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Horticultural HelpInsiders' Plant Information |
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Plant Tips |
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What are the best low light
plants? Subscribe to Indoor Plant Bulletins or send a request
for a copy of Indoor Plant Bulletin #9. Not
sure how to care for your Ficus tree? Subscribe to Indoor Plant Bulletins or
send a request
for a copy of Indoor Plant Bulletin #12. Planning
to move your houseplants outside this spring? Before
you do, subscribe to Indoor Plant Bulletins or
send a request
for a copy of Indoor Plant Bulletin
#10. About to repot your plant? Did you know that unnecessary repotting is the single most common cause of plant failure? Before you repot you better read Indoor Plant Bulletin #18. Not sure how to re-bloom your poinsettia, Christmas cactus or amaryllis? Subscribe to Indoor Plant Bulletins or send a request for a copy of Indoor Plant Bulletin #6. Week of 8/17/08 “Overwatering” does not come as a result of giving too much water but from watering too frequently. Plant roots need oxygen as well as water. Oxygen gets to the roots only when the soil is allowed to dry out some in between waterings. So its OK to water thoroughly (saturate the soil), as long as you allow the soil to dry out appropriately in between waterings.
Week of 8/10/08 Big pots don’t grow big plants, but they do sabotage small plants. Overpotting almost invariably leads to root rot. Many people are hesitant to prune a plant out of fear of damaging it, yet they don’t hesitate to repot that same plant without realizing that the risk of damage from repotting is far greater. Learn when and how to repot by subscribing to Indoor Plant Bulletins.
Week of 8/3/08 Dilution and application rates on fertilizer labels (Use monthly at 1 teaspoon per gallon, for example) are based on healthy plants growing vigorously in ideal greenhouse conditions. Very few houseplants fit that description. Thus, label dilution and application rates must be reduced for most houseplants. In general, that means making the fertilizer at half or quarter the strength listed on the label. To learn all about fertilizing indoor plants, subscribe to Indoor Plant Bulletins.
Week of 7/27/08 When pruning, remember this one guiding principle: New growth always starts at the END of the stem. So always prune back to the point where you would like to see new growth emerge.
Week of 7/20/08 An easy plant and an impossible plant: A ZZ Plant is an easy plant to care for because it thrives on neglect and does well in low or very bright light. Don’t repot, fertilize or overwater it and you will have it for years. The commonly sold Majesty Palm is a terrible plant that falls apart within a few weeks of bringing it home. It is big and cheap, but it rarely survives for a year in the typical household. Avoid this plant!
Week of 7/13/08 Never fertilize or feed an ailing plant. Fertilizer is not medicine and it will usually make a sick plant even worse. Fertilizer is a supplement needed by healthy plants growing vigorously in soil that has been depleted of nutrients. Subscribe to the Indoor Plant Bulletins to learn everything you need to know about fertilizing your indoor plants.
Week of 7/6/08 Thinking about repotting your plant? Think again before you do. Unnecessary repotting is the number one cause of plant failure. The plant that you think needs a larger pot probably does not. In fact, potted plants thrive when they are quite potbound. To learn more about when plants should be repotted, subscribe to Indoor Plant Bulletin or send an e-mail to wcreed@HorticulturalHelp.com.
Week of 6/29/08 Newly purchased plants require more water in the first few weeks following purchase. After that, their water use tends to decline gradually before stabilizing at a reduced rate. This is because the growth rate (metabolism) of new plants is determined by the ideal conditions of the greenhouse. This rate slows in the less than ideal conditions of the home environment. To learn more about how plants acclimate to the home, subscribe to Indoor Plant Bulletins.
Week of 6/22/08 Potted plants do best when 80% of the soil ball is filled with roots. Premature transplanting can cause root rot and prevent flowering plants from blooming. Subscribe to the Indoor Plant Bulletins to learn how to avoid the hazards of repotting.
Week of 6/15/08 Observe your plants, especially the new growth. If the new growth is healthy, then your plant is also. Stunted or discolored new growth is a sign of a root problem or possibly plant pests. If the new leaves are much smaller than the older leaves, then you may not be providing enough light.
Week of 6/8/08 Soil replacement and root washing are very common plant care mistakes with terrible consequences. Such treatment often damages the tiny root hairs that do most of the work and it takes the plant many months to recover. If you are thinking of doing this to eradicate soil pests or to dry out the soil – don’t. There are other solutions for these problems.
Week of 6/1/08 Recommended rates on fertilizer labels are based on plants living in optimal conditions. If you have less than ideal light for your plant, then reduce the recommended rate accordingly. In general, that means using fertilizer at half the recommended rate. For everything you need to know about fertilizers and plant foods, subscribe to the Indoor Plant Bulletins.
Week of 5/25/08 Commercial pesticides are usually no more effective than safer alternatives and they are potentially more hazardous. Subscribe to the Indoor Plant Bulletins to learn all about common indoor plant pests and how to treat them safely and effectively.
Week of 5/18/08 Garden soil, topsoil, and compost are poor choices for potting indoor plants. They are a source of plant pests, fungi, and odors that you do not want in your home. Sterilized peat-based soilless potting mixes are best for indoor plants. To find out why, subscribe to the Indoor Plant Bulletins and learn all about the importance of using proper potting mixes for your plants.
Week of 5/11/08 Spring is a good time to consider serious pruning. Many houseplants are overgrown, leggy, and sparse in their center areas after a long winter indoors in reduced light with shorter days. Most plants benefit from regular pruning because it keeps them compact. Spring is a good time to prune because the longer days signal renewed growth for the coming months. The new growth will soon replace the leggy stems that you have removed. HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY!
Week of 5/4/08 You can’t tell if a plant needs a larger pot based on how it looks. Repot a plant only when it needs water again within a few days after a thorough watering. Subscribe to the Indoor Plant Bulletins to find out more about proper repotting techniques.
Week of 4/27/08 Hard water contains high levels of minerals that are not healthy for potted plants. If your local tap water is hard, use filtered or distilled water instead. Rainwater is another alternative. Chemical water softeners also contain toxic salts so softened water is not a good substitute for your plants. Subscribe to the Indoor Plant Bulletins to learn more about the toxic effects of mineral salts on plants and how to avoid this problem.
Week of 4/20/08 Here are some things that don’t matter much to the health of your indoor plants:
Subscribe to my Indoor Plant Bulletins and learn the surprising reasons why these don’t really matter and may actually cause some damage to your plants.
Week of 4/13/08 Properly potted plants should dry out within 7 to 14 days at the most. If it takes longer for your plants to dry out, then the pot is too big or the soil is too dense. Root rot will soon follow. Subscribe to the Indoor Plant Bulletins to find out more about proper potting techniques.
Week of 4/6/08 Can indoor plants get too much light? Most definitely. Many common houseplants must be protected from direct sunrays coming in through the window. These plants grow naturally in the deep shade of the tropical forest. We usually refer to these plants as “low light” plants. In addition, plants that have been inside during the colder months must be protected from the direct sunlight when they are moved outside during the warmer months.
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