Transcript AG-NL-01.470-11.1p Houseplant Care

Houseplants
Modified by Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum
Office
August 2008
June, 2002
Caring for
houseplants
Watering
signs of improper watering
drooping leaves - lack of
water
August 2008
Watering
If yellowing of
the leaves occur
- too much water
August 2008
Methods of Watering
drench and let
dry
drench and let
dry slightly
keep media
constantly moist
August 2008
Temperature
August 2008
recommended
temperature
50-85 F daytime
night - drop 10-15
below daytime temp
locate plants away
from airconditioners and
drafts
Lighting
natural or artificial
measured in foot
candles
direct sun
partial shade or weak
sun - less than 50%
natural sun light
August 2008
Lighting
indirect or
filtered light - no
direct sun light
August 2008
Artificial Lighting
root cuttings more
easily
start seeds
grow tropical
plants with greater
ease
August 2008
Humidity
% of moisture in the air
varies with seasons
low in the winter
August 2008
Increase humidity by:
spraying with fine mist
fill water tight tray with water
and pea gravel, set containers
in it
August 2008
Increase humidity by:
use a
humidifier
place plants in
the part of the
house with the
highest
humidity
August 2008
Fertilizers
slow release
small beads
applied to the
soil
nutrients are
steadily
released
August 2008
Fertilizers - slow
release
plant absorbs nutrients as
needed
avoids over feeding
August 2008
Soluble fertilizer
liquid or
solid
dissolved in
water before
applying
August 2008
Soil Mixture
varies with each plant
organic matter helps to
improve water holding capacity
perlite helps to keep the mix
loose and easily drained
August 2008
Containers
drainage should
be available
use well drained
soil mix
put saucer under
pot to protect
furniture from
water
August 2008
Potting plants
select
appropriate
container
and soil mix
provide drainage
- put rocks or put
shards in the
bottom of
container
August 2008
Potting plants
add potting mix to cover rocks
place plant in to check soil
level
should be 1/2 inch below top
of pot
August 2008
Potting plants
fill remainder of container
with media
August 2008
Repotting
repot plants when they
become root bound
if roots are growing around
the root ball
roots appear at the top of soil
August 2008
Repotting
separate
roots to allow
re-growth
If plant is
blooming, wait
until after
flowering is
completed
August 2008
Repotting
select pot or container of
the next larger size than the
one the plant was planted in.
August 2008
General Care
leaves
clean occasionally with a
fine spray of water
wipe top and underside of
leaves
August 2008
Leaves
helps to remove dust
and insects
do not use leaf shine
products
clogs the stomates
makes it hard for
plants to breathe
August 2008
Disease and Insects
control pests by recognizing
and controlling them on the
plant
August 2008
Common plant pests
aphids
white flies
mealy bugs
mites
scale
August 2008
Aphids
small green insects with
piercing mouths
called plant lice
suck plant juices from the
plant
August 2008
Aphids
work on stem and underside
of leaves
leaves become sticky with
“honey-dew”
causes growth of black sooty
mold
August 2008
Aphids
leaves curl, disfigure, turn
yellow
use Orthene
August 2008
White Fly
small white, winged, sucking
insects
works on underside of leaves
August 2008
White Fly
heavy egg producers
infestation can occur quickly
eggs laid on underside of
plant leaves
August 2008
White Fly
cause plant to turn yellow
have mottled appearance spotty
White Flies will leave the
plant when the leaves are
moved
August 2008
Mealy Bugs
white , woolly mass, like a
ball of cotton
sucking insect
works on the underside of
the leaves
August 2008
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
Control with Orthane
August 2008
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
August 2008
Mites
hold a white piece of paper
under leaf and tap the leaves
look for spider like insects
moving on the paper
August 2008
Mites
wipe across the paper with
your finger
if mites are present, there
will be a red smear
control with Kelthane or
Orthane
August 2008
Scale
when mature, attack stems in
a cluster
small white gray lumps - oval
shape
plant turns yellow, loses vigor
August 2008
Scale
sticky sap appearance on
plant
remove with soapy water
spray with Malathion or
Orthane
August 2008
Botrytis
common disease
leaves turn black and develop
a gray mold and will eventually
rot off
August 2008
Botrytis
provide good
air circulation
use a
fungicide Benlate
August 2008
Mildew
common disease
leaves get a heavy white
coating
fungicide - Benlate
August 2008
Insecticides
can be purchased in most
stores
read the label for applications
and directions
August 2008