Plant Care
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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.
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| 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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