Indoor plants Flashcards
Describe environmental factors when displaying plants inside domestic buildings
Temperature:
- Fluctuating temps can be very damaging to indoor plants - e.g. heating on in day and off at night.
- Cold temps can slow growth and damage cells.
- Avoid extremes by keeping plants away from direct heat sources and away from cold windowsills behind curtains.
Humidity:
- Most homes and offices are heated so have a low RH.
- Most tropical plants need decent RH to thrive, so they can be misted daily, or stood in a tray with gravel (water just below level of pot) - evaporating water creates humidity.
Light:
- Plants should be positioned according to their individual light requirements;
- Most plants enjoy bright, filtered or indirect sunlight;
- Too much sun on a windowsill can scorch leaves
- Light levels fall quickly as distance from a window increases;
- Horticultural grow lights can be used to supplement or replace light.
Air movement:
- Attention should be paid to where plants are placed in relation to draughts.
Irrigation requirements:
- Houseplants need regular watering in the dry atmosphere of a home or office;
- More on hot, sunny days and much less in the winter;
- Roots will rot in a waterlogged soil so be careful not to over-water;
- Some succulents require very little water;
- Liquid fertiliser will also benefit houseplants.
Pollution and dust problems:
- Dust on leaves of plants can cut down the amount of light the plant absorbs, affecting photosynthesis;
- Leaves should be dusted or wiped regularly;
- Other pollutants such as cooking residues can also coat leaves and damage plants.
Health and safety:
- Many houseplants can be poisonous to humans and animals, have sharp spines and pollen can cause problems for hayfever sufferers.
Public pedestrian traffic:
- Plant pots should be placed out of the way of pedestrian traffic to avoid damage from brushing agains plants;
- Plants should be placed away from access points/escape routes.
Considerations when choosing suitable containers and growing media for houseplants
Management considerations:
- how heavy will it be once media and plant are in it?
- what is its lifespan?
- will it need regular cleaning?
- is the container watertight?
Visual appeal:
- is it aesthetically pleasing?
- does it match/compliment the style of the house/office?
- plastic pot inside an attractive ceramic pot?
Drainage:
- Pot must have drainage holes
- Compost must be free-draining
Nutrients:
- different plants have different requirements for nutrients, pH etc.
- suitable media should be selected;
- nutrients do not last long in containers, so plants will need to be fed regularly.
Water retention in composts:
- some plants need more drainage than others
- some growing media need to have good water retention for certain plants
Hygiene:
- good hygiene can help prevent P&D;
- check plants carefully for P&D before bringing indoors;
- keep work surfaces, hands and tools clean;
- use new/clean containers and sterilised growing media;
- use water from a hygienic source (not a trough with stagnant water etc!)
Describe management of one FERN - Adiantum raddianum
Propagation & Establishment
- prepare pots of fine compost by pouring over boiling water over compost, cover and allow to cool;
- scatter spores from piece of paper and cover pot with cling film;
- keep at minimum of 21 deg C;
- spores will germinate into gametophytes (thin these out into other pots if they get too crowded);
- when new ferns are big enough to handle, prick out and grow on for several months, keeping covered to maintain humidity;
- when ferns have filled their pots, harden off gradually and pot on into larger pots;
- rhizomes can also be divided in spring if large and healthy (each division must have buds or fronds on it) - pot up individually.
Growing on:
- pot in fern compost (mixed grade bark with J Innes 2, vermiculite, perlite, charcoal) (84:14:2:2:1);
- also add slow release fertiliser;
- fill pot to half full, place fern in centre, fill up to top of rootball without covering the crown;
- firm in;
- no deadheading required but moribund fronds can be removed in spring to allow for new growth.
Environmental control:
- moderate, indirect light;
- may need full light in winter;
- 18-22 deg C;
- protect from draughts;
- keep moist at all times but not waterlogged;
- reduce watering in winter;
- keep humidity high by misting and watering from drip tray.
P&D ID and control:
- scale insects - use parasitoid wasps;
- mealy bugs - use mealybug destroyer ladybird, or wipe off;
- diseases not usually a problem for this fern.
Describe the management of one FOLIAGE plant - Ficus benjamina
Propagation & Establishment:
- semi-ripe cuttings - stem at base of cutting s/b firm with the tip soft;
- place in cuttings compost in propagator to maintain humidity;
- bottom heat will assist rooting;
- once roots developed, harden off outside the propagator;
- transplant into small individual pots and grow on, repotting to larger pots as needed.
Growing on:
- pot on in loam-based [J Innes 3] compost with added fine bark chippings;
- OR peat-free multipurpose compost also suitable;
- avoid frequent re-potting (maximum every two years until too large to handle);
- can be pruned back if it gets too large, but wear gloves as milky sap can be an irritant.
Environmental control:
- bright light but not direct sun;
- sensitive to small changes in light levels! Once right position has been found, try not to move it!
- min. temp 10 deg C - avoid draughts;
- water with tepid water and allow to dry between waterings;
- benefits from misting to maintain humidity;
- keep only just moist in winter.
P&D ID and control:
- Red spider white, whitefly, mealybugs or scale insect;
- not prone to diseases.
Describe the management of SEASONAL plant - Euphorbia pulcherrima
Propagation & Establishment:
- softwood stem cuttings in early summer, from young, soft shoots;
- apply hormone rooting powder and place in cuttings compost (50:50 mix compost : perlite);
- propagator - high humidity
- after a few weeks, rooted cuttings can be moved out of propagator and into individual pots;
- softwood cuttings can also often be rooted just in a glass of water.
Growing on:
- pot on into loam-based compost, incorporating plenty of bark or grit to the mix;
- feed with balanced liquid feed every 2-3 weeks;
- they are often kept for one season ready-potted, so potting on may not be necessary;
- getting poinsettias to reflower is a big challenge, but can be achieved by cutting the plant back hard in April, repotting and growing on in a cool place over summer, then placing in a completely dark place after 12 hours of daylight, to mimic a short winter day length - this encourages the colourful bracts. They also need a constant temp of 18 deg C.
Environmental control:
- bright, filtered light
- in winter may need direct light
- min. 13-15 deg C - cannot tolerate cold outdoor temps!
- they hate draughts
- sensitive to moisture stress, but careful not to over-water - fine balance needed!
- misting helps prolong flowering
P&D ID and control:
- overwatering can lead to Grey Mould (Botrytis)
- red-spider mite, whitefly, scale insects, mealybugs etc.
Describe the management of SEASONAL plant - Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Propagation & Establishment:
- Seed or cuttings;
- Seed - clean trays, overfill seed compost, tap, strike off, firm. Fine layer sieved & refirmed. Fine seed mixed 50:50 with dry silver sand - evenly distribute. Water from base so media is moist. Germinate at 18-24 deg C - prick out - into modular trays.
- Cuttings - stem/tip cuttings. Just above a node, healthy, P&D free. 10cm length cutting - cut just below node, remove leaves from 1/3 of base, into 50:50 mix coir:perlite, closed case at 18-24 deg C. Pot off when sufficiently rooted.
Growing on:
- pot off to 9cm pots JI no.1 when seedlings/cuttings have suitable root system;
- half fill pot, hold plant in centre to correct depth (same as seed tray);
- fill gently around plant, leaving space for water, firm in;
- water, to settle compost;
- potting on to loam-based potting medium with added grit
- repot every 2-3 years to replace compost.
Maintenance:
- water regularly as required;
- will tolerate dry conditions temporarily;
- feed in growing season with liquid/foliar feed (2-3 times);
- monitor for P&D damage
- deadhead flowers as required to produce more flowers;
- no pruning needed
Environmental control:
- bright, filtered/full sun;
- spindly in low light
- 16-29 deg C;
- keep away from cold draughts;
- water moderately when in growth, sparingly when dormant
P&D ID and control:
- aphid, red spider mite, mealy bug, sciarid fly, vine weevils
- Botrytis, powdery mildew (but generally disease-free)
- prevent by good hygiene and monitoring!
- plant oils/fatty acids for mealy bugs
- keep suitable environmental conditions.
Describe the management of SEASONAL plant - Saintpaulia ionantha
Propagation & Establishment:
- leaf petiole cuttings;
- mature leaf with stem, into cuttings mix of 50:50 coir and perlite;
- propagator at 20 deg C - maintains humidity;
- remove lid once plantlets form;
- when large enough to handle, pot on into appropriate media - don’t cover crown!
Growing on:
- free-draining, loamless compost (pH 6.5-7.0) is best;
- open structure for good aeration;
- do not cover crown of plant;
- firm in and water from above to settle the compost;
- re-pot when needed, but prefers to be on the pot-bound side!
- shallow root system so a half-pot is more suitable for these plants;
- Remove side shoots on older plants and any dead leaves;
- liquid feed at 1/4 strength at every watering in growing season.
Environmental control:
- moderate but not direct light;
- 17-25 deg C all year round (not below 10 or above 30)!
- avoid combination of strong light and water on leaves - misting is fine;
- doesn’t like a dry atmosphere - damp gravel tray;
- tepid water to keep moderately moist during summer (drier during winter).
P&D ID and control:
- leaf and root rot if plant is too wet for too long;
- grey mould and powdery mildew can also affect plant - remove diseased parts;
- Common houseplant pests – red-spider mite, whitefly, mealybugs, sciarid flies, aphids etc. – may be troublesome; cyclamen mite, vine weevil and thrips might also be a problem.
