If you've read our article on the Roots of Indoor Greening, you know a bit more about why indoor plants can actually help you and your students feel good and offer you an inexpensive element for hands-on learning. If you don't already have plants in your classroom, the following outline of care (for both cut and potted plants) will help you get started.

You can place many cut plants in water to extend their life. Re-cut an inch from the stems immediately before placing in water because gelled sap at the cut end may block water uptake. Refresh water periodically to prevent bacterial build up, which can cause unpleasant odors. Extend the longevity of cut plants by keeping them out of direct sunlight and away from heater

Indoors in pots, plants have the same basic needs as outdoor plants – water, light, air, and nutrients – but they’re entirely dependent on you for them! Fortunately, in the classroom you have lots of student helpers.

Water. Of course plants need water: lack of it can lead to stunted plant growth and leaf drop. Fortunately, most students enjoy watering, but they need to use care because over watering is the most common cause of poor performance and death of houseplants, as it can lead to root rot and mold. Moist soil also encourages fungus gnats, and though they aren’t a big threat to plants, they’re annoying to have around.

Here are some watering guidelines:

Fertilizer. You can use enriched potting soil to provide the nutrients your plants need for healthy growth, but if your potting medium does not contain nutrients, use either organic or conventional fertilizer. Worm castings are a great source of nutrients for classroom plants. Most indoor plants have very low nutrient needs and will let you know if nutrients are lacking by exhibiting yellow leaves or slow growth.

Light. Sunlight from windows is plenty for many indoor plants. If plants start to grow tall and lanky and/or the leaves start to turn yellow, they may need more light for proper growth. You can supplement with artificial lighting in a setting like a GrowLab.

Repotting. Correct pot size is important in maintaining proper moisture levels. A pot that’s too small causes roots to displace soil that would otherwise act as a reservoir for moisture, leading to the need for more frequent watering. If the container is too large, the extra soil can hold too much moisture, making it easy to over water. When you prepare to repot plants, obtain containers that are only one or two inches in diameter larger than the original pots, or if appropriate, divide each of your plants into several smaller pots.

Texas Master Gardener Handbook (scroll to bottom for links to houseplants that thrive in various conditions).
Easy Classroom Houseplants

Additional indoor plant care information and advice from the National Gardening Association's Garden.org Web site:

Houseplants 101
Bring Your Garden Indoors with Houseplants
Indoor Herb Gardening
Those Bloomin' Holiday Gifts