CARE FOR HOUSE PLANT
Plants used indoors have widely differing requirements for light,
soil, temperature and water. The requirements vary from plant
to plant. Some plants may require more care and attention than
others. Normally houseplants adapt themselves to the given atmospheric
conditions provided to them but it is important for you to understand
their individual requirement in order to ensure their health
and longitivity. Following are tips of houseplant care.
-
Examine your plant regularly and religiously. Check for
decay, rotting, insects, spots, any sign of poor health
and watering needs.
-
Don't drown your plants. Roots need air as well as water.
Keeping the compost soaked at all times means certain death
for most plants. Try to learn how to water your plants,
watch them carefully to see how they respond. Water according
to their type and requirement of water.
-
Provide fresh air for your plant. Avoid fluctuating temperature
and stuffiness.
Sunburn is often a problem when plants are placed on a windowsill
in intense sunlight or areas in your garden where the sunrays
fall on your plant for too long time.
- Group
your plants together. Nearly all plants look better and
grow better when grouped together. Try out different arrangements
of your plants and make note of which plants enhance the
beauty of others, bearing in mind that in different rooms
there will be different amounts of light and each plant
may have different needs. Remember to take into account
the needs of each plant especially if planting them together
in a tub, make sure their needs are compatible, i.e. water,
light and food.
- Keep
the plants dirt free and fresh. Wash them regularly. Bathe
your plants every 3 weeks. Bathing keeps the pores open,
improves the appearance, reduces insect attack and your
plant looks fresh. Small plants can be washed in the kitchen
sink while large plants if possible can be washed under
the shower or wipe the leaves using a sponge. After washing
shake the extra water off the plants and do not place them
in hot direct sunlight until they have dried off. If excess
water remains on the leaf for too long, rot or fungus diseases
may set in, and exposure to hot sun will cause burns to
appear on the leaves where they are wet. However if your
plants are infected with fungal or bacterial disease, washing
will create more problems and spread the disease.
- Turn
the plant every week. Turning the plant one-quarter turn
each week will prevent it from growing unevenly towards
the light. Treat trouble promptly. If you see any problem
with your plant do not delay taking action. Learn how to
recognize the early signs of trouble and take proper action.
- Loosen
surface soil occasionally if it becomes coated and hard,
but avoid damaging the roots.
- Remove
dead leaves and flowers from plants. They spoil the look
of the plant and also harbour diseases, which can be fatal
to your plant. Give your plant a rest. Nearly all plants
need a rest in winter, which means less water, less feeding
and less heat than in the active growing period. Always
respect your plants needs for a resting period.
-
Learn to repot. After a year or two most plants will need
to be repotted, signs are that they are simply to big for
the current pot or they begin to look very sick and struggling
to grow.
- When
you're on vacation the main problem your plants face is
lack of water. A simple and effective method of preventing
your plant from drying out is to water it thoroughly and
wrap both pot and plant with plastic. Before wrapping, cut
away unhealthy foliage and any buds about to open. Keep
the plant away from direct sunlight and heating vents.
-
Accept the loss of temporary plants. Some plants die within
weeks and you don't have to curse yourself. You have done
nothing wrong. It is natural.
Have the proper tools required for keeping your plants healthy
and your garden looking great.
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