Taking plants from their natural environment and keeping them in doors has been practised by people since early times. There is evidence of indoor house plants being kept in ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian times. House plants rose to prominence in the Victorian era when tropical species like palms and ferns were kept indoors to brighten the often dull furnishings of the time. The modern industry of breeding specific indoor plants started in the 1930s in the US with an easy to propagate and grow philodendron.

Indoor house plants serve several purposes, including decorative. Many people avoid house plants because they think they are too hard to look after, but the reality is that there are many plants that are ideally suited to being kept indoors and don't need much effort to look after successfully.

Provided that the plant has sufficient light, water and nutrition and is kept in the right position and at the correct temperature for the species, indoor house plants will reward you with their beauty. The secret here is selecting the right plant for the environment you want to keep it in. Most indoor plants need a light, airy position, away from direct sunlight, but some species have specific requirements.

Indoor plants add to certain decorating themes and add to the atmosphere of certain rooms. Here again, it is important to select the right plant for the room and the décor. Palms and bamboo are beautiful in a room with a tropical décor of cane furniture and bright fabrics and colors. Ferns soften the look of a bathroom and thrive in the humidity. Delicate African Violet and Cyclamen look beautiful in a formal setting of a lounge room or bedroom. House plants add life and color to the room, even non-flowering varieties. They improve the air quality of the home as well because they are very effective air purifiers.

Keeping indoor house plants has also been shown to improve mental health by lifting the spirits and improving the mood. Having a living plant to care for also gives a person something positive to do as well as having the plant to enjoy in their home. There are many plants that don't require great skill to keep in your home in a healthy, attractive condition.

For keeping successful indoor house plants there are a few guidelines that you need to consider. Firstly, look around your home and decide where you would like some indoor plants. Then go to a plant nursery or store and ask for some advice about suitable plants for your location that are easy to care for. Following this method of selecting your plants will ensure that you enjoy success; you can always buy other more challenging plants when you have some experience in successfully caring for house plants.

Watering indoor plants is the most misunderstood area of successful plant keeping. More plants die of having too much water than not having enough. Don't just water whenever you think of it; test the soil for dampness by putting your finger into the soil. If it feels dry, water; it is feels damp, don't. Don't leave excess water standing in the pot saucer; this can cause the roots to rot. Let the water drain into the saucer after you water the plant and then empty it.

When an indoor house plant has the ideal position, is watered when it needs it and is fed with an appropriate fertilizer in spring, it will give lots of pleasure and enjoyment as it flourishes in the home.