Houseplants benefit us in many ways. They
brighten our homes and offices, help change our moods and even clean the air. A
common question we get is "will this plant do okay if I don't have a lot
of light?" Just because you don't have a bright, well-lit room in your
home or office, doesn’t mean you can't grow healthy houseplants. There are many
plants which will tolerate low light conditions. Here are 5 plants that are
easy to grow and will do well in areas where they don't receive a lot of
light.
If you like blooming houseplants
then the Peace Lily or Spathiphyllum is the choice for you. This exceptional
plant will bloom with lovely white flowers, in low light.
Chinese Evergreen is
an easy plant to grow. Its distinct foliage makes a standout display in your
room or office. Water, then let the soil dry out slightly before you water
again.
Sansevieria or Snake Plant is an easy to grow succulent. Very tough and
durable, very tolerant of low light. There are tall and short varieties
available. Avoid over-watering. Let the soil dry out a little before you water
again.
Pothos is a fast growing, low-maintenance plant that features
heart-shaped leaves. These plants can be grown in a hanging basket or in a pot
on the table. Water regularly.
Peperomia plants can handle low to high light.
Let the soil dry out slightly between watering. Growing Peperomia supposedly
brings you luck with money.
Dieffenbachia can handle low to high light, but no
direct sun. Water regularly enough to keep the soil moist. It should be noted
that these plants will grow in well-lit rooms as well as low-light areas.
Water
carefully and feed your plants every 3-4 weeks. Choosing the right plant for
your conditions will help your plant thrive for many years.
www.theflowerbin.net
www.theflowerbin.net
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Growing citrus trees indoors.
Dwarf
citrus trees are especially well-suited for container growing. Improved Meyer
Lemon, Bearss Lime and Oroblanco Grapefruit are three great varieties for
growing indoors.
You can
grow citrus trees in any type of clay, ceramic or plastic pots. Choose a pot
that is slightly larger than the pot the tree came in. The new pot needs to be
deep enough to provide room for the roots to expand and to provide stability for
the tree as it grows. The new pot must have a drain hole, so you’ll need a
saucer under the pot to catch overflow.
Next, choose a potting soil with good drainage and a pH around 7. Your new citrus
tree needs as much sunlight as possible, at least 6 to 7 hours daily. If you don’t
have a bright, sunny spot, you can still grow citrus indoors by supplementing
natural light with plant grow lights. Water your tree frequently enough to keep
the soil moist but not soggy. Generally, when the top 2" of soil is dry,
it's time to water your tree. If you're unsure of how wet or dry the soil is, consider buying a moisture meter. You can quickly check the soil and know whether it's time to water. Keep an eye on the saucer below the plant and empty any excess
water out of the saucer.
Potted citrus trees feed heavily on Nitrogen, the
first number on the fertilizer label. You can use an organic fertilizer such as
Espoma Tree-Tone.
Another choice for a fertilizer would be Grow-More Citrus
Food. Follow label instructions to keep your tree healthy and producing fruit.
Oroblanco grapefruit has very fragrant flowers and produces sweet, seedless yellow
fruit. Oroblanco is one of the best for indoor growing.
Bearss lime trees are
another great variety to grow indoors. They produce seedless limes, year round.
The improved Meyer lemon tree is also a very good choice to grow indoors. Meyer
lemon trees will produce abundant flowers and fruit. With the right light and a
little care, your citrus tree will thrive year round.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Houseplant care in the winter.
Sunday
January 10 was houseplant appreciation day, an appropriate observation since
houseplants help beautify our homes, elevate our moods and clean the air we
breathe. Taking care of houseplants in the winter is a little different because
the days are shorter, there is less light and the air is drier. For these
reasons, your houseplants won't grow as vigorously as they do in spring and
summer. They still need your attention, but they don't need as much water and
fertilizer. They do need as much light as you can provide and they greatly
benefit from increased humidity levels. A simple way to increase the humidity
is to group your plants closer together. Plants release water through their
leaves and grouping plants closer together increase the humidity.
Set up a pebble tray to increase humidity. Fill a saucer with small rocks and add water. Just make sure the bottom of the pot doesn't touch the water. Placing a room humidifier closer to your plants will greatly increase the humidity around your plants. Lower light levels also affect your plants. Not only are the days shorter, the sun is very low on the horizon so the angle is different. A location that works great for your plants during the summer may not be enough light for them in the winter. If possible, move your plants to a south or west facing window. Another option is to add supplemental lighting. Grow lights are available that will fit a standard light socket. You'll need to adjust your watering routine to match what your plants need this time of year. Slower growth means your plant won't need as much water to keep it hydrated. One way to tell if your plant needs water is to poke your finger into the soil and see how dry it is an inch or two below the surface. When the soil feels dry below the surface, that's when it's time to water. If you're still not sure, consider buying a simple moisture meter. You stick the meter in the soil and it will tell you or dry or wet the soil is. When you do water, try to use water that's room temperature. An easy way to do this is to fill your watering can the day before you plan to water. It's also important to cut back on the fertilizing. Your plants don't need to be fed when they’re not growing as vigorously. Cut the recommended amount in half. You can feed your plants more as spring approaches and days get longer. Finally, keep your houseplants clean. Wipe the leaves with a soft, damp rag. Small plants can be put in the sink and rinsed off. Use a product designed to help keep the leaves clean. This can help repel bugs, also. With a little help, your houseplants can do well in the winter season.
Set up a pebble tray to increase humidity. Fill a saucer with small rocks and add water. Just make sure the bottom of the pot doesn't touch the water. Placing a room humidifier closer to your plants will greatly increase the humidity around your plants. Lower light levels also affect your plants. Not only are the days shorter, the sun is very low on the horizon so the angle is different. A location that works great for your plants during the summer may not be enough light for them in the winter. If possible, move your plants to a south or west facing window. Another option is to add supplemental lighting. Grow lights are available that will fit a standard light socket. You'll need to adjust your watering routine to match what your plants need this time of year. Slower growth means your plant won't need as much water to keep it hydrated. One way to tell if your plant needs water is to poke your finger into the soil and see how dry it is an inch or two below the surface. When the soil feels dry below the surface, that's when it's time to water. If you're still not sure, consider buying a simple moisture meter. You stick the meter in the soil and it will tell you or dry or wet the soil is. When you do water, try to use water that's room temperature. An easy way to do this is to fill your watering can the day before you plan to water. It's also important to cut back on the fertilizing. Your plants don't need to be fed when they’re not growing as vigorously. Cut the recommended amount in half. You can feed your plants more as spring approaches and days get longer. Finally, keep your houseplants clean. Wipe the leaves with a soft, damp rag. Small plants can be put in the sink and rinsed off. Use a product designed to help keep the leaves clean. This can help repel bugs, also. With a little help, your houseplants can do well in the winter season.
Monday, January 4, 2016
Basic Orchid Care
Basic Orchid Care
Did
you receive an orchid for the holidays? Congratulations! Your orchid will fit
in well with your other house plants and will do just fine if you keep in mind
these things.
One of the most common and popular orchids to give is the Phalaenopsis
orchid, also called a moth orchid. Often times, these orchids are potted in
clear plastic containers filled with moss.
You'll want to leave
your orchid in this container until it has stopped blooming. Then you can
transfer your orchid into a different container. Ceramic pots and clay pots
will work fine. Often they will have slits or holes in the side of the pot.
This is to help air circulation around the roots. This also helps prevent
over-watering. Orchids like to be watered and then allowed to dry out before
you water them again. As a rule of thumb, water your orchids about once a week
this time of year. If possible, use water that is room temperature and avoid
watering the center of the plant. Your orchid will do best in a bright
location, with no direct sun.
One way to
disguise the plastic pot is to double pot your plant in a more decorative
container. Once you are ready to repot your orchid, select a container that is
slightly larger than the original pot. Orchids like to be "snug" in
their pots.
Next, use a bark orchid mix designed especially for your plant to
thrive in.
Flowers will fall off as they begin to fade. If not, you can gentle
pull them off yourself. Don't be in a hurry to cut back the flower stalk, once your orchid has stopped blooming.
Your
orchid will often send up a second set of flowers on the old stalk.
Feed your
orchids sparingly this time of year, usually every 2 to 3 weeks. When you do
feed them, make sure the bark is wet first, and then add a very mild solution
of fertilizer.
When you see problems like this, take a look at how you're
watering your orchids. Best bet. Let them soak in the sink until the bark is
good and wet then put them back in their location by the east window. With a
little care, your orchid will thrive and flower for many years to come.
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