Now that winter is on the way, there's more time to pay attention to caring for houseplants. The most important factor in the care of houseplants is matching up a plant's needs to its environment, says Ross Penhallegon, horticultural agent with the Oregon State University Extension Service. Light source, light intensity, temperature and total room environment are all crucial to houseplants. Each plant has its own individual cultural requirements, but will tolerate some changes.
All plants require some natural light.
On the whole, it is best to avoid hot direct sunrays for long periods of time. A bleached out area on a plant's leaves indicates too much light. Thin, leggy growth in a plant means not enough light. Avoid placing plants near direct sources of hot or cold drafts. A sudden change of temperature from doors, windows, furnace ducts, wood stoves or television sets can be detrimental to a plant.