’s a great way to reduce waste, while creating natural, beneficial soil for their plants.

Regardless of your individual plant-growing pursuits, your best bet is to educate yourself on the specific needs of your plants and take advantage of today's sophisticated tools that let you accurately monitor and maintain proper conditions.

Problem

Improper soil temperature is not just potentially detrimental to planting, but also to germination and the healthy development of roots, fruits, etc. Humidity plays a vital role in plants as well. Through a process known as transpiration, water is taken up by the roots, moved through the plant’s tissues, and finally evaporated into the air through its leaves. This helps the plant regulate its temperature, and also helps transport minerals to the leaves for photosynthesis. Since relative humidity affects the rate at which the transpiration process can occur, most plant species likely will need to stay within a specific humidity range for optimal health. A drastic change in humidity can be especially harmful to indoor plants and must be avoided if possible.

Solution

Since optimum conditions can vary dramatically from species to species, be certain to do your research as to the proper soil temperatures, relative humidity, and even air temperatures for your plant seeds and plants to thrive. Then monitor and maintain soil and air conditions using a quality soil thermometer, hygrometer, humidifier, etc.

• Monitor Soil and Air Temperature: Use an AcuRite Outdoor Monitor with Soil Temperature Sensor to track conditions. Insert the Soil Temperature Sensor into dirt - many recommend between 5-6 inches (12-15 centimeters) deep, depending on the plant species. Place the Monitor nearby to measure the ambient air conditions and ensure a safe, controlled temperature and humidity.
• Use a Home Environment Display for convenient viewing of conditions measured by Monitors and Sensors in multiple areas inside and outside of the home.
  • Set alarms to alert you of dangerous or unsatisfactory conditions. These can include:
    • Harmfully low or high humidity
    • Harmfully low or high temperatures