Indoor gardening is popular for enjoyment, as well as decoration. One can choose plants to go with the furniture and combine natural and man made materials to get the most aesthetic properties from both. Not only do plants add to the decor of a home but plants help to clean the air utilizing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.

Here are some simple tips to help care for your indoor plants.

1. Plants need a good source of light or partial light, you need to have the plants near a window. Direct light can get too hot in mid summer and you may need to draw a shade to protect your plants from the blazing sun. With advances in indoor lighting you can provide the proper light source simply by changing a light bulb, so don't let lack of window area discourage you.

2. Some plants such as Philodendrons, Boston ferns, African violets, Cyclamens and Creeping Fig can get by with low light requirements and should also be considered for areas with little or no window space.

3. Watering seems like it would be easy enough to do, just see where the plant is aim and pour right? Yet more than one gardener has killed many plants by under watering or over watering. Plants have varying water needs but all need some and none need too much. If you over water you can get root rot and the plant will perish. Stick your finger in the soil and check for dampness before you water, soil should be nearly dry to the touch.

4. You have yet another opportunity to accessorize your living area when choosing planters. Brightly colored or subdued pots lend to varying moods and styles. When potting simply purchase a bag of potting soil and you will get the nutrients your plant needs to get a grip on the new environment. After a month or two however you may want to water with a little liquid fertilizer mixed in. Be aware that too strong a dilution of fertilizer can kill your plants just as if you'd over watered. Or never watered. Follow instructions on package for best results.

5. Humidity will disappear on a hot sunny day in direct light so again you may need to draw a shade. You can mist your plants throughout the day or in the morning before you go to work. Of an evening you can mist again, to help the plants have enough humidity you can place pans or jars of water in concealed areas around plants. The evaporation helps to increase the humidity. Misting leaves will help remove dust buildup as well as provide the moisture that the plants need. In winter plants are dryer than in summer because of artificial heat sources, and misting is even more vital to the plants health.

With care and devotion house plants help create a calming and inviting atmosphere in a home.

May life yield an abundant harvest of joy for you today.