Plant Care F.A.Q.s
Green and blooming plants are popular
gifts for many special occasions. They bring life and sunshine into any
home or office. Below are a few helpful tips to care for some of the
more popular plants.
African Violets are lovely small plants, which may bloom at
anytime. They prefer bright indirect sunlight and grow well under
fluorescent light. Cut off the flowers after they die and provide good
ventilation. Keep the soil evenly moist at all times and feed monthly
spring through fall with a nitrogen-free fertilizer.
Areca Palms grow well indoors, in bright indirect sunlight and
may be placed outdoors for the summer in an area of filtered light.
Ensure that the plant has good drainage and keep it away from drafts.
Never let the plant sit in water. Mist the fronds occasionally with warm
water and feed monthly.
Azalea plants produce beautiful blooms February through May. They
require specific care, such as good rich potting soil and full sunlight.
Azaleas should be fed every two weeks during the growing season. Remove
all dead flowers and keep the soil on the wet side.
The Boston Fern is the ideal hanging basket plant. It requires a
little extra care in that it likes good, rich potting soil and should be
misted frequently with warm water. Boston ferns grow well in bright
indirect sunlight. Keep the soil barely moist and feed weekly.
Bromeliads are beautiful, exotic plants requiring some extra care
and attention. Bromeliads grow best indoors in bright indirect sunlight.
Use good rich potting soil, keep the soil evenly moist and feed about
every eight months. Bromeliads bloom April through June.
Croton plants require full sunlight and should be pinched back
occasionally for good shape. Croton plants are poisonous and should not
be kept around children. Keep the soil barely moist and feed every two
weeks when young. Fertilize weekly after maturity.
Cyclamen have beautiful dark green foliage with unique "upside
down" blooms that flower December through May. Cyclamen are dormant for
the summer and should be repotted in late summer and kept cool. Stop
watering in late spring and resume watering in late summer. Feed every
two weeks while in growth. Bright indirect sunlight and evenly moist
soil is best. Cyclamen are poisonous and should not be kept around
children.
Diffenbachias are easy care plants with large leaves, making it
an effective remover of indoor air pollutants. Diffenbachias are
poisonous if ingested. Do not keep around children. Place this plant in
bright indirect sunlight and let its soil become moderately dry between
waterings.
Dracaena plants are easy to grow indoors in bright indirect
sunlight. Good general purpose potting soil is fine and should be kept
evenly moist. Leaf tips may turn brown if the plant is under-watered.
Feed every two weeks.
Gardenias are wonderfully fragrant blooming plants, but generally
require a little extra care and attention. Gardenias grow best inside
the house with bright indirect sunlight. The plant requires good rich
potting soil, kept evenly moist at all times. Mist the plant frequently
with warm water, feed every two weeks and prune in early spring.
Gardenias flower June through August.
Gerbera plants produce beautiful blooms July through September
and are very easy to grow. They prefer full sunlight. Be careful the
crown of the plant is above the soil and provide good drainage. Allow
the soil to become moderately dry between waterings and feed every two
weeks during growth periods.
Hydrangeas are gorgeous blooming shrubs with showy color June
through December. They require full sunlight and good, rich potting soil
kept evenly moist. Prune the plant way back in early spring and feed
every two weeks during growth with fertilizer suitable for acid loving
plants.
Ivy plants are easy care leafy green plants perfect for hanging
baskets. Ivy grows well in bright indirect sunlight. Keep the soil
evenly moist, mist occasionally with warm water and feed every two weeks
during growth periods.
Kalanchoe are succulents and bloom January through July.
Kalanchoe grow best indoors in full sunlight. Use good general purpose
potting soil with a little added sand. Avoid getting water on the
leaves, be careful not to over-water and feed only twice a year, once in
April and once in July.
Norfolk Island Pines require a little extra care and attention.
Bright indirect sunlight is best and over-watering must be avoided. Turn
the plant occasionally to keep it symmetrical. If possible put the pine
outside during the summer in bright light. Feed every two weeks and do
not fertilize in the winter.
Orchids are exquisite blooming plants, requiring just a little
extra care. Orchids grow well in bright indirect sunlight and may
produce flowers at anytime. Avoid cold drafts. Most orchids have
sphagnum moss potting mix and should be kept evenly moist. Be careful
not to over-water. Feed every two weeks during the spring and summer
with orchid fertilizer.
Peace Lilies are beautiful large-leafed plants, which produce
white blooms April through October. They require full sunlight and
should be placed away from drafts. When watering, drench the soil and
allow it to become moderately dry between waterings. Feed every two
weeks during the summer months only.
Philodendrons are easy care plants, which grow best indoors in
bright indirect sunlight. This plant is a climber if given proper
support. Philodendrons are poisonous if ingested. Do not keep around
children. Keep this plant's soil barely moist and feed it every two
weeks when in growth.
Pothos are easy care climbing green plants. Pothos do well
indoors in bright indirect sunlight, but will grow in rooms with less
light as well. Keep this plant's soil evenly moist and supply good
drainage. Pothos is a good climber, if given proper support. Otherwise,
pinch back to maintain its shape. Fertilize every two weeks.
Schefflera are beautiful, easy care leafy green plants. They grow
well indoors in full sunlight. When watering, drench the soil and allow
it to become moderately dry between waterings. Feed monthly spring
through summer.
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