Basic plant care

Potted Plants:

 

Potted plants increase the aesthetic value of our homes and places of business. Keeping potted plants in your house is not only a popular hobby but is also good for your health.. Plants keep the environment fresh by reducing pollution and increasing oxygen levels while simultaneously removing carbon dioxide from the room. Many people are fond of plants, but they face difficulties in management of the plants. This guide provides an outline for success in caring for plants.

 

Guidelines for Care of Potted Plants:

 

Choosing the Correct Pot:

Every conceivable design is available. Be careful to chose a container based on suitability instead of fashion or you are setting yourself up for struggle and disappointment. An ideal pot must have at least one hole for drainage. Excess water will drain out and saves the plant from rotting of roots. Plants roots need proper space to spread out, the pot size should be selected accordingly. Plants need proper space to grow if less space is provided the growth can be affected. For example, for rose plant, pot size with 2- 2.5 ft depth and 15-20 inches diameter are recommended. Different kinds of containers or pots are shown below for ideas:

 

Potting Mix:Potting mix means soil along with some organic matter to provide material. It is used to fill the pots and it is a medium for a plant to grow. It should be selected according to the requirement of plant. Potting mix containing more sand would have more drainage as compared to clayey soils. For example, if you have violets to grow, it requires soil that can hold water. For this purpose, soil with more peat moss is recommended. For succulents, potting mix should contain more sand as succulents require more drainage.

Selection of Plants:Select plant according to the climate of your area and location. Select the plant which is best suited to the environment. Some plants are shade loving and some require sunlight for their growth. Place the pots accordingly. For example, areca palms are shade loving plants. They grow best in shady areas and these can be kept indoors. The closer you come to providing the exact needs of your plant the better your results will be. You can avoid having to provide climate control or a controlled environment by choosing plants that are suited for your area. Conversely you can grow ANYHTING that you provide the correct environment for

Preparing pots for the plants:After selecting appropriate pot and potting mix for your selected plant. Next step is to pot your plant.

First, put a small pebble to cover the drainage hole of the pot to prevent the soil from leaking out of the pot.

Fill the pot with a potting mix or prepared soil.

Create a hole in the soil for a plant to fit in. Place your plant in the center. Cover the roots with soil and gently press to hold the plant in its place.

Fill, if space is left and more soil is needed.

If your plant comes in bags or pots from the nursery. Take it out carefully. Gently hold your plant and tap on the sides of the container so that the soil gets loose. After taking the plant out inspect the roots and soil. Gently loosen the roots, prune and damaged roots and your plant is ready for a new pot.

After planting, water the plant.

The best time for planting is morning or evening time, it saves the plant from heat shock.

Watering:Water requirements depends upon the environmental conditions like temperature, humidity, rainfall and season etc. High temperature in the surrounding of a plant will dry out the water quickly and pot will need frequent watering. High humidity areas require less watering. Watering requirement also varies with the type of plant. Flowering plants require more water than foliage plants. Plants should be watered according to their requirement. Only water when the pot soil is dry. Excess water can cause root rot. Over watering is the number one cause of houseplant death.

Fertilization:Fertilizers are necessary for normal healthy growth of any plant. With the passage of time potted soil will run out of its nutrients. After one to two months addition of fertilizer is necessary. Fertilizers can be added if plant shows symptoms of nutrient deficiency like yellowing of leaves. Best time to add fertilizers is spring month during new growth or when flowering occurs. Some plants are more sensitive to fertilizers than others. I strongly encourage you to identify the specific needs for each individual type of plant rather than trail and error.

Light : 

Bright light

Direct sunlight. Long sun exposure.

• South or Southwest-facing windows up to 10 feet away.
• East or West facing windows up to 10 feet away.

Medium light

Partial, filtered, soft or indirect.

• East or West facing windows - min. 10 feet away up to 15 feet.
• South or Southwest facing windows — min. 10 feet away up to 15 feet.
• North facing windows - up to 3-5 feet away.

Low light

Minimal natural light or artificial.

• North-facing windows — min. 5 feet away up to 10 feet.
• South, West or East facing windows that are facing courtyard and/or blocked by another building nearby.
• Foyers & stair landings — with no natural light, but lots of fluorescent light all day.

You should be able to read a book without a light on in the middle of a day.  If you cant its likely too dark for any plant without some type of supplemental lighting.

Remember: Intense, direct sun can burn plants. Filter light or place plants further away from the window or in a shady spot.

 

 

Temperature Requirements: Plants can exist in a wide temperature range but each type has its own specific requirements. The closer you come to providing them with their ideal environment the better results you will see. An inexpensive seedling heat mat with temperature control can keep your plant growing like spring all winter long. While a small fan can help overcome heat and will also help strengthen your plant.

Humidity:Some plants grow best in humid areas and some cannot. For example, orchids and gardenias require high humidity for their growth. You can help offset humidity that is too low by misting your plant frequently.

Insects and Diseases:Insect pest control is best and easiest when done proactively. Simple sprays made from organic essential oils can help prevent infection and colonization. If detected these should be addressed immediately. Infected parts are removed and your plant quarantined to prevent spread.  In order to treat your plant effectively you will need to identify your exact insect or disease by name. Dont worry its very easy and quick with access to a camera and the internet. Knowing exactly what you are facing will make it easy to deal with and save you time and money.

Common Tools for Potted Plants:Here are some basic tools that are useful in maintenance of potted plants:

Hand Trowel:It is used for mixing soil, digging a hole, transplanting seedlings, leveling out soil and dividing tubers.

Pruning Shears: It is also known as Garden Shears or bypass pruner. It is used to cut thicker woody stems and small branches. It can also be used to harvest vegetables like eggplants, bell peppers, and tomatoes from the plants.

Soil Scoop:I small scoop or gardening spade for shoveling and mixing soil, fertilizer, compost, etc.

Micro tip scissors:These are small scissors with pointed blades. They quite handy in thinning out growth and snipping off leaves and flowers with more precision than a pruner.

Moss Pole and trellis:Plant supports are used to literally physically hold plant up. There are multiple types of supports like cages, stakes, sticks etc. If you are growing tomatoes in the pot, having a sturdy cage or stake is essential. Vegetables like peppers, and eggplants in a container will also require stacking and support later in the season to prevent them from falling over. Vining crop like beans and peas will need a trellis to climb. By using cages, you can train squash and melons to grow vertical. Having twine and ties is also handy in supporting container plants.

Plant Labels: Label your plants with their names and dates . I cant stress this enough. Things get moved around and we all forget. If you don't do this you will eventually regret it.

Watering Cans:I prefer one with a long narrow spout to help get to those hard to reach places.

Gardening Gloves:Weather you're growing in soil or hydroponically gloves are a good idea. I typically wear nitrile exam gloves to protect myself from bacteria and chemicals from fertilizers and nutrient solutions. This is of course in addition to washing my hands thoroughly afterwards and not as a substitute for it.