Use and Care Manual

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Table Of Contents

HOUSEPLANT CARE

LIGHT

Before you buy a houseplant, make sure your house can provide the amount of

light your plant needs. For example, if you buy a cacti, you will need a window

that provides bright light.

When you first bring a plant home, it’s normal for the plant to drop a few leaves.

If the lighting is to its liking, it will soon adjust.

• Plants that can tolerate full sun and bright light thrive in south-facing

windows (examples are cacti, tropical hibiscus, Lantana).

• Plants that like partial shade or moderate light do best in east- and west-

facing windows (examples are fiscus, phildendrons, and bromeliads).

• Plants that require low light will be happy in north-facing windows

(examples are snake plants and the cast-iron plant).

• Plants that require high light levels will do best under a grow light.

• Most houseplants grown for their flowers need to be within three feet of a

sunny window (examples, African violets, gardenias, orchids).

• All plants require a period of darkness; light exposure should not exceed

16 hours.

• Rotate plants once in a while to encourage even growth and

prevent legginess.

• Plants become acclimated to a site so try not to move them from one light

exposure to another; if you must, make the change gradual, if possible.

How do you know if plants aren’t getting enough light? The plant will not flower,

it will show little new growth or spindly growth, or it will lose its lower leaves.

On the other hand, if the edges of a plant’s leaves scorch, or the leaves bleach out

or appear dull, then the light may be too bright.

WATER

Believe it or not, more houseplants die from overwatering than from anything

else! Most houseplants can not tolerate soil that is always wet. Some succulent

plants (such as cacti or jade) can survive a month or two without watering. Learn

the preferences of your plants.

The first step, of course, is to ensure the bottom of your pot has drainage holes.

Otherwise, you will need to repot the plant.

When to Water

Summary of content (5 pages)

PAGE 1
HOUSEPLANT CARE LIGHT Before you buy a houseplant, make sure your house can provide the amount of light your plant needs. For example, if you buy a cacti, you will need a window that provides bright light. When you first bring a plant home, it’s normal for the plant to drop a few leaves. If the lighting is to its liking, it will soon adjust. Plants that can tolerate full sun and bright light thrive in south-facing windows (examples are cacti, tropical hibiscus, Lantana).
PAGE 2
Starting in late fall, water houseplants sparingly until daylight hours begin to increase in the new year. • The best time of day to water is in the morning, except when it is cloudy or rainy outside and there will no sunlight. Avoid watering on a fixed schedule; instead, check the soil and water when needed. • Water when the roots, in the lower two-thirds of potted soil, begin to dry. Push your finger 2 inches down into the soil of a 6-inch-diameter pot. If the soil feels moist, do not water.
PAGE 3
Humidity is a tough factor to perfect, as most homes are fairly dry—especially in the winter. Here are some things to consider about humidity: • • • • • • • Many of the most common houseplants come from tropical regions, where humidity is naturally high. They will be happiest when the relative humidity is kept at 50 percent or higher. Plants like cactus and succulents can tolerate lower levels of humidity.
PAGE 4
• • • out a bit between waterings can discourage fungus gnats from calling your houseplants home. Your houseplants may sprout bugs once brought inside your house because they no longer have outdoor predators. Remove aphids from houseplants with a mixture of equal parts rubbing alcohol and water, plus a drop of dishwashing detergent. Apply this to troubled plants with a soft brush. Mealybugs and scale are commonly seen on houseplants.
PAGE 5
• • • appears on the soil of your houseplants, loosen the dirt in your pots periodically.) Open the doors and windows when temperatures permit to give your house a change of air. This will benefit you and your houseplants. Re-invigorate your houseplants by removing the top ¼ inch of soil and top-dressing with fresh potting soil. If your houseplants’ leaves grow dusty, gently wipe them down with a wet paper towel. Too much dust can clog a plant’s stomata (pores), making it harder for the plant to “breathe.