Angraecum Can Add Zest to Your Home Garden
A dash of color in our dull and drab existence can add fervor to life. Nothing can do this better than flowers, especially an orchid. The Angraecum is the genus of about 200 species of monopodial orchids that are evergreen along with being epiphytic; many more are on the way of being discovered in the rainforests of Madagascar and tropical Africa. One of these is found in Sri Lanka and three others are believed to have their genus in Japan and Philippines. Description: They are quite varied and can be either a flower or a vegetable, growing naturally in dry woodlands, which gives them fleshy leaves. They grow from the axis of the leaf and are typically white but are also available in yellow, green and even ochre. They have a long spur at the back of their lip. The plants tend to grow upright and bear star-shaped white or green flowers which releases fragrance in the evening. They are mostly pollinated by moths, which are attracted by the flower’s color and fragrance. The fragrance that is released at night often reveals its location, even before it is spotted in the darkness. Conditions for growth: They would grow best in moderately warm temperature or comparatively cooler winter temperature. The air around the Angraecum must be humid and the plants should be protected from direct exposure to sunlight. They also need a continuous stream of fresh air. The best way to grow them is in epiphytic mixture of orchid potting. They should be watered uniformly all though the year, although their frequency is reduced in winters. You must spray them once or twice every day. The Angraecum is not suitable for division and hence is not ideal for propagation. The robust species can however, surprise you by producing offsets, which are best separated once they have grown roots. Requirements to grow them in the best way: Like every orchid, they need some extra care to grow. You have to be careful that they don’t catch fungal decay due to excessive dampness; therefore, the best option is to water them in the morning. Provide them with a temperature between 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and 16 to 29 degrees Celsius. Although they grow best in bright light, they need indirect sunlight coming from the east. The best option for the soil is to use shredded fir bark or small-to-medium lava rock and the pot must have a disposal hole. Use plant food or fertilizers that are custom-made for orchids, such as green jungle forest foods. To hold the water and increase humidity, you need to put some pebbles or gravel in and around the drainage dish. Be sure to position the pot on the gravel and not on the water. By adhering to all these points, you are all set to add a zesty, candy and floral scent to your living space that will have a direct impact on your life and your personal...
Begonias: Your Indoor Home Decor
If you like to decorate your living room with hints of greens then it is better to plant Begonia because it looks so pretty and is also easy to maintain. Once these plants have the flowers and they bloom, then they can add up to the beauty of your home. Surely these plants require more tending and attention while they grow than the average regular plants but obviously because these plants are much more delicate than the rest of the lot. Plants like begonias blossom all round the year. But I would advise to not to bring home a plant on instinct, the begonias will need a proper care and soil conditions so that you do not disappoint yourselves over a dead plant. Types of Begonias Begonias have a wide variety and you could have a whole garden to yourself only having begonia. Depending upon colour, size and shape there are more than 500 kinds of begonia. Now a day they are also found in various hybrid variations, so if the shop owner of the plant shop gave you a plant which looks a little different be rest assured that it might very well be a hybrid variant of a begonia. Growth Requirements for Begonias A lot like the African violet the begonia is a plant of the tropical origins and requires a humid atmosphere to be able to grow. The best temperature range for begonias to flourish is between 60°F to 70°F. Which even if not set as an ideal temperature at your homes will still do as long as you do not place the plant near any hot water pipes, near your radiator or on the patio. While watering a plant of begonia you need to make sure that you mist the leaves well as this also helps to keep the plants free of dirt and insects. These plants do not take direct sunlight well so place the plants somewhere in your home where there is the hint of light but it should not fall directly on the plants. Other Requirements for Begonias If you are planning to plant a begonia in your home then any type of soil would work, but try and get some of the commercially produced soil available in the gardening stores for the best results. Try to keep the soil loose as the roots need to breathe. And thus pick a pot which has a hole so that the water can drain out nicely and avoid the rotting of the roots. Begonias propagate in different ways depending on what variety you have got. Also these plants are more prone to insect attacks so take good care of your plants to keep the bugs out. These simple steps should keep your begonia plant healthy and your home look pretty with a touché of nature and colours in...
Ardisia: An Evergreen Houseplant
Ardisia, also known as Coral Berry, is a houseplant that produces red berries during summer season. Though flowers of this plant are inconspicuous still they add to its beauty and can be commonly found from the onset of the summer season. Both flowers as well as berries are part of the plant for several months at a stretch; it also gives answer to why Ardisia is known as an evergreen plant. Although it’s a slow growing plant still its height varies from 2-6 feet. Appearance It is called an evergreen plant and its leaves generally boast a glossy appearance along with a rigid texture. The color of flowers varies from white to light pink. The cluster of red berries can be seen hanging from the plant, which later becomes food for plants and other insects. The berries become quite showy after ripening completely. Temperature Since it’s a houseplant, so there is hardly difficulty for growing it in houses or greenhouse plants. They remain an evergreen plant unless forced to succumb by an extremely chilly climatic conditions. You can find huge cluster of this plant in areas where climatic conditions are such that Ardisia can resist winter. The plants are capable of re-seeding themselves quite easily, so all they need to multiply is favorable climate. You can take homegrown Ardisia outside the house during summer season but ensure to keep the plant away from drought. Requirements Ardisia loves deep rich soil having lots of organic matter but at the same time it is capable of blooming in any non-soggy soil. Creating mulch around the plant is good for its proper growth. Just like any other plant, Ardisia also needs sunlight but it can’t bear direct sunlight, as it can possibly dry it up, so if you wish to plant it outdoors, ensure to plant it under trees and make mulch around it for complete protection. It needs to be kept moist during summer season but avoid covering it up completely in water. During winter season, the water requirement of the plant reduces fairly. If you wish to do repotting or dividing of the plant, then it is advisable to finish off this task in spring season. As mentioned earlier that this plant grows slowly, so the seeds you plant would take approximately 18 months for becoming a full-grown plant with berries. Summary Ardisia has a stunning appearance, hardy body and clustered berries. It can flourish both indoors as well as outdoors. It has very less survival rate in chilly climatic condition. Mulching around the plant helps considerably in its growth. Although it’s an evergreen plant, placing it in drought prone area is not advisable. It has not been yet proved that its leaves or berries are poisonous still it is advisable to keep children away from the...
Aloe: An Ancient Houseplant
Aloe is a genus covering around 500 species of flowering and succulent plant. Most famous of all is “Aloe vera.” It basically belongs to Africa, Madagascar and Arabian Peninsula. They have a rosette of thick, large and fleshy leaves. Physical Description The leaves are usually lance shaped having a sharp apex and a spiny margin. The flowers are tubular found in yellow, orange, pink or red colour. They are clustered densely and attached at the apex of branched or simple leaf and at the stem in case of leafless species. Most of the species appear to be Stem less with Rosette blooming directly at the ground level. While some of the varieties have a branched or unbranched stem giving rise to the fleshy leaves. The leaves are grey to bright green in colour, while some of them are striped. Some appear to be tree like. Many of the species are cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens or pots. Being highly decorative they are valued by those who are interested in collecting succulents. Uses Aloe vera the most widely used type is applied externally as well as used internally for various medicinal effects. The gel made from aloe vera is effective in healing sun burns. It is also widely used to manufacture skin care soap. They were widely used to prepare herbal medicine as a part of ancient sciences. They can be used as a first aid to cure minor wounds or cuts at home. The inner pulp is known to relieve from skin discomforts. It is also made into syrup to cure digestive inconsistency problems. But a word of caution is that it is allergen and must be tested before use, as it may cause itching and skin irritation to some people. Aloe vera is also used to treat Type II Diabetes. Growing Conditions Strong Bright sunlight is favourable. They also need bright light in winters. Water requirement is high, especially in summers, although in winters, not much watering is necessary. You must not let the water stand in the rosettes. It can survive a temperature as low as 40 Fahrenheit but the adequate recommendation would be 70 to 80 Fahrenheit. The soil must be well drained and fed with Cactus fertilizers in summer season only. During repotting, if the root ball is large, it can be divided to grow into 2 individual plants that can optimally survive on their own. They don’t grow quite fast so you may not be able to repot it further but in case you are able to, you must repot in springs and repot only those which are tipping over their pots and have stopped growing further. You must use a fast drained repotting mix with one third of sand or pebble. Water should not be allowed to stand in the pot as it may damage the rosette. Although it required no other special care and once grown it is quite a beneficial plant to have at home for it can be a homemade medicine for many...
The Growth Requirements of Abelia Home Plant
Abelia, a homegrown shrub, is commonly found in the Eastern region of Asia and Mexico. There are approximately 30 species of this plant. It is an evergreen plant, which has pointed leaves, arching branches and white or pink flowers. It can grow to a maximum height of 1.5 m. The blooming season of Abelia flowers is between July-August and this is the season, when this plant is at its best. Size Generally, the height and width of an Abelia plant is about 10 and 12 feet respectively. However, there are instances wherein you can find the height and width of Abelia plant averages between 3-5 feet. Growth Requirements Just like any other plant, Sun is one of the basic necessities of Abelia. The importance of sunlight can be understood by the fact that there is far lesser foliage of Abelia in dark areas. During its established stage, soil or moisture doesn’t have much impact on the growth of this plant, as it is said to be a drought tolerant plant but until it reaches this stage it needs well-drained soil. Procedure Required for the Growth of Abelia Cover the upper layer of the soil with an organic material such as manure. Use a spade to mix the manure up to 12 inches into the soil. However, if the soil doesn’t drain properly, then you just need to add the organic material up to 6 inches into the soil. Use a shovel for digging a hole. The hole need not be deeper than root ball of the shrub, but it needs to be at least two times wider. Avoid planting the shrub too deeply into the soil, as it makes the root of the plant vulnerable to rot. Now carefully remove Abelia from the container and place the shrub into the hole, which was created by you sometime back. Fill the area around the root of shrub with the same soil, which you had dug to mix the organic material. Another essential activity is mulching up of 2-3 inches of soil around the shrub. Over a period of time, mulch will start decomposing and it will then enrich the soil, which will indirectly benefit the plant. Water Abelia properly such that there is never a point when the plant looks dried up. As said earlier, Abelia is a drought tolerant plant still we can’t just leave it to dry without water. You need to fertilize Abelia in the month of February every year. Fertilizers have to be used for azaleas and rhododendrons and there application needs to be on the basis of manufacturer’s recommendations. There is no particular month for pruning this plant, so whenever you feel like pruning it, get a pruner and start it right...
Weeping Fig Tree
Having indoor plants can help your house more then you probably know. Not only are they decorations but also there are many that can help to purify the air in your home. Ficus benjamina, aka The Weeping Fig Tree, is a lovely beautiful helpful tree that comes from Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. The weeping fig tree is almost the top plant when it comes to removing formaldehyde from the air and also works hard at purifying the air of toluene, and xylene. The weeping fig tree is one of the most well known plants to help clean the air in your home. This plant is in the top ten plants to have in your homes for cleaner healthier air to breath. It can grow as tall as 10 feet tall (3M) indoors but a weeping fig tree can also be grown out doors. We see them often in parks, playgrounds and around hospitals and when grown out doors they can reach the height of 100 foot or more if properly taken care of. With its delicate looks it is sure to bring beauty to your home anywhere you place it. As the plant ages the leaves will turn a darker green. The leaves have a glossy look to them as if they have been polished. When having this type of Moraceae species, make sure that it has bright indirect sun light for at least 5 to 7 hours a day, it thrives much better in bright sun light then dense light but will still grow in dense lighted areas. They are a slow growing plant but so worth the wait. Due to the fact that they are slow growing plants they should not need to be re-potted but every 3 or 4 years – that depends on you and how big you want it to get. Make sure that when you go to re-pot them that you do very little to no damage to the root systems for this may cause them to die or even be unhealthy for a bit. One more thing is when picking the pot for them make sure to get one that is about three times larger then the size of the plant this is to make sure the roots will have enough room to spread and grow with out worrying about root rot. Also when getting soil for this plant make sure that the soil will drain well and when planting the tree bring the dirt up the stalk of it about three inches. The weeping fig tree loves high humidity areas so a perfect place for this tree would be a bathroom perhaps, but once you place your tree it should not be moved, because it has been shown that they don’t like change at all and will start dropping leaves badly due to the change of movement but new leaves will grow back in place of the lost leaves once it gets used to its new surroundings. These trees shed leaves very highly in the fall, it is normal for it to do this, and there is a way you keep the shedding of the leaves down somewhat by misting the leaves every day to keep the humidity high for it. These plants do not like to be in soggy soil and will die if over watered. You should let the soil dry out before watering again. Just make sure that you don’t let the soil turn dusty. If this happens the tree will start to drop leaves giving you the sign that is needs water. In the winter time you can allow the soil to go much more drier then you would during the growing season months for this tree for in the winter like most plants it goes dormant. Watering Tips for the Weeping Fig Tree These are somewhat delicate trees and are very sensitive to the harsh chemicals found in tap water such as fluoride, chlorine and also the salt that is put into tap water to soften the water. You should only use filtered or distilled water. You can also fill up a jug of tap water let it set over night with cap off so the harsh chemicals will dissipate. Fertilizer for you Weeping Fig Tree From the spring to the fall you should fertilize no more then once a month with a well balanced liquid fertilizer that is diluted by half. One of the best things about this plant is that bugs or fungi hardly ever attack it but in some rare cases you may have problems with this. The pests that seem to have been seen and treated...
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