Transcript The Interior Landscape

The Interior Landscape:
Houseplants and Plantscaping
Original by Nancy Williams
Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum
Office – July, 2002
Caring for Interior Plants
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Before caring for a plant you need to
answer the following questions.
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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
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Watering:
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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.
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Caring for Interior Plants
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There are different ways in watering plants:
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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.
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Caring for Interior Plants
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The last method of watering is:
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Keep medium constantly moist at all time so it is
moist to the touch.
Caring for Interior Plants
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Lighting:
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What is photosynthesis?
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It is the process of manufacturing food
Caring for Interior Plants
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What is Light Meters?
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small machines that measure illumination or
light. You can find these at florists, garden
centers and department stores.
Caring for Interior Plants
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Light Intensity requirements:
There are three groups, they are:
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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
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Artificial lighting;
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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
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Temperature:
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The recommended temperature for plants
indoors are between 50 degrees F to 85
degrees F.
Caring for Interior Plants
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Humidity:
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It is the percent of moisture in the air which
is an important factor to consider when
growing interior plants
Caring for Interior Plants
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Humidity:
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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.
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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
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Humidity:
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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
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Soil Mixture:
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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
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Fertilizers:
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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.
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