(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to Aglaonema, Bromeliads, Dracaena, Ficus, Gardening, House Plants Care, Indoor Color, Palms, Plant Pictures, Spathiphyllum, Troubleshooting, orchids on 2008-02-28, 06:14:53

It’s Time to Celebrate Spring!

Springtime is right at our doorsteps.

After the long winter it’s time for the growing season, pruning, giving those house plants a good thorough cleaning, repotting… if necessary and overall getting those plants in shape!

• But what about your houseplants?
• Where do you start?
• Who do you ask?

When house plants leave the nursery, their entire “how to” care information now sits in the hands of the local nursery or garden center. They know some basics on lots of plants but not the real inside scoop. Sort of like an office temp…

You’ve probably asked plant care questions, tried your hand at watering, fertilizing, repotting, moving plants around… But your efforts don’t deliver results!

You’re Frustrated!

That’s why I decided to do something about it.

I created a simple, extremely effective, easy to read, easy to apply, care guide on indoor house plants that anyone can understand and put to use.

If you’re serious about making your houseplants look their best! … Click the link for this
Special Guide!

Bring on the Spring!

(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to Aglaonema, House Plants Care, Indoor Color, Plant Diseases, Plant Pictures, Troubleshooting on 2008-02-20, 06:01:20

As the spring rush starts up, lots of house plants will be making their way to garden centers, and the local grocery store. I’ve written about the damage ethylene gas can cause plants in transit.


As fruit ripens it can give off ethylene. Don’t let the look of the pictures scare you to think ethylene is bad for all plants. Growers in fact use to “force” house plants such as Bromeliads into flower. In fact, you could do a little science experiment if you wanted. Find out how to “force” Bromeliads to flower with ethylene here.

(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to Ficus, House Plants Care, Indoor Color, Most Popular, Plant Diseases, Plant Pictures on 2008-01-29, 10:08:24

Question: Every year when winter rolls around my Ficus benjamina loses a bunch of leaves. First they turn yellow and then drop. Why is my Ficus doing this? Kaye, Minnesota.

Answer: Most people know Ficus benjamina as the weeping fig and for years it continues to be one of the most popular trees grown for indoor use - even though it does drop leaves when you first bring it home and during the winter. By the way check out of Ficus Tree Care Guide…

Leaf loss on Ficus usually comes down to 3 possibilities.

• Change in environment
• Over or under watering
• Insect or pests

Losing leaves is a normal process for Ficus trees while caring for them. It is not uncommon for a Ficus tree to lose 20% of its foliage (leaves) as it acclimates to its new environment.

If your plant has enjoyed the summer outdoors, dropping leaves as it goes into its new surrounding can be expected. If the plant has been inside all along then the change can also come from reduced light and drier conditions indoors from heat.

Place your Ficus in your brightest window, they love light and helps with a multitude of Ficus problems.

Ficus benjamina comes from a region with distinct seasons. The Ficus sheds its leaves during the dry season and when the rainy season returns, new growth fills out and the canopy.

As a general rule of thumb - water more when the plant gets lots of light and less s when less light is available. Why? Less light means less growth and water need. Ficus have aggressive root systems and can quickly fill a pot with roots making watering difficult. Check to make sure they are not rootbound, if so your Ficus may need repotting into slightly larger pot. In general keep the soil your Ficus moist, but never soggy wet.

A happy, well grown Ficus tree rarely has many insect problems, but yellowing leaves can be caused by the common insects of scale, mealybug and spider mites.

Once a Ficus tree is stable and actively growing care is minimal, usually all that is needed will be a weekly check of the soil moisture and watering if needed. Over time as the Ficus tree grows, pruning and shaping may be required, typically every spring, depending on its speed of growth.

A well maintained ficus tree can be a stunning addition to any home for years. For more information on Ficus tree care visit FicusCare.com

(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to Dracaena, House Plants Care, Plant Pictures on 2008-01-15, 07:34:22

Going through and organizing images on my computer recently I ran across these few I wanted to share.

Here are pictures of one of the oldest potted plants in the world - Encephalartos altensteinii - which lives in the Palm House at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.

What struck me while looking at these pictures:

• How the plant has survived 200 plus years?
• What type of plant care does this plant receive?
• How often does it get repotted?
• Could I if asked to care for it - keep this Cycad alive?

Although I cannot answer the questions directly, they made me think of you who enjoy plants and want to provide the best care possible.

• How long do you keep plants alive?
• What house plant(s) do you think you could care for and enjoy for the next 20 years?

I’m sure many of us know someone in their 70’s or 80’s that has always kept an African Violet perched in their kitchen window. I’ve had many an email from readers over the years who have carried their Dracaena with them on every move across town or across the country. Some of these span 25 years. Their plants are older than their kids.

Even though these “house plant experts” do a great job in caring for their plants and have for years they want to make sure they do not slip up and cause any harm or make sure - everything seems normal. They invested in learning more and improving their plant knowledge and ordered our Dracaena Care Guide for example.

Too many times as I watch people stroll through the garden center and look at plants for their home without putting much thought into learning how to care for them and keep them healthy for years and decades.

When I look at the Encephalartos altensteinii at Kew I’m so thankful to the people back in 1775 who took the time to collect the cycad, plant it, care for the plant, share the care knowledge with others so many more people decades and centuries later could experience their work and passion for plants.

How about you? What plant care knowledge do you need to learn or discover for your plants to be enjoyed by others decades from now. The Dracaena is a great one to start with!

(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to Landscaping, Outdoor Color, Plant Pictures on 2008-01-08, 09:46:48

The Adenium is an odd looking plant - colorful, but look right at home in a bonsai dish. It can really make a colorful statement!

Recently, a new “Desert Rose” variety was introduced - Adenium “Hot Pink”. Now another additional to the Adenium family is Adenium “Ice Pink.”

Like Hot Pink it is grown from virus tested stock which will produce a consistent looking and with a new color.

(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to House Plants Care, Indoor Color, Plant Pictures on 2008-01-02, 13:25:22

The Natal Mahogany is a plant you can use in lots of different places. The Natal Mahogany has been around for a few years but used mainly by the professional plantscaper.

Most people are familiar with the Umbrella tree or Schefflera. This plant has a similar look. The botanical name is - Trichila dregeana - and I’ll admit it’s a little hard to pronounce. You’ll be happy to know most people call it by the easier to pronounce Natal Mahogany.

Trichila dregeana is versatile and performs very well in high or low light interior installations.

The leaves are compound, have a very high gloss, carry a deep almost blackish green color and is a more upright grower. It looks very tropical and usually holds lots of leaves. Although, under lower light levels, they may drop some of their lower leaves.

Now for the watering department…

Many houseplant owners just flat out over water their plants… Great News if that describes you. The Natal Mahogany thrives on water… and lots of it. Now, I’m not suggesting you go out and drench the plant with as much water as possible. The Natal Mahogany is more forgiving than many other indoor plants when it comes to water. You may want to consider dropping a saucer underneath the pot to hold a little extra water.

It should also be noted not to just pour water on and let it drain out the bottom. As with most plants, make sure the soil is thoroughly watered. It does really well on sub-irrigation or in self-watering planters. Some professional plantscapers have reported that the Natal Mahogany will need to be watered more than once a week. Then again, it all depends on the light levels and temperature.

Another plus for the Natal Mahogany - the plant actually grows indoors and new growth may become stretched in low light levels. You can simply cut back the stretched growth to the desired height and the plant will branch again.

What kind of height does this plant get? You’ll find the plant in the 4 - 6 foot range and probably in 14 inch pots.

New plants are introduced all the time, but the Natal Mahogany has many professional plantscapers surprised at how well it performs inside.

So if you’re looking for a fresh new plant, check out the Natal Mahogany. If your local garden center doesn’t have it in stock they can ask their local plant supplier to get it for them.

(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to House Plants Care, Plant Pictures on 2007-12-28, 07:21:58

The ZZ Plant or Zamioculcas Zamiifolia is one of the toughest most durable house plants I’ve found. They can handle conditions most indoor tropical plants would never consider “liveable.” It is on the same level as Aspidistra - Cast Iron Plant and Sanseviera.

The popularity of the ZZ plant has grown across the United States and Canada. It is also popular in Europe.

I’m always interested in how people grow, what plants they grow in other parts of the globe. The ZZ plant is no different.

Here are a couple of pictures I received from a nursery growing the ZZ in Vietnam. The plants look healthy and growing in plastic bags.

If you have trouble with houseplants give the Zamioculcas (ZZ) a try.

(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to Plant Pictures, Plants - General, Troubleshooting on 2007-12-11, 05:53:32

Even a healthy, hearty house plant can stand up against the “intelligence” of people. So often people cause their own plant problems. (...)

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Posted by admin to Gardening, Landscaping, Outdoor Color, Plant Pictures, Plants - General on 2007-11-27, 06:22:48

Color is always an attraction in the landscape. Patios, gardens, decks and front yard entrances all use color as a focal point and to put on some fabulous displays...

(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to Gardening, Landscaping, Plant Pictures, Plants - General on 2007-11-26, 06:22:32

Over the Thanksgiving holiday I was visiting friends and family. It wasn’t long before I was outside walking around in the garden checking out the plants growing in the landscape...