Master Gardener Indoor Plants Unit

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Indoor Plants
A Unit of the MSU Extension Master Gardener
Volunteer Training Program
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Selecting Interior Plants

• Insect disease free.
• Healthy-looking from top to bottom.
• Match plant to indoor conditions.

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Transporting

• Hot summer.
• Cold winter.

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Acclimatization

• Moving Plants.
• Moving plants inside in winter.
• Moving plants outside in spring.

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Plants as Air Cleaners

• Absorb air pollutants.
• Both the plant and the potting medium absorb the
  pollutants.

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Environmental Factors

• Light.
• Temperature.
• Flowering.
• Humidity.
• Ventilation.

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Light

• Most essential factor for indoor plant growth.
• Three aspects of light to consider.
• Intensity.
• Duration.
• Quality.

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Indoor Light Intensity Varies

• Location/Distance from source.
• Time of day.
• Latitude.
• Time of year.
• Cloud density.

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Light Conditions
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Light Requirements for Selected Indoor Plants
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Light Quality
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Photoperiodic Response (Duration)

• Short-day plants.
• Poinsettia, kalanchoe Christmas cactus.
• Long-day plants.
• Cineraria.
• Day-neutral plants.
• African violet.

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Supplemental Light

• Quality of light.
• Fluorescent vs. Incandescent.

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Incandescent vs. Fluorescent
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Grow Lights
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Temperature

• Affects productivity and plant growth.
• Manipulates flowering and plant height.
• Foliage Plants.
• Day 70 to 80 F.
• Night 60 to 68 F.

• Flowering.
• Day 70 to 80 F.
• Night 55 to 60 F.

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Flowering

• Two critical stimuli that induce flowering.
• Day length.
• Temperature.

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Day Length

• Short-day plants.
• Long-day plants.
• Day-neutral plants.

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Temperature/Day Length

• Cool temperature/short-day.
• Cool temperature/long-day.
• Cool temperature/day-neutral.
• Warm temperature/short-day.
• Warm temperature/day-neutral.

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Humidity

• Percent of the moisture saturation of air.
• Generally, 40 will be sufficient.
• 10 - 15 typical in Michigan homes in winter.

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Humidity

• Increasing humidity
• Humidifiers.
• Humidity trays.
• Misting.

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Humidifier
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Humidity Tray
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Misting
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Ventilation

• Drafts.
• Forced warm air heat.
• Cold drafts - windows doors.

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Containers

• Clay ceramic.
• Plastic fiberglass.
• Others.

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Clay Ceramic
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Plastic Fiberglass
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Other
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What must all indoor plant pots have?
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Drainage
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Media

• Artificial mixes.
• Soil mixes for certain plants.
• Sterilizing or pasteurizing.

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Preparing Artificial Mixes

• Sphagnum Peat Moss.
• Perlite or Vermiculite.
• Ground Lime.
• Superphospate.
• 12-12-12 or something similar.
• Chelated Iron.

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Repotting
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Repotting
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Repotting
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Watering

• When to water.
• Water quantity.
• Water quality.
• Methods of application.
• Special considerations.

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Fertilizing

• Advantages.
• Disadvantages.
• Timing of applications.

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Training and Grooming

• Pinching.
• Pruning.
• Disbudding.
• Training on trellises.
• Cleaning.

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Indoor Plant Problems

• Physiological Disorders.
• Insect.
• Mites.
• Diseases.

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Physiological Disorder
Excess Soluble Salts
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Physiological Disorder
Sun Scald
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Physiological Disorder
Temperature Extremes
Heat
Cold
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Physiological Disorder
Over or Under Watering?
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The plants we use for house plants are subject
to the same insect and disease pests as any
other plants.
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Insect Pest

• Scale.
• Mealy bugs.
• Fungus gnats.

• Aphids.
• Spider mites.
• Whiteflies.

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Aphids
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Spider Mites
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Thrips
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Whitefly
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Mealy bugs
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Scale
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Fungus Gnats
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Diseases
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Root Rots
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Powdery Mildew
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A healthy plant will resist insects diseases
better than a stressed plant.
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Pest Management
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The key to any pest management is an accurate
identification or diagnosis.
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Monitoring

• Scouting.
• Trapping.
• Weather.
• Degree days.

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Types of Management Strategies

• Biological.
• Cultural.
• Chemical.

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Biological Control

• Predators.
• Parasites.
• Pathogens.

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Chemical Control

• Least Toxic Products.
• Horticultural Oil.
• Insecticidal Soap.
• NEEM Oil.
• Follow All Label Instructions.

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Propagating Indoor Plants
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Propagating Indoor Plants

• Sexual propagation.
• Vegetative propagation.

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Sexual Propagation

• Seeds.

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Vegetative (Asexual) Propagation

• Spores.
• Division (Separation).
• Air layering.
• Cuttings.
• Runners, Stolons Rhizomes.

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Spores
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Division
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Runners Stolons
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Air Layering
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Cuttings

• Stem Cutting
• Leaf Cutting
• Whole Leaf.
• Leaf Sections.
• Leaf-bud cuttings.
• Leaf piece.

• Entire leaf blade and petiole.
• Entire leaf blade with cut veins.
• Viviparous leaves.
• Succulent/Cacti.

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Seasonal Potted Plants

• After-flowering care.
• Care of special potted plants.

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Poinsettia
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Azalea
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Gardenia
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Amaryllis
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Christmas Cactus
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Cyclamen
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Specialized Indoor Gardens

• Terrariums.
• Dish gardens.
• Bonsai.
• Topiary Standards.

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Terrarium
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Dish Garden
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Bonsai
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Topiary Standard
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Common Indoor Plants
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Aglaonema modestum (Chinese Evergreen)
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Aspidistra elatior (Cast-iron Plant)
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Chamaedorea elegans (Parlor Palm)
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Monstera deliciosa (Split-leaf Philodendron)
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Sansevieria trifasciata (Snake Plant)
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Schefflera actinophylla (Umbrella Tree)
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Cissus rhombifolia (Grape Ivy)
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Dieffenbachia amoena (Dumbcane)
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Dracaena fragrans (Corn Plant)
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Ficus benjamina (Weeping Fig)
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Ficus elastica (Rubber Plant)
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Ficus lyrata (Fiddle-leaf Fig)
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Hedera helix (English Ivy)
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Nephrolepsis exaltata (Boston Fern)
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Philodendron selloum(Split Leaf Philodendron)
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Saintpaulia species (African Violet)
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Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily)
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Aloe barbadensis (Aloe Vera)
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Araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Island Pine)
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Crassula argentea (Jade Plant)
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Platycerium bifurcatum (Staghorn Fern)
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Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Chinese Hibiscus)
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Schlumbergera spp (Christmas Cactus)
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Peperomia
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Scindapsus aureus (Devils Ivy, Pothos)
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Hoya carnosa (Wax Plant)
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Philodendron