Houseplants

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Houseplants

• Original by Linda Rist
• Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education
  Curriculum Office
• July, 2002

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Caring for houseplants

• Watering
• signs of improper watering
• drooping leaves - lack of water

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Watering

• yellowing - too much water

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Methods of Watering

• drench and let dry
• drench and let dry slightly
• keep media constantly moist

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Temperature

• recommended temperature
• 50-85 F daytime
• night - drop 10-15 below daytime temp
• locate plants away from air-conditioners and
  drafts

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Lighting

• natural or artificial
• measured in foot candles
• direct sun
• partial shade or weak sun - less than 50 natural
  sun light

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Lighting

• indirect or filtered light - no direct sun light

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Artificial Lighting

• root cuttings more easily
• start seeds
• grow tropical plants with greater ease

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Humidity

• of moisture in the air
• varies with seasons
• low in the winter

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Increase humidity by

• spraying with fine mist
• fill water tight tray with water and pea gravel,
  set containers in it

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Increase humidity by

• use a humidifier
• place plants in the part of the house with the
  highest humidity

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Fertilizers

• slow release
• small beads applied to the soil
• nutrients are steadily released

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Fertilizers - slow release

• plant absorbs nutrients as needed
• avoid over feeding

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Soluble fertilizer

• liquid or solid
• dissolved in water before applying

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Soil Mixture

• varies with each plant
• organic matter helps to improve water holding
  capacity
• perlite helps to keep the mix loose and easily
  drained

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Containers

• drainage should be available
• use well drained soil mix
• put saucer under pot to protect furniture from
  water

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Potting plants

• select appropriate container
• and soil mix
• provide drainage - put rocks or put shards in the
  bottom of container

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Potting plants

• add potting mix to cover rocks
• place plant in to check soil level
• should be 1/2 inch below top of pot

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Potting plants

• fill remainder of container with media

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Repotting

• repot plants when they become root bound
• if roots are growing around the root ball
• roots appear at the top of soil

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Repotting

• separate roots to allow re-growth
• If plant is blooming, wait until after flowering
  is completed

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Repotting

• select pot or container of the next larger size
  than the one the plant was planted in.

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General Care

• leaves
• clean occasionally with a fine spray of water
• wipe top and underside of leaves

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Leaves

• helps to remove dust and insects
• do not use leaf shine products
• clogs the stomates
• makes it hard for plants to breathe

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Disease and Insects

• control pests by recognizing and controlling them
  on the plant

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Common plant pests

• aphids
• white flies
• mealy bugs
• mites
• scales

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Aphids

• small green insects with piercing mouths
• called plant lice
• suck plant juices from the plant

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Aphids

• work on stem and underside of leaves
• leaves become sticky with honey-dew
• causes growth of black sooty mold

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Aphids

• leaves curl, disfigure, turn yellow
• use Orthene

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White Fly

• small white, winged, sucking insects
• works on underside of leaves

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White Fly

• heavy egg producers
• infestation can occur quickly
• eggs laid on underside of plant leaves

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White Fly

• cause plant to turn yellow
• have mottled appearance - spotty
• White Flies will leave the plant when the leaves
  are moved

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White Fly

• use Orthene

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Mealy Bugs

• white , woolly mass, like a ball of cotton
• sucking insect
• works on the underside of the leaves

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Mealy Bugs

• sucking juices gives plant a faded yellow
  appearance
• control by swabbing the insect with a q-tip
  dipped in alcohol
• removes insect from plant

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Mites

• small spider like insects on bottom side of
  leaves
• suck juices causing plant to turn yellow
• cannot be seen easily with the naked eye

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Mites

• hold a white piece of paper under leaf and tap
  the leaves
• look for spider like insects moving on the paper

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Mites

• wipe across the paper with your finger
• if mites are present, there will be a red smear
• control with Kelthane or Orthane

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Scale

• when mature, attack stems in a cluster
• small white gray lumps - oval shape
• plant turns yellow, loses vigor

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Scale

• sticky sap appearance on plant
• remove with soapy water
• spray with Malathion or Orthane

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Botrytis

• common disease
• leaves turn black and develop a gray mold and
  will eventually rot off

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Botrytis

• provide good air circulation
• use a fungicide - Benlate

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Mildew

• common disease
• leaves get a heavy white coating
• fungicide - Benlate

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Insecticides

• can be purchased in most stores
• read the label for applications and directions