Plant Care

• Plant Care
• Plant Problems and Reasoning
• How to Repot a Plant

Plant Care:

Green and blooming plants are popular gifts for many special occasions. They bring life and sunshine into any home or office. Here are a few helpful tips to care for some of the popular plants.

• Azalea
• Bulb Plants such as Amarilla, Calla Lily, Daffodil, Hyacinth, and Tulip
• Christmas Cactus
• Cyclamen
• Daisy/Mum
• Dish Garden
• European Garden
• Gardenia
• Geranium
• Gerbera
• Gloxinia
• Green Plants such as Corn Plant, Croton, Dieffenbachia, Fern, Ficus Tree, Ivy, Pathos, Rubber Plant, Schefflera, Silver Bay etc.
• Hydrangea
• Kalanchoe
• Orchid
• Peace Lily
• Poinsettia

Azalea:

• Diffused sunlight is preferred, near a sunny window but not exposed to direct sun.
• Uniformly moist soil is preferred. Water thoroughly when soil surface is just dry to the touch. Do not allow plant to become excessively dry. Drain excess water in saucer at base of pot to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
• Cool temperatures are ideal. 60 - 65 degrees F day times. Avoid excessively hot or cold areas. Just keep out of cold drafts, away from heat outlets. Placement in cool environment at night 50 - 60 degrees F will help to extend the flowering period.

Bulb Plants such as Amarilla, Calla Lily, Daffodil, Hyacinth, and Tulip:

• Bulb plants will flower normally under a wide range of light conditions.
• Moderately moist soil is preferred. Allow soil surface to feel dry before watering thoroughly. Drain excess water in saucer at base of pot to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
• Cool temperatures are ideal. 60 - 65 degrees F day times. Avoid excessively hot or cold areas. Just keep out of cold drafts, away from heat outlets. Placement in cool environment at night 50 - 60 degrees F will help to extend the flowering period while plant is indoors.
• To enjoy in your garden in future years, place pot in well-lighted, cool area, 50 - 55 degrees F, and keep moist after flowering. When stems and greens are no longer green, cut them off. In mid-spring, plant bulbs outdoors in a sunny area with well-drained soil. Note: years to re-flower will depend upon size of bulbs and local climatic conditions.

Christmas Cactus:

• These plants are tropical plants. They require sunlight and blooms last longer with cooler temps so it's best to keep these plants away from heaters, fireplaces, furnace ducts, and other heat sources. Place the cactus in an indoor sunny location.
• Water thoroughly when soil surface feels dry to the touch. Drain excess water in saucer at base of pot to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
• Make sure the air has enough humidity so the buds don't dry up and fall off.
• Diluted houseplant fertilizer can be used every 2 to 3 weeks.
• Cactus should be repotted every 2 to 3 years. Spring is an ideal time to repot a cactus plant.

Cyclamen:

• Cyclamen have beautiful dark green foliage with unique "upside down" blooms. Cyclamen are poisonous if ingested and should not be kept around children.
• Diffused sunlight is preferred, near a sunny window but not exposed to direct sun.
• Moderately moist soil is preferred. Water thoroughly when soil surface feels dry to the touch. Drain excess water in saucer at base of pot to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
• Moderate temperatures are ideal. 65 - 70 degrees F day times. Avoid excessively hot or cold areas. Just keep out of cold drafts, away from heat outlets. Place in cool environment at night 50 - 60 degrees F to help extend the flowering period.
• Use a house plant fertilizer at manufacturer's suggested rate and frequency.

Daisy/Mum:

• Plants with flowers in bud stages prefer bright light near sunny window. Plants with open flowers do well in a wide range of light conditions.
• Moderately moist soil is preferred. Water thoroughly when soil surface feels dry to the touch. Drain excess water in saucer at base of pot to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
• Moderate temperatures are ideal. 65 - 70 degrees F day times. Avoid excessively hot or cold areas. Just keep out of cold drafts, away from heat outlets. Placement in cool environment at night 50 - 60 degrees F will help to extend the flowering period.

Dish Garden:

• Some of these plants are poisonous if ingested and should not be kept around children.
• Select location with moderately bright light. Protect from direct sun in summer; place near sunny window in winter.
• Moderately moist soil is preferred. Water thoroughly only after soil is dry to the touch. Avoid over watering; do not allow plants to stand in water. Drain excess water in saucer at base of pot to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
• Warm temperatures are ideal. 70 - 72 degrees F day times. Avoid excessively hot or cold areas. Just keep out of cold drafts, away from heat outlets. Place in cool environment at night 65 - 70 degrees F.
• Use a house plant fertilizer at manufacturer's suggested rate and frequency.
• Special note: If fresh flowers have been added to your dish garden in water-holding tubes, keep these tubes filled with water so the flowers will stay fresh as long as possible.

European Garden:

• The plants in this garden are in individual pots which have been placed together in the container.
• Some of these plants are poisonous if ingested and should not be kept around children.
• Select location with moderately bright light. Protect from direct sun in summer; place near sunny window in winter.
• Moderately moist soil is preferred. Water thoroughly only after soil is dry to the touch. Avoid over watering; do not allow plants to stand in water. Check for excess water in container liner at base of pots. Drain excess water in saucer at base of pot to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
• Plants may dry out faster in individual pots. Check often and water as necessary for proper growth.
• Moderate temperatures are ideal. 65 - 70 degrees F day times. Avoid excessively hot or cold areas. Just keep out of cold drafts, away from heat outlets. Placement in cool environment at night 50 - 60 degrees F.
• Use a house plant fertilizer at manufacturer's suggested rate and frequency.

Gardenia:

• A bright location is preferred. Avoid full sunlight in the summer but keep near a sunny window. Bright light conditions are important so that small buds will develop and open, replacing older flowers.
• Moderately moist soil is preferred. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch. Gardenias need high humidity. Drain excess water in saucer at base of pot to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
• Warm temperatures are ideal. 70 - 72 degrees F day times. Avoid excessively hot or cold areas. Just keep out of cold drafts, away from heat outlets. Place in cool environment at night 65 - 70 degrees F. Do not expose Gloxinias to temperatures below 50 degrees F.
• Use a house plant fertilizer at manufacturer's suggested rate and frequency.

Geranium:

• Select location with bright light. Geraniums need full sunlight for best flowering.
• Moderately dry soil is preferred. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch. Avoid over watering; do not allow plants to stand in water. Check for excess water in container liner at base of pots. Drain excess water in saucer at base of pot to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
• Moderate temperatures are ideal. 65 - 70 degrees F day times. Avoid excessively hot or cold areas. Just keep out of cold drafts, away from heat outlets. Placement in cool environment at night 55 - 65 degrees F.

Gerbera:

• Select location with full sunlight.
• Allow the soil to become moderately dry between watering. Drain excess water in saucer at base of pot to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
• Moderate temperatures are ideal. 65 - 70 degrees F day times. Avoid excessively hot or cold areas. Just keep out of cold drafts, away from heat outlets. Placement in cool environment at night 50 - 60 degrees F.
• Use a house plant fertilizer at manufacturer's suggested rate and frequency.

Gloxinia:

• Moderately bright light is preferred, near a sunny window but not exposed to direct sun. Bright light will allow small buds to develop and open, replacing older flowers. Inadequate light may cause light-colored and small newly opened flowers.
• Moderately moist soil is preferred. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch. Avoid over watering; do not allow plants to stand in water. Drain excess water in saucer at base of pot to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
• Warm temperatures are ideal. 70 - 72 degrees F day times. Avoid excessively hot or cold areas. Just keep out of cold drafts, away from heat outlets. Place in cool environment at night 65 - 70 degrees F. Do not expose Gloxinias to temperatures below 50 degrees F.
• Use a house plant fertilizer at manufacturer's suggested rate and frequency.

Green Plants such as Corn Plant, Croton, Dieffenbachia, Fern, Ficus Tree, Ivy, Pathos, Rubber Plant, Schefflera, Silver Bay etc.:

• Some of these plants are poisonous if ingested and should not be kept around children.
• Select location with moderately bright light. Protect from direct sun in summer; place near sunny window in winter.
• Moderately moist soil is preferred. Water thoroughly only after soil is dry to the touch. Avoid over watering; do not allow plants to stand in water. Drain excess water in saucer at base of pot to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
• Warm temperatures are ideal. 70 - 72 degrees F day times. Avoid excessively hot or cold areas. Just keep out of cold drafts, away from heat outlets. Place in cool environment at night 65 - 70 degrees F.
• Use a house plant fertilizer at manufacturer's suggested rate and frequency.

Hydrangea:

• Hydrangeas are gorgeous blooming shrubs with showy color.
• 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.

Kalanchoe:

• A bright location is preferred near a sunny window, but a wide range of light levels will be tolerated. Bright light will help to sustain flower colors. Pale-colored flowers indicate inadequate light.
• Maintain soil on the dry side. Water thoroughly after soil surface has become dry to the touch. Drain excess water in saucer at base of pot to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
• Moderate temperatures are ideal. 65 - 70 degrees F day times. Avoid excessively hot or cold areas. Just keep out of cold drafts, away from heat outlets. Place in cool environment at night 60 - 65 degrees F.

Orchid:

• 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 excessively hot or cold areas. Just keep out of cold drafts, away from heat outlets.
• 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 Lily:

• Peace Lilies are beautiful large-leafed plants, which produce white blooms
• Low light location is ideal. A shaded window will provide adequate light.
• Soil should be kept very moist, not soggy, at all times. Water thoroughly and frequently. Never allow soil to dry out. Drain excess water in saucer at base of pot to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
• Warm temperatures are ideal. 70 - 72 degrees F day times. Avoid excessively hot or cold areas. Just keep out of cold drafts, away from heat outlets. Place in cool environment at night 65 - 70 degrees F.
• Use a house plant fertilizer at manufacturer's suggested rate and frequency.
• Peace lily enjoy standing in a saucer of moist gravel. Use a soil high in organic content when repotting.

Poinsettia:

• Place your poinsettia in a sunny window. Keep the plant from touching cold windows.
• Ideally poinsettias require daytime temperatures of 60 - 70 degrees F and night time temperatures around 55 degrees F. High temperatures will shorten the plant's life. Exposure to low temperatures even for a few minutes can damage the plant. Keep poinsettia away from cold drafts and away from heat outlets.
• Check the soil daily. Water when soil is dry. Drain excess water in saucer at base of pot to prevent root rot and protect furniture.
• Fertilize the poinsettia if you keep it past the holiday season. Apply a houseplant fertilizer once a month.

Plant Problems and Reasoning:

Hot to Repot a Plant:

• A plant may need repotting if it becomes too large for its container.

• Cut away the roots appearing outside the soil and remove as much soil as possible from the top and bottom.

• Find a pot one size larger than the original size. Place some soil in the bottom of the pot. Place the plant in the pot. Secure the plant with more soil.

• Water thoroughly.