How To Keep Your Orchids Healthy and Thriving
While many people are still hesitant to purchase orchids, they’ve became more popular than ever. These beautiful, exotic tropical flowers have a bad reputation for being hard to take care of. But, with a little extra care, almost anyone can keep orchids alive and flourishing. The most important part of keeping an orchid healthy is to start out with a healthy plant. When shopping for an orchid make sure that the pseudo bulb is nice and firm. Check the plant to make sure that there are lot’s of new shoots and that the leaves don’t have brown spots. The more blooms a plant has the healthier it is. Purchase orchids depending on where you plan to keep the flower, orchids are classified into several temperature ranges, there are warm, temperate and cool orchids. Older plants are more established and will also have a better chance at survival, although they are generally a little more expensive. Orchids normally only need watering about every 4 to 7 days, but it will depend on the season, the temperature of your home and even the amount of sun that the plant receives. The best way to check the plant is to insert a pencil into the soil, if the pencil is dry when you remove it, the plant needs to be watered. But, it the pencil is damp, don’t water it and just keep checking the soil. The best type of fertilizer is one that is made especially for orchids. You can fertilize them once a week with a diluted solution. Following the directions on the container, only use half of the recommended amount of fertilizer when mixing it with water. Although, orchids seem to like to be root bound, they will eventually need to be repotted. When choosing a new pot, make sure that there is only about an inch between the pot and the root ball. Remove all of the old soil from the container very carefully so that none of the roots get damaged. Rinse the roots thoroughly with water and trim off any of the roots that feel mushy. Gently press the soil around the plant, pushing to hard can damage the fragile roots. If the plant is too heavy, place a stick inside the pot and tie the plant to it for support. Orchids shouldn’t be watered for at least three days after you’ve repotted them. To help provide the right amount of humidity for orchids, you mist them daily. Misting should be done early in the morning or afternoon, misting them too late in the evening won’t give them enough time to dry before the temperature cools down. And, the cooler air can damage wet leaves. During the dryer winter months, the plant can be placed in an evaporation tray. Just fill the tray with stones and water and set it near the plant. As the water evaporates into the air, it will supply humidity to the plant. Make sure that you clean the stones every few months to remove any bacteria or algae that may be growing on them. Most types of orchids do best if kept in areas with medium lighting. They should receive around four hours of bright sunlight every day. The best way to tell if your plant is getting enough light is by checking the leaves. If the plant is getting sufficient light, there will be some reddish colored spots on the leaves. Too much light will cause the leaves to yellow and they’ll wither and die. It will also cause the leaves to fade and become covered with beige spots. Too little light and the leaves will be a dark green, although dark green is associated with being healthy, with orchids it means that it’s not getting the right amount of light to be able to bloom! Written by Connie Corder, Copyright 2008...
How to Care For a Croton
Crotons are some of the most colorful houseplants that you can find. Their broad, long leaves can sport red, pinks, greens, yellows, oranges and many other colors. They’re very exotic looking plants that can really brighten up any room with their wide range of colors. The waxy feeling leaves start out as dark or medium green and the colors appear as the leaf matures and can reach ten inches in length. Croton’s are small shrubs that can grow as high as six feet, but when grown indoors they usually only grow a few feet tall. As with most plants that have lot’s of color, Croton’s prefer bright lighting. But, many of the newer varieties of the plant can survive in low lighting conditions. If leaves are still mainly green after they reach maturity, the plant isn’t receiving enough light. They should never be allowed to completely dry out, but you don’t want the plants roots sitting in water either. Just keep the soil evenly moist and use lukewarm or room temperature water when watering. The plant can also be misted with lukewarm water several times a week to help with the high humidity needs of the plant. Both cold drafts and using cold water to water the plant will cause it to drop it’s lower leaves. On plants that are in 8″ pots, you should water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. With larger plants allow the top two or three inches of soil to become dry before watering. You can use a well balanced liquid fertilizer about twice a month to keep you plant healthy. Slow released fertilizer can be worked into the soil once each growing season. Don’t fertilize the plant from October until February when it’s growth rate is slowed. Croton’s will actually flower during the spring and summer months, the tiny flowers are about 1/4 of an inch wide and are white. With a little extra care this gorgeous colorful plant will add years of beauty to your home! Written by Connie Corder for HouseplantsForYou.com, Copyright 2008 All Rights...
How To Grow A Venus Fly Trap
The Venus fly trap is perhaps the most well know carnivorous plant species. It’s an interesting conversation plant and an amazing predator to watch. These plants produce a sweet nectar that lures their prey into the jaws of their traps. The traps are lined with a series of fine hairs that when touched, trigger the jaws to close. After the prey has been trapped, the Venus fly trap will secrete an enzyme that literally dissolves the insect into an easily digestible meal. It will take several days for the plant to complete the digestive process. But, as soon as it does, the traps will open once again and wait for it’s next meal to come along. Given the proper care, Venus fly traps are fairly easy to grow. They need a very bright light, but can’t survive in hot, direct sunlight. Because they need a warm temperature, high humidity and constant moisture, they are an excellent choice for terrariums. The potting medium should consist of 30 percent coarse pumice or perlite and 70 percent sphagnum moss or peat moss. Venus fly traps are very sensitive to any type of chemicals. For this reason, it’s crucial that you only use rain water, spring water or distilled water. If you absolutely have to use water from the tap, make sure you let it set in an open container for 24 to 48 hours so any chemicals and chlorine can dissipate. These hungry predators do not need any fertilizer. They get all the nutrients they need from the insects they consume. They do have a “feeding season” that runs from May until October. During these months, the soil needs to be damp at all times. And, the plant should be kept in temperatures that range from 70 to 95 degrees. During the winter months, Venus fly traps need a dormant period of approximately 3 months. During this period, most or all of the leaves will die. While dormant, you can move the plant to a cooler area where the temperatures will be from 45 to 50 degrees. You can also remove the plant bulb, clean it with fungicide and wrap it in live, damp sphagnum moss. Place the bulb in a plastic bag and keep it in a cool area. If the plant is grown in a pot instead of a terrarium, you should place the pot in a container with about an inch of water. You can elevate the pot by setting it on a bed of gravel so that the bottom of the pot barely touches the water. You want the soil to stay moist, but you don’t want it to be soggy. When Venus fly traps are grown in a terrarium, you will need to feed it. One plant will consume about 2 or 3 flies per month. You can feed the plant dead insects as long as they’ve not come in contact with any poisons. Small crickets make an ideal food source and you can usually purchase them at a local pet shop. While some people recommend that you feed the plant meats such as hamburger, it’s not a good idea. Hamburger and other meats are high in fat content which is fatal to a Venus fly trap. It might be entertaining to spring the trap with your finger, but it drains a lot of energy from the plant. If you do that too often, the fine hairs inside the trap will lose much of their sensitivity and the plant could starve to death. Written by Connie Corder, Copyright 2010...
How to Grow the Cast Iron Plant
During the Victorian Era, the Cast Iron plant was one of the most popular houseplants. With it’s draping green leaves, it’s an ideal way to add a tropical flair to any room, although it isn’t a tropical plant. It’s available in both a dark green and variegated variety. This plant is very hardy and once the plant is established it can even tolerate drought. It’s a slow growing plant, so if you want one of any substantial size, it’s best to just purchase it. These plants can reach just over 3 feet in height. The variegated variety generally costs about twice as much as the standard green variety. But, the white contrast on the dark green leaves might be worth paying extra for. It’s a really pretty plant that doesn’t require a lot of care. Occasionally, the Cast Iron plant will flower when kept indoors, but this is very rare. When it does, the plant produces groups of small flowers near, or slightly under the top of the soil that are purplish brown in color. Because of the location of the star shaped flowers, often they aren’t even noticed. This plant will do well in any lighting environment except for total darkness or bright, direct sunlight. This makes it an excellent choice for both a houseplant and for shady areas of the garden or yard. The soil should be allowed to dry out to around one or two inches of the surface before watering. In low light areas, it’s not uncommon for the plant to only need water every few weeks. The main reason that houseplant hobbyists fail with the Cast Iron plant is too much water. Like many other types of plants, the Cast Iron plant is very susceptible to root rot. Make sure that you provide good drainage so that the plants roots are never sitting in water. The ideal solution is to use a plant with a drainage hole which allow the excess water to drain into a saucer. However, the saucer should be emptied to prevent the soil from remaining to wet. The plant needs to be fertilized on a monthly basis with a high quality liquid fertilizer. One that is designed specifically for houseplants is ideal. However, if you have the variegated variety, make sure that you don’t over feed it. Too much fertilizer will literally cause the plant to lose it’s variegation. The leaves will all end up dark green. Propagation of this plant is done through root division. When the plant is well established with lots of leaves, you can separate it into several plants. Take the plant out of the pot and carefully separate the root ball into sections. Place each section in a pot filled with a good quality potting mix and water thoroughly. After a few months, you should begin to notice some new growth. Written by Connie Corder, Copyright 2010...
Best Houseplants for Low Light Areas
Here are the most popular and easy to care for low light houseplants. If you want to grow plants in a low light or shady area be sure to choose those that thrive in those lighting conditions. When choosing plants for inside the home, you can’t just pick a plant you like. You have to take several things into consideration, such as size and ease of care. But, the most important factor in choosing a houseplant is the lighting conditions of your home. Even if you provide the perfect amount of water and fertilizer, without adequate light, a houseplant can’t thrive. Growing healthy houseplants that flourish and give you years of enjoyment, depends on knowing which plants can survive under poor lighting conditions. Often, people think that they just simply don’t have a “green thumb” because they can’t keep a houseplant alive. When in reality, the plant has died because it didn’t receive enough light. Just because your home doesn’t have large windows that let lots of sunlight into your home, it doesn’t mean that you have to settle for silk plants. In fact, there are several plants that are perfectly happy living in minimal light. If you choose the right houseplants you might just find that you do indeed have a “green thumb”! Mother-in-Law Tongue The Mother-in-Law Tongue has long, pointy leaves and is very sturdy. It’s very adaptable and can withstand a little negligence. Often called the snake plant, it is ideal for low light areas although the plant will not produce blossoms without adequate light. The main enemies of this plant is too much water and freezing temperatures. Detailed care information ~ Mother-in-Law Tongue Cast Iron Plant The Cast Iron plant grows to approximately two feet in height and has long, arching leaves. It’s a great plant for any low light area and it requires very little care to grow. It’s just as happy in a warm area as it is in a cooler area. While the plant can tolerate dry soil, it does much better if you keep the soil evenly moist. The main cause of death for this plant is rotting roots from too much water. It needs to be fertilized about once a month. But, during the growing phases in spring and summer, it can be fertilized every two weeks. Detailed care information ~ Cast Iron Plant Dragon Tree The dragon tree is another really good choice for low light conditions. The plant features spiky green leaves that are often trimmed in color along the edges. The plant is not at all fussy and will do well with normal home temperatures and low light. Water the dragon tree when the soil is dry 1/3 of the depth of the pot. The plant only needs fertilized about once a year. Detailed care information ~ Dragon Tree Parlor Palm The Parlor Palm has been a popular houseplant since the Victorian Era. It’s the easiest to grow of all the palms and requires very little as far as care. The plant has a fairly small stem with lots of feathery green leaves and thrives in filtered light. Water the plant when the surface of the soil feels dry, never allow the soil to dry out completely. But, avoid letting the roots sit in water. Detailed care information ~ Parlor Palm Philodendron The Philodendron is one of the most popular houseplants. The vine will grow very well in low light conditions. However, if the plant gets too little light, the leaves will be much smaller. At the same time, full sunlight will burn the plant and stunt it’s growth. The plant likes evenly moist soil and does much better if the roots are slightly pot bound. Detailed care information ~ Philodendron Peace Lily The Peace Lily has glossy green leaves and produces beautiful flowers on tall stems. It can reach anywhere from one to four feet in height depending on growing conditions. It can grow well in either low light or filtered light areas. The soil should be kept evenly moist, but never soaked. It should also be given a high quality fertilizer every two months. Detailed care information ~ Peace Lily Written by Connie Corder, Copyright 2010...
Creating A Raised Bed Garden To Improve Drainage
The amount of water a plant receives is often hard to control in a regular garden. Some plants require lots of water to grow healthy and strong, while others require very little water. Many plants are susceptible to root rot if they’re left standing in water for too long. Too much water is one of the main causes of dead plants. There is an easy way to test your soil to see how well it drains. Dig a hole in any area of the garden that measures ten inches deep. Fill the hole up with water and wait for all of the water to soak into the ground. Then, fill the hole back up with water again. If that water isn’t gone within approximately ten hours, the soil has very poor drainage and is not suitable for most plants. Raised Bed Garden Kit The most common way to provide the proper drainage for plants is to create a raised bed garden. A raised bed is simply a structure that holds soil and keeps the plant off the ground underneath. You can create a raised bed with various types of materials such as blocks, brick, or wood. The key is to make sure that the plant will sit at least five inches above the ground. You can place a raised bed garden almost anywhere and it can be either on a grassy area or on dirt. However, it’s much easier to use an area that isn’t covered with grass. If the structure is going to be placed on dirt you simply need to build the walls and fill it with soil. Add some compost or manure and start planting. Grassy areas create more of a problem. You will actually need to cut the grass loose and flip it upside down. It might sound easy, but you will need to use a really sharp tool to cut through the grass and loosen a layer from the dirt. After you have it turned upside down, it’s a really good idea to cover the area with a layer of straw. The straw will help prevent the grass from growing back up through the dirt and into your garden bed. Planting plants in a raised bed garden is done in the exact same way that it’s done in a regular garden. Decide how far apart you need to space the plants, make a hole that will accommodate the entire plant root and cover the roots with soil. Just make sure that you don’t plant them to deeply and defeat the purpose of a raised bed. Within days you’ll notice a big improvement in the health of your plants. The soft soil will allow the roots to grow freely and the drainage will prevent the them from rotting. After you’ve watered your plants a few times you might need to add more soil to compensate for settling. A raised bed garden does take a little work, but the results make it all worthwhile. Written by Connie Corder for HouseplantsForYou.com, Copyright 2010 All Rights...
How to Grow a Parlor Palm
The Parlor Palm (Chamaedora elegans), sometimes referred to as the Bella Palm, is a relatively easy houseplant to grow. It’s a fairly inexpensive palm that is very well suited to indoor life. The Parlor Palm is an upright plant that rarely reaches over 4 foot in height, or 3 foot in width. The compact growth and easy care makes it an ideal houseplant. Light Requirements: The Parlor Palm will flourish and grow much better in filtered light. With this plant you actually don’t need to guess about adequate lighting. If the palm is sitting in an area where there is enough light for it to cast a shadow, it’s getting enough light! And, it will do well in both natural sunlight or artificial lighting. Water Requirements: The amount of water the Parlor Palm needs will depend on how much light it receives. A brighter light means more water, while lower lighting means less water. On small palms, the surface of the soil should be dry before giving it more water. On larger palms, the soil should be dry at least one inch down in the soil before adding water. This houseplant should be watered all the way around the base of the plant to avoid “dry spots”. Dry spots left in the soil could result in a drastic loss of fronds. If the pot has drainage holes, water the plant until some of the water seeps through the holes. Any excess water in the saucer should be emptied within an hour to prevent the roots from rotting. Fertilizing Indoor Palms: Indoor palms don’t like a lot of fertilizer. You can fertilize the Parlor Palm on a monthly basis through the spring and summer. In the fall and winter, the palm only needs fertilized every two or three months. You can use any good quality water soluble food that is designed specifically for houseplants. Parlor Palms and Propagation: While Parlor Palms are grown from seed at nursery’s you can propagate the plant, but it’s not recommended. Propagation is done by separating the plant at the roots. This can be very traumatic to the palm and will result in a heavy loss of fronds. It will also take the sections of the plant a long time to recover. Because they are usually not very expensive, it’s better to just purchase another plant. Written by Connie Corder, Copyright 2010...
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