When caring for indoor houseplants, it is helpful to have a basic knowledge of plant functions. This can aid in determining what is needed to help keep your houseplants green, growing and gorgeous.
The root system is an important part, really the most important part, of the functioning of your indoor house plants. Unlike an exterior landscape plant, your potted houseplants rely on you to provide the correct amount of water to the root system in order to keep them healthy, green, and growing.
Healthy Roots Healthy Houseplants | Indoor Plants Flowers
The leaves, stems and flowers are the most obvious parts of a plant. They are above the soil level and it is what we see when we look at a plant. I have been in the interior plant care industry for a few decades and have cared for and maintained thousands of interior plants in almost any kind of environment that you can imagine.
I know that the most important part of any plant is the root system, the part of a plant that is not so obvious to most people. The roots of an interior plant can be easily damaged by incorrect watering practices and over-fertilization. You will likely not see any root damage until it is too late to easily reverse it. That is why you must take extra care with the watering and fertilization of your houseplants.
Without a healthy and vigorous root system, no plant will do well. Roots hold the plant in the soil and absorb the necessary water and nutrients through the root hairs that are located on the root tips. Plants help clean the atmosphere by filtering air through the soil. The roots exchange gases and also store carbohydrates for use by the plant when needed.
Most houseplants will not do well if the roots are kept at any extreme, wet or dry, for extended periods of time. So, as you care for your indoor houseplants, keep this in mind.