This year we will use the project website to provide information for growing and learning opportunities for youth and their families. 

Houseplant Project is a self-directed project open to all 4-H youth, including Beginner Explorers and Junior Explorers (formerly known as Cloverbuds). Youth can begin participating in Houseplant Project at any time. The Project Leader(s) support youth in their growing adventure by providing growing tips, resources, and project ideas.

• Choose a houseplant to grow! African violets are a good choice for young or beginning growers. Other common choices include spider plant, holiday cactus, jade and other succulents. Many growers are happy to share cuttings or baby plants. Contact a Leader if you need help choosing or obtaining your first houseplant.

• Identify your plant. Parents/guardians can use a website/app such as plant.id to help. If you know a common name for your plant, then look up the scientific name. This will help to find accurate growing information.

• Learn about your plant's natural habitat. Where does your plant grow in the wild? Is the climate hot? cool? dry? wet? humid?  Does it grow in the shade? Explore these questions to learn what conditions your plant will grow best in.

• Repot your plant. Most plants arrive in the wrong type of soil and wrong size and/or shape of pot for them to thrive. You can ask a Project Leader for advice if you need help.

• Place your plant. Choose a spot in your home that is most similar to its natural habitat. You might need to put humidity-loving plants in a terrarium or humidity dome. If you're ambitious, you can use a hygrometer to measure moisture in the air, thermometer with 24-hour maximum and minimum temperatures, and a light meter. You can gather data for different places in your home and compare them to nature.

• Take photos. Take photos of your plant each month. It's best if you can take photos on the same day of the month, in the same place and at the same time of day. This helps you compare photos of your plant's growth over time. 

• Groom your plant. When we grow a plant to show at the fair, we need to rotate it regularly so it grows evenly, and we need to prune away old and damaged leaves. We might even need to trim the roots! Fast-growing plants, like African violets, should be rotated daily and groomed once a month.

• Show it off! Enter your plant in the fair to show what you have learned about it. If your plant died (don't worry, it happens to the best of us!), you can use the photos you took to make a poster and share what you learned.

• Grow to share. Many houseplants make baby plants from leaf or stem cuttings. You can practice growing baby plants and share or sell them!