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Posted by admin to houseplant maintenance, indoor plant care, maintaining an indoor oasis on 2008-03-27, 03:59:00
"Care and Feeding of Your Indoor Oasis"
Why, even as we anticipate spring gardening, our indoor
gardens continue to bridge that gap between the seasons...
providing an outlet for restless gardeners.
By Deb Lambert
Indoor, or Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) Photo: ©CBI 2007
This is the third article in our indoor plant series. For the basics of plant selection, light, humidity and other tips for success, see my two previous articles...
'Creating an Indoor Oasis' (March 17, 2008) and
'Success with a Smaller Indoor Oasis' (March 19, 2008).
Overwatering is one of the most common causes of plant failure. Providing water, means possessing more than a vague awareness of a plant's preferences. Research the moisture requirements of any new plant, and water accordingly.
Overwatering is all too often, a slow, certain death. It forces vital oxygen from surface roots and once the lower roots become waterlogged and start to rot, death usually follows. Unless the plant is unpotted, the rotted roots trimmed off and much of the soil replaced, the decomposition process continues right up the root mass, even though you have corrected your watering habits.
A plant in low light dries out very slowly, as do plants during extended periods of cloudy weather. Your plant may not need water every Wednesday at 8 a.m., so get used to feeling the soil, and maybe even the weight of the pot, to know when it's time to water. My favorite "moisture meter" is the index finger of my right hand... just become familiar with each individual plant. Often, with larger specimens, it's wise to allow the soil to dry to a depth of 1-2 inches, between waterings. Never leave the pot in standing water, which is reabsorbed, leading to root rot.
Many plants require little, if any, fertilizer from October to March. However, personal experience has proven that a monthly application of an organic solution, which includes fish and seaweed (Neptune's Harvest Organic Fish/Seaweed Blend Fertilizer®) is just right for winter maintenance, without forcing excessive growth during dormancy. Use twice monthly for active plants - African violets, begonias, stock geraniums and Hibiscus are flowering plants that remain active all year 'round.
There are many water-soluble, high-phosphorus, chemical fertilizers (Miracle-Gro®, Peters®, etc.) that are traditionally used, especially for flowering plants, but there's an increasing interest in the organic alternatives, as we cultivate our indoor plants. Organica® offers two other options - 'Plant Nutrition Tablets' (5-5-8, from organic sources/includes microorganisms to nourish the soil) and 'Plant Booster' (3-4-1, liquid blend of fish, kelp and humic acid/stimulates plant growth and development of microorganisms). Make an informed decision about your indoor oasis feeding, then follow package directions.
Remain ever-vigilant for insect problems. Within a few days, several aphids or spider mites can escalate into a full-blown infestation. Aphids, available in a rainbow of colors, congregate on tender, new shoots. Spider mites prefer foliage undersides, as well as the interior growth, making their damage even more insidious. Looking like tiny grains of sand, they'll eventually create webbing throughout the plant. Monitor for mealybug and scale - both sucking insects, as well. Mealybugs are beige or white, setting up housekeeping in cottony nests. Hard-shelled scales are dark brown (busily sucking the life from your plant, beneath their well-armored shell), and are quite hard to detect along bark-covered stems.
Get in the habit of examining your indoor plants, for insect or disease problems, each time you feed or water - it's all about prevention, as it is in our gardens. Sticky residue (dried sap and/or insect excretion) is a red flag... look for the culprit. Another cue is the sooty mold that grows on excreted sap - this is secondary... control the insects, wash off the sooty mold and both problems disappear. Many folks panic, upon discovering the mold, and reach for a fungicide.
Fortunately, true fungus problems on our houseplants are relatively rare. Powdery mildew is the most often encountered disease. Avoid wetting the foliage of sensitive, often hairy-leaved plants, such as African violets and begonias. While insecticidal soap and horticultural oil offer fairly safe solutions for insect control, there is one option that controls both insects and disease. Neem oil, extracted from the Neem tree of India, is an effective insecticide. Neem oil, when extracted from the seed of this tree, controls disease, as well as insects. I have had great results, in the past, with controlling garden pests and diseases. Organica's 'K+Neem' is such an organic, broad-spectrum product.
Do your homework, before investing in new subjects for your indoor oasis. Will they thrive and bring as much delight to the interior, as your hardy plants bring to the exterior, of your home? Plan ahead. Do you have a nice spot, with filtered sun, all picked out for their summer
vacation... perhaps a shaded patio or porch? Stay abreast of the latest varieties, as well as new controls and maintenance techniques. Practice vigilance and prevention. Use that gardener's common sense and you'll have a happy, healthy indoor oasis.
©Deb Lambert 2008
