These should be repotted separately to meet each plant's individual cultural requirements. The holistic approach to houseplant care integrates all of the cultural factors affecting a plant's health. These factors include soil, air, light, moisture in soil, humidity, fertility, pests, temperature, ventilation, plant size, the container and rate of growth. The following diagram illustrates the holistic system of houseplant health. The well-meaning owner often waters too often.
People place houseplants on a watering schedule with no regard for the plant's use of water.
Due to varying cultural factors and changes in seasons, watering should be done on an as-needed basis. Because houseplants come from a variety of natural habitats, it is important for the owner to know how moist or dry the soil should be. With so many houseplants being tropical or subtropical plants, general watering recommendations can be made. These recommendations assume the potting soil is well-drained and appropriate for the plant. Apply water when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are dry.