"Keep Evenly Moist":  Houseplants In A Desert Climate
by Sue Thurman

After many years of living in Indianapolis with over 100 houseplants, this Hoosier was transplanted into the Arizona desert, where nearly everything I had learned about plants changed.

Yes, even indoor plants in the arid Sonora Desert have different requirements than my former green companions.  My bookcase contains a variety of books about houseplants and their care, but my new challenges were overwhelming at first and for several years, I killed a variety of plants.  The demise of most had to do with several factors, clay pots, hanging pots, and not enough humidity in the air.  No matter what the experts said in their books about specific care for each plant, I found it necessary to adapt many of their recommendations to fit our unique climate.  Last year I purchased a book for additional guidance and after a time found it humorous to learn that nearly every plant in the book had the same requirement - keep evenly moist.  No, we can't always rely on books to provide the right guidance, so I'd like to offer suggestions that are logical and have worked for me.

Most houseplants require more moisture in spring and summer and welcome fertilizer during the time growth is noticed.  Please keep in mind that in some homes, plants will dry out more quickly due to air conditioning, heating, and types of pots.  In Arizona, I've learned that if a plant is hanging, it requires watering much more often due to the dry climate and the air circulating all around the plant and container.  If the hanging plant is in a clay pot that breathes, it will require even more frequent watering.  Unfortunately, several of my earlier adopted plants died because they shriveled up from lack of moisture.  I've repotted most of my hanging plants into containers without drainage holes to hold the moisture longer.  Often this is not recommended, but after a great deal of trial and error I've learned what works and what doesn't in my climate.  The key is being aware of what a plant likes and it might be different than what a plant book indicates.  I find the best source for care instructions is the nursery where plants are purchased.  These folks are the caregivers of your plants before the plants come home with you, and the circumstances that have made the plants thrive in the past should work for you.

My succulents and cacti are very happy on windowsills facing west and bask in the full afternoon sun.  Some of the succulents need water twice a week and more often when it's a very hot summer.  The cacti are watered once a week with no complaints so far.  Many of the succulents and a few cacti may need to be transplanted from their lightweight plastic containers to heavier ones.  If they have rapid growth, the soil can dry quickly and the plant will become top-heavy and tip over.  If you can't re-pot right away, place the smaller container into a larger, heavier container for a while.

Generally, if a plant requires hothouse conditions they present a challenge for me, but I do have three very beautiful and happy Crotons that thrive in a West window, in full sun, on a pebble tray that is kept wet and they are misted daily.  Some plants can be trained to grow in environments that may seem unusual for them, and others will not adapt.  I love Maidenhair Ferns, but haven't been able to keep any alive here unless they are in a terrarium.  Then again, ferns have always been a mystery to me and they usually look disturbed in the nursery if I stop and look at them for any length of time.  Some relationships are not meant to be.  My fern in a basket in the bathroom looks great because it's silk.

To recap, if you're a Southwestern indoor gardener like me, keep in mind clay pots may not be your best choice due to the evaporation of moisture. Clay pots with drainage holes can be unsuitable for standard house plants, but will probably work for cacti.  Mist the plants that like humidity often, keep them on a moist pebble tray, and keep an eye on all plants during the brutal hot summer months.  Don't let their leaves touch the window pane or they can burn.  Grouping them together can help all the plants with humidity levels.  Remember to fertilize, especially in the spring and summer when everything grows like crazy.  Learning to appreciate and nurture the many beautiful plants of the desert can be very rewarding.