Initially when you get a plant, it would be a good idea to press about an inch into the potting mix of the plant to determine whether it needs to be watered.  If the potting mix is dry it is time to water your plant but if it feels moist, it does not need watering yet.  Soon you will be able to determine how frequently you need to water your plants.

Over-watering is the common cause of plant death.  Symptoms would include yellowing leaves and green moss on the potting mix.  This will also lead to fungal attacks, which thrive in moist conditions and lead to diseases and plant collapse.

Indoor air is very dry and leaves will become dry due to the lack of moisture.  One way to correct this is to spray-mist your plants regularly.  This will also help keep the plant free from dust.

Another way would be to simply group plants together as this would create higher humidity levels around each plant.

A better way perhaps would be to use a pebble tray.  A large saucer can also be used for this purpose.  Fill the tray with pebbles and maintain the water level under the pebbles at all times.  Placing your potted plants on top of this tray will provide them with moisture as the water evaporates and the added benefit is when watering the plants, the excess water can be allowed to drain on the pebbles.  This will prevent the plant standing in excess water and avoid mosquitoes.  This would be a handy method when going away on a short holiday.

The correct type and amount of nutrients are important to the healthy growth of the plant.

(N)    -    Nitrogen promotes leafy growth

(P)    -    Phosphorus for healthy root development

(K)    -    Potassium for production of fruits and flowers

There are many different formulations of fertilizers available and they come in the form of powders, pellets, spikes and liquid.  Whichever you choose, ensure you choose according to the need of your plant and follow the package instructions.  There are fertilizers for green plants and flowering plants, orchids and fruit trees, a general houseplant fertilizer and one specially formulated for African violets.  Using the correct one will ensure the health of your plant.  While under fertilizing is of no use to the plant, over fertilizing will damage or kill your plants.

The origin of the plant should help determine the amount of light and humidity the plant would require. Most plants have the amazing ability to adapt to their environment but would still require conditions close to their natural habitat for a healthy growth.

Full Sun                                    -        this would mean at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight on the plant.

Semi-shade/Partial Sunlight        -        sunlight through taller plants or a shade netting.

Shade                                        -        no direct sunlight on the plant.

Apart from providing the plant with it's basic need for light, water and nutrients, it is very important to regularly remove damaged or dying plant parts to prevent pests and diseases.

Use biological methods to keep plants pest free.  Remove pests by hand or cut off the affected parts as much as possible.  Do not spray your plants during a hot weather or if you know that the product will be washed away by the rain.  Some ways of biological control are:

• Putting sliced apples on the potting mix, which will attract slugs and snails to gather underneath them which you can discard easily.
• Rough edges from the crushed egg shells around the plant will also deter them.  Egg shell are also a form of nutrient for the plants.
• For bigger gardens however, you can leave old beer in open cans overnight and the snails and slugs will crawl into them which you can discard in the morning.
• Make your own pesticide with crushed garlic and chilli spray.
• You can also introduce beneficial insects like the ladybug beetle which will eat aphids and other garden pests.
• The Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) is a sacred to the Indians who have enjoyed it's benefits for more than 4000 years.  The West has since discovered it's anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties and these days Neem is used in anything from cosmetics to toiletries.  Neem trees do not seem to suffer from pest attacks and the plants surrounding the Neem trees also do not seem to be bothered by pests.  Plant a Neem tree in your garden.  Use Neem oil as a botanical pesticide. Neem is also effective in controlling mosquitoes.

There are hundreds of botanical methods to control pests and diseases.  If you are not sure about the type of pest or disease affecting your plant, cut a small sample of the affected part, seal it in a clear plastic bag and bring it to your local nursery for diagnosis and advise on treatment.  However, the choice of not using  harmful chemical pesticides remains very much a personal choice.  Use of chemical pesticides is not encouraged as it will cause the pest and the beneficial insects to die and is hazardous to people and the environment.  Protecting our environment is everybody's responsibility.

Investing in good quality gardening tool is a must for every gardening enthusiast.  Good tools tend to be expensive but can last you a long time.  Cheap tools are not able to put up with tough gardening jobs and tend to get damaged easily and cause injury.

Clean your tools thoroughly after every use as dirty tools can introduce pests and diseases to your plants.