STOP KILLING YOUR HOUSE PLANTS!
Many people dream of having their own plants that they can tend to daily. A lot of them have tried but very few have succeeded in growing health plants. People believe that if a plant is given water, sunlight and enough fertilizer that it will naturally grow but reality is far from that. Yes, plants do need all of the above but what people don’t realize is that they might be killing their own plants in the process of growing them; exposing plants to too much of something can very easily destroy it. Like human, too much of a good thing can be harmful. To grow healthy plants is not impossible; however there are a few tricks that every planter should know. This information will not only ensure that you grow healthy plants but it will also guide you in buying the right products that you will need in order to nurture your plants. Everyone wants to grow their own plants and now anyone can do so very easily. I guarantee you with this information will have you growing healthy and beautiful plants season after season.
Plants have different water needs and are based on the type of plant, their size and the environment in which they are grown. As a general guide plants should be watered once every two weeks during the colder months and once weekly during the warmer months. The best watering rule to follow should be based on the moisture content of the soil, i.e. Plants should be watered only when the soil in the pot becomes dry to a depth of 1-2 inches. Always use water that has a temperature close to that of the room temperature. Place water on the soil and not on the plant. Free standing water on the plant leaves could cause leaf diseases to develop.
Signs of overwatering include free standing water in the container, drooping leaves and browning of leaf tips and edges.
Under watering of house plants could also result in their death. If for some reason it is not possible to water plants as often as needed then it is recommended that a self- watering system such as the Aqua Globe be used to ensure that plants get adequate water.
The temperature indoor should be maintained between 60° - 75°F. Prolong exposure of plants to temperature extremes could kill them. Do not place plants close to hot/cold air sources such as heaters and air conditioners. It is useful to have a suitable thermometer indoor to check the temperature of the room.
Plants produce food through a process referred to as photosynthesis. As the name suggests photosynthesis require enough light for the plant to produce food. Different houseplants require different amount of light. Generally plants with small, narrow leaves and with different coloration would require more light than plants with large dark-green leaves. More information on the light requirement of various plants could be obtained from the garden centers that sell houseplants. Plants that need high level of light should be placed next to light sources such as windows. Plants that are placed next to windows or other external source of light should be given a half turn once weekly so that the whole plant foliage be exposed to light over a period of time. If the plant is left in one place it would result in the plant becoming bent since it will grow in one direction only, that is, in the direction of the light. Plant lights could also be used if the indoor lighting is not sufficient.
Generally plants need 16 elements from the soil to satisfy their nutritional requirements. Large quantities of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K); medium quantities of Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Sulfur (S) and small quantities of Iron(Fe), Molybdenum (Mo), Boron (B) Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Chlorine (Cl) , Copper (Cu), Sodium (Na), Aluminum (Al) and Silicon (Si).
Houseplants should be fertilized at least once per month using a plant food that contains the elements N, P and K and having small quantities of some of the other essential elements. A slow release indoor Plant Food should be the first choice. When added to dry soil the plant food should be lightly watered in to allow for the quick release of the food to the plant. Do not use too much water so as to cause run off. This would cause wastage of the fertilizer.
It is very important to note that fertilizers should be used at the rate recommended by the manufacturer, read the label. Applying high dosages of fertilizers would harm the plant and would result in the plant becoming susceptible to damage by insects and diseases.
Healthy plants do not get sick easily. With good care, pests and diseases of house plants should not be a worry. Make sure that plants get the right amount of water, plant food, light and temperature and that they are repotted annually.
It is Normal for plant to have a few yellowing leaves from time to time. That does not mean that the plant is unhealthy. It is important to regularly remove and properly dispose of any dry/brown/yellow leaves from the plants.
Pesticides should be used on houseplants only when all other control options are exhausted. Get a pesticide that is recommended for indoor use and follow all directions when applying it. Exposure to some types of commercial pesticides could cause cancer.
MORE ON PLANTS AND PLANT CARE
"The Secret of A Great Lawn Without
Plus You'll Get Four Bonuses For FREE When You Order
Click Here For More Info And To Order Now
Many people dream of having their own plants that they can tend to daily. A lot of them have tried but very few have succeeded in growing health plants. People believe that if a plant is given water, sunlight and enough fertilizer that it will naturally grow but reality is far from that. Yes, plants do need all of the above but what people don’t realize is that they might be killing their own plants in the process of growing them; exposing plants to too much of something can very easily destroy it. Like human, too much of a good thing can be harmful. To grow healthy plants is not impossible; however there are a few tricks that every planter should know. This information will not only ensure that you grow healthy plants but it will also guide you in buying the right products that you will need in order to nurture your plants. Everyone wants to grow their own plants and now anyone can do so very easily. I guarantee you with this information will have you growing healthy and beautiful plants season after season.
House Plant care - Water
Believe it. Most Houseplants die due to over-watering. Plants take up oxygen through their roots. They get oxygen from the soil. When water is poured in a plant pot the air spaces in the soil are replaced by water. Excess watering would reduce the amount of soil oxygen available to the plant. Little or no oxygen in the soil would result in the death of the plant over a period of time. Excess water also encourages the development of root diseases and loss of fertilizers due to leeching.Plants have different water needs and are based on the type of plant, their size and the environment in which they are grown. As a general guide plants should be watered once every two weeks during the colder months and once weekly during the warmer months. The best watering rule to follow should be based on the moisture content of the soil, i.e. Plants should be watered only when the soil in the pot becomes dry to a depth of 1-2 inches. Always use water that has a temperature close to that of the room temperature. Place water on the soil and not on the plant. Free standing water on the plant leaves could cause leaf diseases to develop.
Signs of overwatering include free standing water in the container, drooping leaves and browning of leaf tips and edges.
Under watering of house plants could also result in their death. If for some reason it is not possible to water plants as often as needed then it is recommended that a self- watering system such as the Aqua Globe be used to ensure that plants get adequate water.
House Plant care - Temperature
House Plant care - Light
House Plant care - Fertilifer
Houseplants should be fertilized at least once per month using a plant food that contains the elements N, P and K and having small quantities of some of the other essential elements. A slow release indoor Plant Food should be the first choice. When added to dry soil the plant food should be lightly watered in to allow for the quick release of the food to the plant. Do not use too much water so as to cause run off. This would cause wastage of the fertilizer.
It is very important to note that fertilizers should be used at the rate recommended by the manufacturer, read the label. Applying high dosages of fertilizers would harm the plant and would result in the plant becoming susceptible to damage by insects and diseases.
House Plant care - Pest and Diseases
It is Normal for plant to have a few yellowing leaves from time to time. That does not mean that the plant is unhealthy. It is important to regularly remove and properly dispose of any dry/brown/yellow leaves from the plants.
Pesticides should be used on houseplants only when all other control options are exhausted. Get a pesticide that is recommended for indoor use and follow all directions when applying it. Exposure to some types of commercial pesticides could cause cancer.
House Plant care - Re-potting
When it is noticed that many roots have grown through the drainage holes of a plant pot, it’s then time to transfer the plant to a larger pot. As a rule houseplants should be repotted once every year. The new plant pot should be at least 2”wider and deeper than the one in use and should have drainage holes in it. Use commercial potting soil that is recommended for houseplants. A potting soil with Moisture Control should be the first choice.
The first step is to loosen the soil clinging to the inner surface of the pot.This could be achieved by hitting the sides of the pot on to the edge of a bench or table and then banging the bottom of the pot on the top of the bench or table a few times. When the soil is sufficiently loose from the pot surface, lift and upturn the plant by holding it with the stem between the index and middle finger of the left hand and with the right hand holding the bottom of the pot. Remove the pot by lifting it upwards. If it does not come off immediately, tap the sides and bottom of the pot until it could be easily lifted off.
With the blade of a sharp knife make a downward cut about ½ - 1” deep in the soil surrounding the roots. Make 2 or 3 more downward cuts around the perimeter of the soil clod, ensuring that the plant roots that coil on the outer edge of the soil mass are severed. This is done in order to allow the cut roots to branch out and continue to grow outward when placed in the next pot. If it is not cut the roots will continue to grow in a circular pattern and would form a `root ball’ and would eventually not be able to take up any plant food, resulting in a pale and stunted plant.
Next, place about 2” of soil at the bottom of the plant pot and then place the plant in an upright position in the center of the pot and filling in the remaining space with soil. Gently firm the soil around the plant by pressing it. Do not fill the entire pot with soil. Leave a space of about 1” from the top of the pot. This space is to hold water when the plant is being watered to prevent spillage. Moisten the soil.
The soil could be covered with a thin layer of moss, potting bark or stones to help reduce moisture loss from the soil. This could also be used as a decorative cover and also help to prevent soil insects such as Fungus Gnats from developing in the soil.
The first step is to loosen the soil clinging to the inner surface of the pot.This could be achieved by hitting the sides of the pot on to the edge of a bench or table and then banging the bottom of the pot on the top of the bench or table a few times. When the soil is sufficiently loose from the pot surface, lift and upturn the plant by holding it with the stem between the index and middle finger of the left hand and with the right hand holding the bottom of the pot. Remove the pot by lifting it upwards. If it does not come off immediately, tap the sides and bottom of the pot until it could be easily lifted off.
With the blade of a sharp knife make a downward cut about ½ - 1” deep in the soil surrounding the roots. Make 2 or 3 more downward cuts around the perimeter of the soil clod, ensuring that the plant roots that coil on the outer edge of the soil mass are severed. This is done in order to allow the cut roots to branch out and continue to grow outward when placed in the next pot. If it is not cut the roots will continue to grow in a circular pattern and would form a `root ball’ and would eventually not be able to take up any plant food, resulting in a pale and stunted plant.
Next, place about 2” of soil at the bottom of the plant pot and then place the plant in an upright position in the center of the pot and filling in the remaining space with soil. Gently firm the soil around the plant by pressing it. Do not fill the entire pot with soil. Leave a space of about 1” from the top of the pot. This space is to hold water when the plant is being watered to prevent spillage. Moisten the soil.
The soil could be covered with a thin layer of moss, potting bark or stones to help reduce moisture loss from the soil. This could also be used as a decorative cover and also help to prevent soil insects such as Fungus Gnats from developing in the soil.
MORE ON PLANTS AND PLANT CARE
"The Secret of A Great Lawn Without
Needing a Professional – You Can Do
It And I Can Show You How!"
Plus You'll Get Four Bonuses For FREE When You OrderClick Here For More Info And To Order Now
No comments:
Post a Comment