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INDOOR PALMS- CARE AND MAINTENANCE   Most people water their indoor plants incorrectly- this probably includes you.  Do your indoor palms or plants get brown tips?  Or spots on the leaves? Have you ever kept one alive for more than a year?   The key to growing indoor palms and plants is to water them correctly.  Most people simply pour a cup of tap water into the soil every week or so.  This is the biggest mistake you can make when growing indoor plants!  What happens is, the plant's roots absorb all of the H20 (pure water) and leave all of the salts and minerals in the soil.  These salts and minerals are sort of like waste deposits- once they build up enough in the soil, the pH becomes drastically changed and the plant will begin to suffer.  The first sign of this damage is browning of the leaf tips.  This browning will eventually spread until the entire leaf is dead and the entire plant will soon follow.    The Solution If you can avoid salt and mineral build-ups in your plant's soil, extending its life at least 2-5 times.  In order to keep soil healthy, it must be leeched every time it dries out, here's how...   If the plant is in a container that will fit easily in your kitchen sink, that is the best place to water it.  Place the container in the sink and run tap water (at room temperature or warmer) through the soil, being sure to spin the container while the water is running.  Allow the water to run through the soil for about 1-2 minutes.  If the soil drains quickly, run the water at a faster rate.

Lady Palms (Rhapis excelsa) make great low-maintenance indoor plants.  This one is variegated (leaves have yellow stripes) which ads some depth to the plant's color.             The Cat Palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum) is another great indoor palm, especially for people without a green thumb.  It never gets more than 6 feet tall!

If the soil is slow draining, run the water at a trickle (you may want to consider replanting the palm or plant into faster draining soil; perlite and sand help with drainage).  Then, shut off the faucet and allow the excess water to drain completely out of the container (this may take 30-120 minutes).  The plant is now ready to go back where it was.   If the plant is in a larger container that won't fit in a sink, you will need to take it outside and water it with your hose.  It is best to water container plants without a hose nozzle because the strong stream of water can blow the soil out of the container.    If you have some time, turn the water flow down to a trickle and place it in the container.  Allow it to trickle for 30-45 minutes, then turn the water off and allow 1-2 hours for excess water to drain from the bottom of the container.    If you don't have much time, simply fill the container to the brim with water and allow to drain, then repeat four to five times.  Again, allow 1-2 hours for excess water to drain from the soil, then move the plant back indoors.  It is a good idea to keep a saucer or paper towel under the container to soak up any remaining excess water that may trickle out of the bottom of the container during the next 24 hours.

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