One of the best ways to provide indoor plants with ideal growing conditions is to place them outdoors from late spring to early fall (figure A). It's also one of the quickest ways to kill them if the mercury takes an unexpected dive or shoots toward the 100-degree mark. So don't get in a hurry to set them out, and don't hesitate to bring them in if weather threatens their survival. Still another surefire way to kill a houseplant is to plant it in a pot full of garden soil. Unfortunately, your soil may contain a few nasty bacteria or fungi that can't wait to attack your plant. Because garden soil is low in organic matter, it's also pretty dense compared to potting soil, and it'll not only restrict the roots but in time will pull away from the walls on the pot. When that happens, water drains quickly and never has a chance to reach the root ball. Besides, potting mixes these days are so good, so readily available and so reasonably priced that you owe it to yourself and your plants to use them rather than garden soil or go through the fuss and mess of mixing your own.
Too often, people get into a watering routine, dousing their plants every Saturday morning, for instance. That may be convenient for you, but it can be disastrous for your plants. A better way is to water when the plant truly needs it. Some plants, depending on the type, location, soil condition and pot size, may need water every three days, while others may need water only every three weeks. It's also a good idea to keep a few water jugs on hand that have been allowed to sit a day or so. That way the water will be room temperature, which plants prefer. And during the winter months, when plant growth slows a bit, you should cut back on watering, mist more often and withhold fertilizer until spring.
