The second big reason for plant failure comes from trying to grow plants in an environment unsuited or badly suited to their needs. Some plants such as Lantana or Morning Glory need as much sun as they can get, and demand a south window; others like the African Violet and various species of English Ivy will flourish for season after season in settings which never receive the sun’s rays directly, but which merely get reflected light. In the chart that makes up Chapter 16 at the back of the book under the heading Location you will find the location each plant likes best.
Most plants which are grown indoors possess a fantastic degree of adaptability. They must, in order to survive. The modern home is designed to be lived in by humans primarily, and little thought is given by the architects and builders to the needs of growing things. Yet, a cactus from the desert and a fern whose original habitat is in the rain forests of the South American mountains will live and prosper in the same room, if they have been chosen and then cared for with some intelligence and thought.
There are six basic considerations which must be kept in mind in the selection and care of any house plant or group of house plants: Light and Sun, Temperature and Humidity, Ventilation, Watering, Cleaning and Summer Care. Read through the section that follows and keep these points in mind as you care for your plants. What we have to say here is uncomplicated but extremely important. These are general rules that apply to any plant you might grow at home.