| Indoor Flowers and Plants |
| More houseplants are killed by overwatering than by any other single factor. This killing with kindness is easy to understand, since it is normal for people to worry about plants drying out. But the damage caused by drying out from underwatering is far less severe than that caused by an excess of water. A plant wilted from dryness can usually be revived by giving it water, misting it lightly, and placing it out of direct sun. The symptoms of overwatering, on the other hand, are more difficult to detect and far less reversible. An overwatered plant will soon display wilted and yellowed leaves, which will eventually drop off. In some cases, the lower leaves and the base of the stem will begin to rot, the leaf tips will become brittle, or scab like bubbles will appear on the undersides of leaves. When this happens, you can be sure that root damage also has occured. It is best to repot the plant, trimming away all the affected root and leaf portions, then put it in good light but out of direct sun. |
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| Watering Tips (1) Don't water your houseplants with water straight from the tap. Chances are your water contains chlorine, which, while not deadly to plants, is a chemical they don't need to be exposed to. You can remove the chlorine by putting the tap water in an open container and letting it stand for 24 hours. After this time, the chlorine will have diffused into the air. (2) Let water stand is that it will be at room temperature when you're ready to use it. Cold water will shock plant roots, and repeated applications can stunt growth and invite disease. (3) Plants in clay pots need watering more frequently than those in plastic or glazed ceramic pots, since water evaporates through the porous walls of the unglazed clay. Keep this in mind when choosing pots for hanging plants or others that are difficult to water--a plastic pot can reduce the number of waterings you must provide. (4) In summer, water around noon time, since plants will lose more water through their leaves in the peak temperatures of afternoon. During the winter, watering in the early morning is best because it offers a full day of rising temperatures, allowing top-watered greenery to dry off before dark. Never water at night, since this will encourage soggy soil around plant roots and lingering moisture on leaves, both invitations to disease. |
| Plant Bath You can clean small plants and help keep pests away by giving the plants a "bath". Wrap a cloth or piece of paper around the stem and over the edges of the pot to hold the plant and soil in place, and dunk the plant upside down in a bucket of mild soapy water (use 2 tablespoons of soap flakes such as Ivory dissolved in 1 gallon of warm water). Then dip the plant in clear water at room temperature to rinse. |
| Foam for Pebbles Instead of using pebbles for drainage in flowerpots, use small pieces of expanded foam, such as those used as packing material for shipping. Just place a handful of them in the bottom of the pot. They do not decay, and they weigh less than pebbles. Eggshells for Pebbles Crushed eggshells also make a good substitute for pebbles. They promote drainage and add lime to the soil. |
| Preserving Cut Flowers (1) Cut flowers will keep longer if you add a little salt to the water in which they stand. The salt seems to slow growth of decay-producing bacteria. (2) To prolong the life of fresh-cut flowers, add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of cane sugar to a quart of water and place the flowers in this solution. (3) Dipping cut flowers into a solution of baking soda and water also extends their life. |
| Starting African Violets To start African violets, fill a juice glass with water and cover the top with aluminum foil. Poke a hole in the center of the foil with a pencil and, by handling the stem only, remove a healthy leaf from a violet plant (break the leaf stem off as close as possible to the trunk). Insert the stem into the hole so that it is almost completely submerged in the water. Be careful not to get the leaf wet, or a scar may form. Place the glass in a sunny window and leave it there until a good root system has developed. Plant the leaf in a small (3-inch) pot and water from the bottom only. Place the potted plant in an east window if possible. Avoid direct sunlight. After the roots take hold and a new plants has been established, the original leaf may be removed for balance. Water at least once a week but do not overwater. |
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| Avoiding Greenhouse Shock Bringing a plant from a moist greenhouse environment into a warm, dry home may cause it to suffer "greenhouse shock". The leaves will quickly wilt, dry, and eventually drop off, and the plant will soon die. You can prevent greenhouse shock by enclosing your plant in a plastic bag. Open the bag gradually over a two-week span. The plant will slowly acclimate itself to the lower humidity level, avoiding the often-fatal shock. |
| Nail your Violets Insert a few rusty nails into the soil around your African violets. The blossoms will be larger, more profuse, and brighter in color. |
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