1. Houseplants

2. Caring for houseplants
Watering
signs of improper watering
drooping leaves - lack of water

3. Watering
yellowing - too much water

4. Methods of Watering drench and let dry drench and let dry slightly
keep media constantly moist

5. Temperature recommended temperature 50-85 F daytime
night - drop below daytime temp
locate plants away from air-conditioners and drafts

6. Lighting natural or artificial measured in foot candles direct sun
partial shade or weak sun - less than 50% natural sun light

7. Lighting
indirect or filtered light - no direct sun light

8. Artificial Lighting root cuttings more easily start seeds
grow tropical plants with greater ease

9. Humidity % of moisture in the air varies with seasons
low in the winter

10. Increase humidity by: spraying with fine mist
fill water tight tray with water and pea gravel, set containers in it

11. Increase humidity by: use a humidifier
place plants in the part of the house with the highest humidity

12. Fertilizers slow release small beads applied to the soil
nutrients are steadily released

13. Fertilizers - slow release
plant absorbs nutrients as needed
avoids over feeding

14. Soluble fertilizer
liquid or solid
dissolved in water before applying

15. Soil Mixture varies with each plant
organic matter helps to improve water holding capacity
perlite helps to keep the mix loose and easily drained

16. Containers drainage should be available use well drained soil mix
put saucer under pot to protect furniture from water

17. Potting plants select appropriate container and soil mix
provide drainage - put rocks or put shards in the bottom of container

18. Potting plants add potting mix to cover rocks
place plant in to check soil level
should be 1/2 inch below top of pot

19. Potting plants
fill remainder of container with media

20. Repotting repot plants when they become root bound
if roots are growing around the root ball
roots appear at the top of soil

21. Repotting separate roots to allow re-growth
If plant is blooming, wait until after flowering is completed

22. Repotting
select pot or container of the next larger size than the one the plant was planted in.

23. General Care leaves clean occasionally with a fine spray of water
wipe top and underside of leaves

24. Leaves helps to remove dust and insects do not use leaf shine products
clogs the stomates
makes it hard for plants to breathe

25. Disease and Insects
control pests by recognizing and controlling them on the plant

26. Common plant pests
aphids
white flies
mealy bugs
mites
scale

27. Aphids small green insects with piercing mouths called plant lice
suck plant juices from the plant

28. Aphids work on stem and underside of leaves
leaves become sticky with “honey-dew”
causes growth of black sooty mold

29. Aphids
leaves curl, disfigure, turn yellow
use Orthene

30. White Fly small white, winged, sucking insects
works on underside of leaves

31. White Fly heavy egg producers infestation can occur quickly
eggs laid on underside of plant leaves

32. White Fly cause plant to turn yellow have mottled appearance - spotty
White Flies will leave the plant when the leaves are moved

33. White Fly
use Orthene

34. Mealy Bugs white , woolly mass, like a ball of cotton sucking insect
works on the underside of the leaves

35. Mealy Bugs sucking juices gives plant a faded yellow appearance
control by swabbing the insect with a q-tip dipped in alcohol
removes insect from plant

36. Mites small spider like insects on bottom side of leaves
suck juices causing plant to turn yellow
cannot be seen easily with the naked eye

37. Mites hold a white piece of paper under leaf and tap the leaves
look for spider like insects moving on the paper

38. Mites wipe across the paper with your finger
if mites are present, there will be a red smear
control with Kelthane or Orthane

39. Scale when mature, attack stems in a cluster
small white gray lumps - oval shape
plant turns yellow, loses vigor

40. Scale sticky sap appearance on plant remove with soapy water
spray with Malathion or Orthane

41. Botrytis common disease
leaves turn black and develop a gray mold and will eventually rot off

42. Botrytis
provide good air circulation
use a fungicide - Benlate

43. Mildew common disease leaves get a heavy white coating
fungicide - Benlate

44. Insecticides can be purchased in most stores
read the label for applications and directions