The Interior Landscape: Houseplants and Plantscaping Original by Nancy Williams Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office – July, 2002

Caring for Interior Plants Before caring for a plant you need to answer the following questions. What is the proper way to water the plant? How much light does it need? What is the best Temperature for optimum growth? What type of soil mixture is needed?

Caring for Interior Plants Watering: You must carefully observe each plant and how many times you water it. Signs of improper watering are: Drooping leaves Wilting leaves Yellow leaves You will also need to look at the moisture control, and if there is proper drainage.

Caring for Interior Plants There are different ways in watering plants: They are: Drench and let dry: This is where water is added and then you let the soil dry out until you water again. Drench and let dry slightly: This is where water is added and you let the soil dry slightly and then water again. So the soil will be moist when you water again.

Caring for Interior Plants The last method of watering is: Keep medium constantly moist at all time so it is moist to the touch.

Caring for Interior Plants Lighting: What is photosynthesis? It is the process of manufacturing food

Caring for Interior Plants What is Light Meters? small machines that measure illumination or light. You can find these at florists, garden centers and department stores.

Caring for Interior Plants Light Intensity requirements: There are three groups, they are: Direct sun: plant should receive full intensity of natural sunlight. Partial sun or weak sun: plant should receive less than 50 % of natural light Indirect or filtered light; plant should receive no direct sunlight at all.

Caring for Interior Plants Artificial lighting; The fluorescent light enables horticulturist too: Take root cuttings of interior plants more easily Start seeds of new and different interior plants Grow tropical plants, cacti and succulents with greater ease

Caring for Interior Plants Temperature: The recommended temperature for plants indoors are between 50 degrees F to 85 degrees F.

Caring for Interior Plants Humidity: It is the percent of moisture in the air which is an important factor to consider when growing interior plants

Caring for Interior Plants Humidity: Humidity around interior plants can be increased by: Spraying a fine mist of water on the foliage of the plant with an inexpensive plastic spray bottle or any type of mister. using a watertight tray filled with small pea gravel to hold the potted plants. Water is added to the tray to come to the top of the gravel and plants are set on the gravel, making certain that the pots are not actually in the water.

Caring for Interior Plants Humidity: Use a humidifier to provide the moisture in the air. Place plants in a part of the house that has high humidity. Examples are bathroom, and kitchen

Caring for Interior Plants Soil Mixture: A good general potting mixture includes two parts loamy soil, one part organic matter such as peat moss and ect.. One part course sand and horticultural grade perlite

Caring for Interior Plants Fertilizers: There are two types of interior plant fertilizers on the market today. They are: Slow release which is in the form of small beads that are coated with plastic and dissolved over a period of time and is applied to the soil mixture. Soluble fertilizer is available in liquid or solid form. When using the solid form, it must be dissolved in water before applying to soil.