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
PLANT (COMMON NAME) DIRECTSUN BRIGHTLIGHT AVG.LIGHT LOWLIGHT PLANT (COMMON NAME) DIRECTSUN BRIGHTLIGHT AVG.LIGHT LOWLIGHT
Aluminum Plant X X Jade Plant X X
Areca Palm X X X Japanese Aralia X X
Asparagus Sprengeri X X Kangaroo Ivy X X
Asparagus Meyeri X X Maidenhair Fern X X
Boston Fern X X Moses-in-the-Cradle X X
Aloe Vera X X Norfolk Island Pine X
Burro's Tail X X Parlor Palm X X X
Chinese Evergreen X X X Peperomia X X
Coleus X X Piggyback X X
Corn Plant X X Ponytail Palm X X
Croton X X Rubber Plant X X
Dumb Cane X X X Schefflera X X X
Devil's Ivy X X X Snake Plant X X X X
Fiddle leaf Fig X X Spider Plant X X
False Aralia X X Strawberry Begonia X
German Ivy (Green) X X Swedish Ivy X X X
German Ivy (Variegated) X X Tahitian Bridal Veil X X X
Gold Dust Dracaena X X Velvet Plant X X
Grape Ivy X X Wandering Jews X X X
Heartleaf Philodendron X X X Weeping Fig X
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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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Botanical Name Common Name Common Name Light Light Light Water Water Temp Temp
Botanical Name Common Name Common Name H M L M D C W
Common Indoor Plants Common Indoor Plants Common Indoor Plants Common Indoor Plants Common Indoor Plants Common Indoor Plants Common Indoor Plants Common Indoor Plants Common Indoor Plants Common Indoor Plants
Aglaonema (spp.) modestum Aglaonema (spp.) modestum Chinese evergreen
Araucaria heterophylla Araucaria heterophylla Norfolk Island pine
Aspidistra elatior Aspidistra elatior Cast-iron plant
Chamaedorea elegans Chamaedorea elegans Parlor palm
Chlorophytum comosum Chlorophytum comosum Spider plant
Cissus rhombifolia Cissus rhombifolia Grape ivy
Crassula argentea Crassula argentea Jade plant
Dieffenbachia spp. Dieffenbachia spp. Dumb cane
Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana' Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana' Corn plant
Ficus spp. Ficus spp. Fig. rubber plant
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Botanical Name Botanical Name Common Name Light Light Light Water Water Tem Tem
Botanical Name Botanical Name Common Name H M L M D C W
Common Indoor Plants Plants Common Indoor Plants Plants Common Indoor Plants Plants Common Indoor Plants Plants Common Indoor Plants Plants Common Indoor Plants Plants Common Indoor Plants Plants Common Indoor Plants Plants Common Indoor Plants Plants Common Indoor Plants Plants
Hoya carnosa Wax plant Wax plant
Monstera deliciosa Split-leaf philodendron Split-leaf philodendron
Nephrolepsis exaltata Boston fern Boston fern
Peperomia spp.    
Platycerium spp. Staghorn fern Staghorn fern
Sansevieria trifasciata Snake plant Snake plant
Schefflera arboricola Umbrella tree (schefflera) Umbrella tree (schefflera)
Spathiphyllum spp. White flag White flag
Syngonium spp.    
Tolmiea menziesii Piggyback plant Piggyback plant
Tradescantia (incl. Zebrina) Wandering Jew Wandering Jew
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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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Plant Problems - Diagnostics Table Plant Problems - Diagnostics Table Plant Problems - Diagnostics Table
Symptoms/Signs Problem Corrective Action
brown edges on leaves too much salt water to wash excess salts from soil
brown spots on stems leaves infected with something cut off effected areas, diagnose pathogen
fuzzy globs on leaves or stems aphids or mealybugs are eating me remove insects, swab with rubbing alcohol
healthy leaves, no flowers needs more light move to area with more light
pale tunnels or patches on leaves leaf miners are eating me cut off affected areas
pale, stunted plants insects are eating me remove insects, wash with soapy water
pale, stunted plants need more drainage give better drainage
pale, stunted plants need more fertilizer add fertilizer
powdery growth on leaves infected with powdery mildew cut off affected areas, move away from other plants
purplish, stunted plants need more phosphorus add P fertilizer
warped leaves infected with something cut off affected areas, diagnose pathogen
weak, leggy plants need more light move to area with more light
weak, leggy plants too crowded separate from other plants
weak, leggy plants too much nitrogen reduce fertilizer
weak, leggy plants too wet give better drainage, reduce watering
white spots on leaves or stems spider mites are eating me remove insects, wash with soapy water
wilting plant infected with something cut off affected area, diagnose pathogens
wilting plant too cold put in sheltered area
wilting plant too dry water
wilting plant too wet check roots for rot, give more drainage
yellow green speckled pattern on leaves infected with virus pull infected plants to prevent spread
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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