Date post: | 15-Jul-2015 |
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Interior Plants
Karen L. Panter, Ph.D.Extension Horticulture Specialist
Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of Wyoming
Today’s Discussion
• Definition• Light• Temperature• Humidity
• Water• Nutrients• Potting and repotting• Propagation• Problems
Successful Interior Plants
• Correct combination• Light• Temperature• Humidity• Water• Nutrients
• Not all plants suited• Indoor environment may not
be right
Successful Interior Plants
• Rooms in homes vary in • Light• Temperature• Humidity
• Select• The plant for the site• Not the site for the plant
Successful Interior Plants
• Need environment similar to native habitat• Forest floor plants
• Survive with diffuse, low light
• Desert plants• High light, warm temperatures
• Tropical and subtropical plants• Humid air, warm temperatures
• Cool climate plants• Cool days, warm nights
Light
• Remedies for insufficient light• Move closer to window• Move to a brighter room• Place near lamp• Provide artificial light• Reflect light with mirror• Keep clean
Light
• Remedies for too-high light• Move plant farther from window• Place thin curtain between window and plant• Use blinds• Use dark backdrop• Shade using another plant
Temperature
• Home temperatures• For human comfort
• Not necessarily plants!
• Bedrooms?• Typically cool
• Bathrooms and kitchens?• Typically humid
• Southern exposure?• Warm!
• Most plants• Fairly adaptable
• Avoid• Drafts• Temperature extremes
Humidity
• Rocky Mountain air• Very dry
• Forced-air heat and air conditioning do not help
• Better• Hot water heat• Electric heat
Humidity
• Plants that prefer higher humidity• Ferns• Ivies• Mosses• Many orchids
• Plants that manage lower humidity levels• Philodendron• Succulents• Cacti
Humidity
• Remedies• Gravel layer• Peat moss • Group plants together• Humidifier
• What doesn’t work well?• Misting
• Does not increase humidity much
• Benefit is keeping foliage clean though
Water
• Arguably most important• Most abused practice!
• Most interior plant problems due to• Improper watering• Improper light• Improper nutrition
Water
• Conditions necessary for plants to take up water• Must be available water in the growing medium• Must be air (oxygen) in the growing medium
• So roots can function properly
• Proper water management• Avoids extremes• Maintains supply of available water
Water
• Tips• Good-quality growing medium a must
• Usually get what you pay for
• Drainage hole(s) essential• Water should run out drainage hole when watering
• Toss out excess
• Do not allow pots to sit in excess water• Saturates medium limiting oxygen to roots
• Water according to need, not the calendar• Use larger pots for plants requiring more water
Water
• Tips• Water cacti and succulents little during winter months• Try not to allow highly organic media to dry out
• Hard to rewet• Submerge in water
• Flush salts from pots regularly
Water
• Dispel the myth!• Chlorine in domestic water
does not harm plants!• Fluoride can though
• Lily family• Dracaena
• Use room temperature water when possible• Especially sensitive plants
• African violets
Nutrients
• Limited soil volume• Limits nutrient (and water) supply• Can easily be exhausted
• Soluble liquid or powder fertilizers• Vary in strength and composition• Follow label directions
• Slow release types• Excellent for house plants
Nutrients
• Tips• Use slow release fertilizers• Plants usually grow best with small amounts of nutrients available
consistently• Do not apply fertilizers to dry soil or growing medium
• Root burn!
• Do not over-fertilize! More is not better!• Organic or synthetic types equally acceptable
• Plants can’t tell the difference
Potting and Repotting
• Usually needs to be done periodically
• Small plants may need larger pot
• Mature plants may need rejuvenation
Potting and Repotting
• Take into consideration• Plant size
• Small ones easier to transplant• Seedlings
• When first true leaves form
• Plant condition• Best when actively growing• If dormant or flowering
• May not produce new root growth
• Well-watered• No disease or insect problems
Potting and Repotting
• Container type• Use almost anything!
• Provided drainage holes present• Clay
• Porous• Heavy• Breakable• Require more frequent watering
• Plastic• Nonporous• Lightweight• Durable• Dry out more slowly
Potting and Repotting
• Container size• Use smallest container size for current stage of development• Small plants in large containers look lost!• Adjust container sizes according to watering needs
• Higher water-requiring• Larger containers
• Lower water-requiring• Can get away with smaller pots
Growing Media
• Container-grown plants• Require special attention to growing media
• Restricted root growth• Small container size
• Ready-to-use mixes available almost anywhere• Use of heavy clay native garden soils is not recommended!
• Too heavy• Hold too much moisture• Difficult to work with in containers• Must be sterilized
Growing Media
• Requirements• High proportion of coarse mineral particles
• Maintain pore spaces• Air• Root growth
• High organic matter content• Hold water• Minimize compaction
• Sufficient mineral nutrients• Must be replenished regularly though
Growing Media
• Suggested components• Good quality soil or compost• Coarse sand• Pumice or perlite• Vermiculite• Peat moss or coconut coir
• Equal parts (by volume) work well
Growing Media
• General mixture• 1 part loamy soil (sterilize first)• 1 part sand, perlite, or pumice• 1 part sphagnum peat moss• 1 quart bonemeal per 8 gallons (1 bushel)• 1 pint dolomitic lime per 8 gallons
• Vegetables, bedding plants, geraniums, fuchsias, ivies
Growing Media
• High-organic mix• 1 part general mix (previous slide)• 1 part sphagnum peat moss
• African violets and most tropical foliage plants
Growing Media
• How do I sterilize soil?• Heat treat
• Oven• Shallow layer• Heat soil to 140 -160 F • Keep at that temperature for 30 minutes• Use meat or candy thermometer to check• It will smell!
• Will kill disease and weed organisms• Typically leaves behind beneficials
• But not always
Potting Process
• Tips• Do not cover drainage holes
• Inhibits free drainage
• Do not use layer of gravel at the bottom of the container
• Slows down drainage by shortening soil column
• Leaves less growing medium for roots too
Potting Process
• Gently remove plant from original pot
• May need to trim root system a bit
• Use clean pruners or scissors
• Place plant in center of new pot
• Fill in around the plant with growing medium
Potting Process
• Tips• Do not compress the growing
medium!• Fills in air and water pore
spaces• Destroys beneficial qualities
of the medium
• Tap container on bench or tap sides of container to settle soil in
• Fill container to about ½” of top
• Water in well
Propagation
• Most interior plants propagated by• Cuttings• Division
• Rarely seeds• Hard to germinate• Lengthy time• Hard seed coats• High temperatures often• High humidity usually
• Tissue culture (or more appropriately, micropropagation)• Orchids• New varieties
Potential Problems
• Usually cultural or environmental in nature• Diseases rare
• Especially in our dry climate
• Insects may be more common• Keep plants healthy
• Will be better able to fend off insect or disease problems
Potential Problems
• Most common pests• Aphids• Whiteflies• Scales• Mealybugs• Spider mites• Cyclamen mites
• Less common pests• Leafminers• Fungus gnats• Caterpillars• Beetles• Thrips• Leafhoppers• Springtails• Slugs and snails• Millipedes• Centipedes
Preventing Problems
• Inspect new plants carefully• Be careful with plants brought inside after spending the
summer outdoors• Can bring in all sorts of creatures!
• Keep doors and windows closed • Use screens
• Avoid using outdoor soil• Be careful when handling plants in other locations
• Pests can hitchhike home with you
• Clean up leaf litter, etc. from tops of pots
Controlling Pests
• Nonchemical strategies• Remove infested plant parts• Dispose of heavily infested plants• Hand removal of pest(s)• Swab with alcohol• Spray with soapy water
Controlling Pests
• Chemical strategies• Few pesticides available for interior use• Read labels carefully!• Avoid treating plants indoors
• Take outside to spray• Let dry before bringing back in
• Systemics are available• Apply to top of soil and water in• Plant takes up by root system• Takes time• Not effective on all insect pests
Damage from Pesticides (Phytotoxicity)
• Symptoms include• Total burn, marginal burn, or spotting on leaves or flowers• Cupped, curled, or yellow leaves• Distorted leaf or flower buds
• Usually won’t kill the plant• Foliage or flowers may drop
• New growth will occur