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Indoor Plants

Indoor Plants. Environmental factors affecting plant growth. Light - most houseplants are understory plants Water – very tricky Nutrients- match to the needs of the plant and time of year Temperature – warmer days cooler nights ( tropic to subtropic ) Air – clean, not too dry.

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Indoor Plants

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  1. Indoor Plants

  2. Environmental factors affecting plant growth • Light - most houseplants are understory plants • Water – very tricky • Nutrients- match to the needs of the plant and time of year • Temperature – warmer days cooler nights ( tropic to subtropic) • Air – clean, not too dry

  3. LIGHT/ Photosynthesis • Light descriptors: intensity, duration, quality • All green living plants need light to grow • When grown in too little light plants will be etiolated (spindly) • The brighter the light the more color develops in leaves ( coleus, begonia) • Flowering usually depends on light levels and day length

  4. Light intensity • Light intensity is measured in Foot Candles, Lux or Lumens. 1 foot candle is the light cast by a standard candle at the distance of 1 foot. • Light intensity influences: • Photosynthesis • Stem length • Leaf size and color • flowering

  5. Light Intensity • Factors that influence intensity of sunlight • Curtains, trees in the landscape, uv filters on windows, weather, season, cleanliness of the glass, low E glass, paint color of the room… • Too much light can sunburn a plant

  6. Houseplant classification • Houseplants are listed as High, medium or low light, and some plants can be in several categories. • In a Duluth house, the south windows with have the strongest sunlight, E and W = 60% and N=20% • The southern exposure also generates the most heat followed by W, then E, then N

  7. Light Duration • Most plants need some darkness at night 3-4 hours. • If the light in the house is a bit low longer hours of illumination can compensate. • Plants are generally divided into long day, short day and day neutral when describing initiation of flowering

  8. Light Quality= wavelength • Photosynthesis required red and blue light • Sunlight has all the right parts of the spectrum • Electric lights may or may not • Incandescent lights lack blue, and add too much heat • Fluorescent “Grow lights” are more expensive than they are worth • Cool white fluorescent or a mix of cool white and warm white are the best deal – 12 “ above plants

  9. Coping with low natural light • Choose “low light” plants: Philodendron, Pothos, Aglaonema, Cast Iron Plant • Rotate your plants into the better lit areas for a few weeks to rev them up • Put plants outdoors in summer in a “bright indirect” light place

  10. Watering • Let your plant tell you- Observe closely and the plant will let you know when it is at “incipient plasmolysis” ( the leaves turn a little dull colored) • Check the weight of the pot, lighter=less water in the soil. • Scratch the surface if you see no damp soil down ½ inch, it may need watering

  11. Watering • Plant roots do not function when a plant is overwatered ( the roots need Oxygen) • Symptoms of over or under watering: • Lower leaves and scattered leaves turn yellow from root rot ( over watering) • Oedema ( corky bumps on the leaves) usually on succulents when the plant is overwatered • Adventitious roots on the soil surface = overwatering

  12. Watering • Leaves will wilt if the plant is in dry soil OR in saturated soil • Letting plants wilt then snap back when watered can cause slow growth, flower drop and leaf drop. • Make sure you have drainage in the pot- a hole in the bottom. Don’t let the pot sit in water ( in a full saucer)

  13. WateringThe general rules • use air temp water • water until excess water comes out the bottom of the pot, then dump out the saucer. • Don’t use softened water • Some plants are bottom watered, however you should remove the pot once the wetness reaches the surface of the soil

  14. Potting Soil • Potting soil needs more air than garden soil • A good mix contains a combination : peat, vermiculite, perlite, compost , sand, loam • Soil mix may contain nutrients ( plant food) but that will be used up in a month. • If your mix is mostly peat, it can shrink away from the sides of the pot and be heard to re-wet.

  15. Nutrients • Plants make their own food from photosynthesis but they need a source of essential minerals. You will learn these later. • Most house plant fertilizers are water soluble salts • The label recommendations are usually too strong so use ½ of the label directions. • Fertilize most houseplants in spring and summer only

  16. Nutrients • Time release fertilizers will last for several months • ORGANIC fertilizers take longer to become available in the soil and less likely to “burn”. • INORGANIC fertilizers are immediately available to the plant but more likely to burn. • Only fertilize when plants are actively growing. • Don’t fertilize a bone dry pot

  17. Fertilizers are salts.salts can accumulate in potted plants • If you see a whitish or yellow crust on the surface of the soil it is probably a salt buildup • You can scrape off the top ¼ to ½ inch of soil and replace with fresh soil. • You can leach the soil in the pot with fresh water to remove excess salt( run water through the pot).

  18. Temperature • Most house plants like people temps 75 day and 65 night, most can adapt a few degrees either way. • Respiration (burning food) in plants happens 24hours a day and high temps speed up the process. Light allows photosynthesis to make more food. • Houseplants suffer when they have low light and high temps

  19. Temperature • Most flowering plants will have higher qualit flowers if they have cooler nights (55-60) • In Duluth the temps next to a window can be quite cold on a winter night, you may have seen house plant leaves frozen to a window. • Move plants farther into the room and off a cold floor

  20. Cleaning plant leaveslets in more light • The leaves will get dusty • Wash with warm water and a soft sponge • Don’t use wax products or mayonnaise

  21. Air quality • Plants use CO2 and O2 • Air circulation is beneficial • Gas leaks can kill plants, products of incomplete combustion ( ethylene) can make houseplants grow strangely or drop flower buds • If all your plants twist up at the same time – • It could be an air quality problem

  22. Insect pests • Observe plants closely • Prune the worst looking parts of the plants • Spray plants with products that won’t kill you or your pets, insecticidal soap, Ivory soap, alcohol • Keep checking the plants because insect eggs are usually un affected by sprays

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