Jerry Seinfeld said: I have no plants in my house. They won't live for me. Some of them don't even wait to die, they commit suicide.
Are you having trouble keeping your house plants alive and healthy? Read on to find out how 10 simple changes will make you feel like a natural born gardener!

1. Plants will 'reach' toward a light source, so rotate your plant occasionally to promote straight growth.

2. Pay attention to the lighting requirements for your indoor plants. If your plant isn't getting enough light it will appear "thin and leggy" looking. You can alleviate this problem by only buying plants appropriate for the light already in your home, or by providing an additional light source (artificial lighting). Buying plants that need medium to low light are a "safe bet" for most homes. Think before you buy!

3. Use room temperature water when watering your indoor plants. Soak thoroughly but make sure plants aren't allowed to sit in water as this can cause the roots to rot, proper drainage will alleviate this. Different plants have different watering needs but there is one rule that aplyes to all of them: too little watering will kill the plants, but too much will do the same.

4. Give your plants a bath! Just like children, plants need to be hosed down to rid them of dirt, dust, and grime but unlike them, plants only need it occasionally! Place your plant in your kitchen sink or bathtub and use the spray attachment to gently rinse it off. Use lukewarm water and allow your plant to air dry before returning it to its regular location.

5. Plants improve the quality of household air but remember plants can suffer if kept in air that is always smoky, stagnate or overly dry. So don't to open the windows and allow fresh air to come into the house at least several times a week.

6. As with humans, most house plants do well in a daytime temperature range of 65-75 and ten degrees lower at night. Pay attention to your plant, if it isn't looking well a change in temperature might be all it needs to get back on the right track.
Helpful Hint: Don't overheat your house/your plants will thank you!

7. Keep the care tag for each plant you buy. This way you will remember the name of the plant.
Helpful Hint: purchase date, fertilizer dates, and the dates that you have repotted.

8. Your indoor plants need to be "fed" often because vital nutrients are flushed out of the soil each time you water. You can opt to use a slow release fertilizer that is added to the soil or you can use a liquid fertilizer that is added in small amounts when you water your plant. Don't fertilize in winter, instead, fertilize regularly during growing and flowering stages. (March-October)
Helpful Hint: write a quick reminder on your calendar for when to do it next. This isn't an exact science but your plants will tell you if you are fertilizing too much by having burned or dried leaves.

9. When growing plants indoors in containers, do not use soil from the garden as it does not yield good results. Outdoor soil can contain insects, weeds, and disease-causing organisms that can actually harm other healthy plants already living indoors. Additionally, outdoor soils become compacted when put into small containers. This will lead to problems with the plant's roots and might also impede drainage.

10. We all need room to grow and plants do too! When you notice that roots are coming out of the drainage hole or seem thick and/ or matted, it is time to repot your plant.
Helpful Hint: When picking a container/pot for your house plants, make sure it will drain properly.