The temperature for indoor plants should be on average 75 degrees during the daylight hours and 60 to 65 degrees at night.  This temperature range will vary but this is the most common.  Indoor plants don’t like drafts and    placing them in a sunny window is not always a good spot for them, if you do place them there rotate them every day or so, so that all sides receive sunlight.  Plants experience different temperature changes when you have them in a window; they get sun by day but suffer the cold from the window at night.

During the winter most homes tend to be drier than normal and many plants aren’t tolerant to the extra dryness. With the exception of the “African Violet” most plants can take a good misting on the driest days of winter, otherwise use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe their leaves every week or two; this is also an easy way to remove dust build up on them.  Use a potting soil that is specifically for houseplants, it will generally be well draining, correctly blended and balanced with the right amount of nutrients and acid Ph levels.  Since potting soil looses minerals over a period of time, re-potting or replacing  the top layer of soil every few years is a good idea.

Because they grow slower, indoor plants need less fertilization, so when you fertilize use a balanced slow released fertilizer for indoor plants and then only fertilize every two or three weeks. Learn something about your houseplants before you purchase them, the small plant stakes stuck inside the pot is a good source for the information, it will tell you how and when to water and what and how much to feed in most cases.

Most plants love a good soaking, so apply water to the plant to the point that it drains out of the bottom openings, this will also get rid of any excess fertilizer.  Let the soil become almost dry before watering again.  If at all possible use distilled water to water your plants with; many people don’t realize that regular tap water sometimes contains excess salt and chlorine.  If you must use tap water let the water set out for a few days and the extra chlorine will dissipate, and then generously water plants.

[tags]Houseplant Care]

Plants can use practically all the light that is generated from an LED light because they need no special ventilation, have a longer life period have low power consumption and are high efficiency.  The balance of the red and blue spectrums, the two colors needed most by plants for growth and fruit production is controlled by you giving you the best results and allowing your plants to thrive.

The versatility of these lights have proven extremely effective when growing lettuces, tomatoes, parsley and basil because they won’t burn young seedlings, they are quite easy to use and are affordable.   Some of the advantages are that these lights have a reduce heat output, they reduce power consumption, they cut maintenance costs, they  will work with your existing  lighting  grow light system and being a Full Spectrum light they can be placed as close as 3 inches from your plants without burning them.

When you are using these lights if you reduce the distance between the light and the plant by one-half, it will increase the intensity of the light reaching the plant by 4 times. If you choose to increase the lighting with a blue spectrum light will produce sturdier seedlings and you will have less long leggy plants.  Leafy crops such as lettuce will have an increase in yield at the end of the growing cycle if you use an all red bulb, however red and blue to close to your plant can cause poor growth so a good distance from the lighting is usually 12 to 14 inches away.

To get more for your dollar and have an abundance of hearty, healthy fresh winter vegetables add an LED grow light system to your existing system or create a new full spectrum system.

[tags]LED Grow Lights]

Natural sunlight has a variety of colors that range from red and yellow to violet to blue hues, the same colors that are found in your average rainbow.  Since some plants will require a different color of light, intensity and time spent under the light itself,  when selecting these types of lighting systems be sure and select a system that is best suited for your home.  Plants use all these different variations of color to grow and produce buds and fruit, although some will do better with more of a certain color of light.

Selecting the right type of bulb(s) that your plants will need is extremely important.  Wattage is determined by the bulb(s) that you buy which will determine how much intensity of light the plant will receives and the closeness to the light itself because  some colors of light have a different intensity.  Basically all this means is that your Tropical Plants and your houseplants such as Ivy and Philodendrons will not require a high intensity bulb as your flowering plant such as Orchids would, however if you are growing fruit producing vegetables, they will need a High Intensity light to bud, flower and produce fruit.

Whatever type of plant that you decide to grow inside, remember that they will need rest also because resting time and growing time affects their growth rates and the setting of their buds and fruit.  The majority of vegetables are known as what’s called Long Day Plants, meaning they will need at least 14 to 18 hours of light each day.  The wrong lighting or too much lighting will cause them to become long, pale and leggy with poor fruit production.  The type of bulb(s) and where you use them should depend on what types of plant you are growing.

Of the three types of Indoor Growing Lights Incandescent, Fluorescent and High Intensity Discharge Bulbs, each has its own benefit to the plants.  Incandescent bulbs are a good source of “red light” but don’t supply enough source of “blue light” and if the plants are place to close to the bulb, they can be burned.  Halogen bulbs become even hotter and will surely scorch and burn the foliage.

Fluorescent Bulbs will produce 3 x’s more light than incandescent bulbs and they are less expensive to use for indoor gardening.

The Cool White Bulbs are a good source for “blue and yellow light” however plants that are grown under them will probably be stunted.

Warm White Bulbs have an “orange and red” spectrum, both beneficial to the plants growth  If you decide to use a two bulb lighting fixture, to achieve a good color balance combine one cool white bulb and one  warm white bulb.

Full Spectrum Fluorescent Bulbs will give you light that are most similar to natural sunlight and will be the best for houseplants, herbs and other plants.

Whatever bulb you decide on remember that you will still need to rotate your plants weekly, replace your fluorescent bulbs when you notice the ends darkening, and clean your lights at least once a month.

To determine if your plants are to close to the light simply place your hand on the foliage where the light hits it and if your hand feels warm then your plants are to close.

Growing indoor plants or an indoor garden is not as hard as one would think.  Once you pick your spot in the house, choose your lighting then select your plants it won’t be long before you will be enjoying fresh herbs and vegetables all year around.

For more information on Indoor Growing Bulbs & Lighting go to www.gardens.com

[tags] Artificial Lighting for Plants]

Leaf Drop “drooping leaves” are another common house plant problem commonly caused by an over exposure to cold or drafts, over fertilizing or to much sun.  You should stop fertilizing for three to four weeks and move the plant to a window with a little less sun and check the rooms’ temperature and for drafts also the cold from the window at night.

Yellow or Brown Spots means too much water or sun and the soil should be checked for moisture, if it’s too wet let it dry out some before the next watering and then move to an area a little less sunny.  If the leaves are turning brown then yellowing this may be from several causes, the most common is not enough or too much water or even over fertilization. A re-potting with fresh soil, and holding off on fertilizing for a month or so will generally do the trick, water only when the plant has become completely dry  and avoiding too much sun,

Dry brittle leaves means that your home does not have enough humidity and your plants are not getting enough water.  A good misting of the leaves and a good soaking of the plant itself is a quick fix for this.  Soak the plant by watering it until the water runs out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot, misting can be done with a sprayer or simply wiping the leaves down with a cloth or sponge, this is also a good way to get some of the dust off the leaves, bringing their shine back.

Most house-plants are slow to grow, generally from too little light, water or fertilization.  House plants however don’t need a lot of fertilizer, when you do fertilize with a slow release fertilizer and extra light can be given by moving the plant to a sunnier location or adding a grow light above it for the extra light it needs.

[tags]   Common  Houseplant Problems/tags]

Philodendrons’ require a low light level which gives them the ability to grow easily in hanging baskets or just placed in pots and placed  practically anywhere in the home.  If your home is particularly dry in the winter mist your plants using a mister or just wiping them down with a soft damp cloth or sponge, this will also rid the plant of dust that has accumulated on the leaves and bring back the shine on their leaves.

Philodendrons are practically disease free but occasionally mites or insect can bother them, especially if you have brought plants in from the outside or new ones into the home.  A simple wiping down with insecticidal soap with a damp cloth will keep the problem to a minimum or get rid of it altogether.  This is one house plant that can be grown outside, if you do transplant it  outside do it after the danger of the last late frost has passed and bring it back inside before the first frost of the fall.

Philodendrons propagate easily,  just snip of small sections of the vine and begin rooting in an inch or more of water, when roots have developed, transplant into a pot filled with rich moist potting soil, being careful not to let the soil dry out, after the plant is well established, begin fertilizing  at every two or three week intervals.

[tags]   Philodendron Houseplants, Indoor Houseplants/tags]

Spider plants love rich well draining potting soil, but not “wet” soil and when fertilized every two to four weeks they will grow exceptionally well in a low light condition.  They do however benefit from a sunny window twice a week or so but the like most other plants do not like drafts or the cold.

Spider plants propagation is relatively easy because they send out shoots or stalks and on the end are baby spider plants.  All you need do is remove the baby spider plant and root it in water until they reach an inch or so then just transplant into a pot or container that is filled with a rich well draining potting soil.

As the roots begin to become bound (set into) to the soil the new plant will begin to produce baby spider plants of its own.  For this reason they should not be transplanted into too large of a container.

Many people who have never grown houseplants have discovered that not only do they help keep the air clean during those long cold days of winter, but that they also provide and added beauty to your home.  Once you start growing indoor houseplants, you will always want to have some hanging in windows or on display.

[tags]   Spider Plant Houseplants/tags]

]]> http://www.gardentoolguru.com/the-low-maintenance-spider-plant/feed/ 0 http://www.gardentoolguru.com/giving-good-winter-care-to-your-houseplants/ http://www.gardentoolguru.com/giving-good-winter-care-to-your-houseplants/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:10:14 +0000 admin http://www.gardentoolguru.com/?p=144 If you grow plants indoors, more than likely they are a variety of houseplants, and houseplant need good care just as those grown outdoors. 

Most houseplants need less sunlight than those grown outdoors but they do need sunlight.  If your home is not particularly sunny an artificial light sometimes referred to as a “grow light” will provide the needed extra light.

Due to some conditions of your house some plants will grow slower than others and some will even go dormant during late fall and early winter.

The temperature for indoor plants should be on average 75 degrees during the daylight hours and 60 to 65 degrees at night. This temperature range will vary but this is the most common.

Indoor plants don’t like drafts and    placing them in a sunny window is not always a good spot for them, if you do place them there rotate them every day or so that all sides receive sunlight.  Plants experience different temperature changes when you have them in a window; they get sun by day but suffer the cold from the window at night.

During the winter most homes tend to be drier than normal and many plants aren’t tolerant to the extra dryness.  With the exception of the “African Violet” most plants can take a good misting on the driest days of winter, otherwise use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe their leaves every week or two; this is also an easy way to remove dust build up on them.

Use a potting soil that is specifically for houseplants, it will generally be well draining, correctly blended and balanced with the right amount of nutrients and acid Ph levels. Since potting soil looses minerals over a period of time, re-potting or replacing  the top layer  of soil every few years is a good idea.

Because they grow slower, indoor plants need less fertilization, so when you fertilize use a balanced slow released fertilizer for indoor plants and then only fertilize every two or three weeks. 

Learn something about your houseplants before you purchase them, the small plant stakes stuck inside the pot is a good source for the information, it will tell you how and when to water and what and how much to feed in most cases.

Most plants love a good soaking, so apply water to the plant to the point that it drains out of the bottom openings, this will also get rid of any excess fertilizer.

Let the soil become almost dry before watering again.  If at all possible use distilled water to water your plants with; many people don’t realize that regular tap water sometimes contains excess salt and chlorine.  If you must use tap water let the water set out for a few days and the extra chlorine will dissipate, and then generously water plants.

Technorati Tags: How To  Take Good Care of Your Houseplants

I have received so many questions in regards to the care of your houseplants that within the next couple of days I will be posting articles  on the subject and for several weeks after that on how to care for certain types, with a special emphasis on a fun plant for that little gardener to grow .

Until then,

Ms Eudora