Houseplants

Introduction

You're in the nursery section of Home Depot and the houseplants look great. The hanging ferns are graceful, the palms are elegant and the orchids are in sensual bloom. You'd love to bring these plants home but don't know if you can keep them alive. It's hard to resist. You buy a simple Boston Fern.

At first, your fern looks fabulous, so lush and green. And you water it faithfully...at first. Until you forget and it starts to turn brown. It drops leaves. You water it and it perks up...to a point. Little did you know that ferns HATE to dry out. You both limp along together for a season, until it finally dies, or you give it away.

Well, don't despair! Everyone needs to start somewhere. Ferns, like a lot of popular houseplants, are high-maintenance guests. Maybe you'd prefer a less-fussy foliage friend. The secret is matching your houseplants to your personal style.

Here's how to get started...