Most houseplants are tropical plants and require a humid environment to grow well indoors.
A pebble tray is used during the winter to counter the dry indoor air and increase the much needed humidity around your houseplants. It basically consists of flat container that is 2-6 inches deep . It can be an old cookie sheet, plastic tray or anything you can find that is waterproof. Spread an even layer of pebbles, gravel or stone about 1/2 diameter or less. Pour water over the pebbles, keeping the water level just below the top of the pebbles. Place your plant on top of the pebble tray. For optimal results use a tray that is as large as the spread of the plant. The leaves will benefit from the rising, evaporating water (humidity). Make sure you replenish the water to keep the tray from drying out.
If you don’t have any pebbles etc. place a brick or wooden block in the middle of a tray and stand your plant in it. This method will also work. The important thing is that you keep the bottom of the pot from sitting in water. Grouping plants in a pebble tray is an effective way to increase humidity around your houseplants.
Browning petal tips
I live in London, and i recently bought a light pink Gerbera. I am intending to keep at as indoor plant on a windowsill, (in its plastic pot, inside a bigger white pot) which as its England, can not be very sunny at times.
I have noticed the tips of the petals have started to go brownish and a few spots are on one of the petals. Is this bad?
Is it a good idea to instead of watering the soil and risking crown rot, as it isnt a very big pot, to put water in the bigger white pot, and let the Gerbera suck up the water from the holes in the bottom of the plastic pot?
Also, should i be spraying the leaves? And what would be the best sort of fertilizer?
Hi, should the bottom of the pot be resting on top of the pebbles? Or should the bottom of the pot be on the bottom of the pebble tray, with pebbles all around it? Thanks.