Plant
Care - Choosing The Right Plant for the Right Place
Most plants are hybrids of plant species which grow wild
somewhere in the world. A good rule of thumb for good plant
care is to try to match the habitat they came from. You
may not be able to match their environment exactly, but every
factor you can match is a step in the right direction towards
keeping your plants healthy. Most house plants are comfortable in
the same temperatures we are. Coming from tropical climates, they
feel most at home in temperatures from 65º to 75º F.
Some, like cactus and succulents can tolerate much higher and lower
temperatures having evolved in desert climates with very high and
low temperature extremes. Proper plant care
requires that you take into consideration the place of origin of a
plant and try to match it to the micro-environment you are trying
fill. If the area is next to the oven or on a hot window sill, then
a desert plant such as an Aloe Vera will do well in the higher
temperatures and light that area of your home generally
experiences. If you are looking to fill a space in your bathroom,
where it will be moist and shady, think of a fern.
Finding the right plant for the right area is probably
the most important factor in ensuring proper plant
care and a healthy plant.
Plant Care - Light
All plants need light to grow, but the amount will vary by type.
Most will need moderate to high light, but only a few such as
cactus can tolerate direct sunlight. Plants can be grown using only
artificial light, but most will need some exposure to natural
sunlight to thrive. The natural sunlight will provide the full
spectrum of light needed to maintain all life-cycle processes. This
is particularly true for flowering varieties. Direct sun can be
very harsh on most plants, particularly when it is magnified
through window glass. Make sure you provide some filter for full
summer sun, either by pulling the shades or periodically moving the
plant out of the direct rays for proper plant
care. Most plants are generally classified according to
four basic light requirements: full sun, semi-sun, semi-shade and
shade.
Plant Care - Temperature
Temperature is key to a plant's growth since most will go
dormant if the temperature drops too low. When trying to find the
appropriate place for a plant, good plant care
suggests you take note not only of the "average" temperature of the
area, but also if the area gets frequent drafts, such as a doorway.
As a general rule, avoid placing plants too close to windows since
the air near the window can experience much higher or lower
temperatures than that of the rest of the room. Most plants can
generally tolerate a much larger variation in temperatures than
most people would expect. But if you think this might be the case,
you need to adjust your care accordingly. For example, if you
expect the temperature to be below the ideal range, such as in
winter, reduce the watering amount or frequency. If the temperature
will be higher than expected, give the plant additional water to
maintain humidity.
Plant Care - Moisture and Watering
Watering is probably the most problematic area of plant
care. Most people over water and this can quickly kill the
plant. Most plants should be kept moist but not wet and there are a
number of ways to provide the plant with water that do not involve
direct watering. The simplest way to maintain humidity is to mist
the plants regularly and to use a water-absorbing gel like AquaRocks. AquaRocks are great at keeping
soil moist and holding water after waterings. You're plants only
use the water when they need it. It's a great tool in your
plant care kit. When watering a particular plant,
you should pay attention to the variety, as some, like cyclamen
will benefit from bottom watering. Otherwise, watering from the top
will suit most plants just fine. Or you can use our AquaSpikes for direct root watering.
AquaSpikes are incredibly easy to use. You just screw them onto the
top of old two-liter plastic bottles, saw the bottom off the
bottle, and then sink the AquaSpikes into the soil. Fill the bottle
with water and liquid feed, and your watering is done for the next
few days or even longer. When used with AquaRocks, one application
can keep your soil moist for weeks! Now that's plant
care! Sink them into the soil just a little bit for quick
watering of shallow roots, or deeper for established plants, where
surface watering often has difficulty penetrating down to new
roots. You can set one in a plant and refill it in seconds with the
watering can as you "do the rounds" in your home.
Plant Care - Fertilizer and Feeding
There are a wide variety of fertilizer forms. Good plant
care includes the use of a balanced, non-burning
fertilizer. Try our award winning fertilizer, Algoflash, holder of over 28 Guinness
World Records! Ideal for plant care,
indoor
gardening and container gardening.
Algoflash works wonders for growing tomatoes and
growing roses.
Algoflash is a balanced fertilizer designed to deliver the 12
essential nutrients that plants need. It is non-burning and can be
used every time you water. It also maintains the basic pH level of
the soil so that the plant can consume all these nutrients.
Algoflash will not burn plants, making it perfect for hydroponics,
acid-loving plants, and plant care. Algoflash is
colorless and odorless. Unlike other blue fertilizers, this will
not stain.
To make your fertilizer more effective, use SoilSyrup.
SoilSyrup actually helps plants absorb
nutrients more effectively for better plant
care. You'll get more out of your fertilizer with
SoilSyrup.
For really amazing results with indoor plants try MegaGro. MegaGro is designed to trigger plant
growth, and by using MegaGro you can get plants to flower,
something that can be difficult with many varieties under indoor
conditions. MegaGro is a flexible, multi-purpose solution that will
benefit nearly all species and varieties of plants. For most
ornamental plants, simply use the MegaGro spray as formulated in
your plant care routine to increase the size,
height and leaf area for better plant care.
Plant Care - Soil
Many experts will tell you to refresh the soil in your plants
every year. To make sure your plants have good soil to grow in, we
suggest you add SoilSyrup to your everyday plant
care. With SoilSyrup, there's no need to go through
the hassle and mess of changing potting soil, simply add SoilSyrup
every time you water for healthier soil and better indoor gardening,
container gardening, and plant
care. It's that easy. Organic SoilSyrup is the most
concentrated organic material available for improved plant growth
and soil improvement. SoilSyrup's rich organic makeup is ideal for
boosting the humus levels of soil. SoilSyrup
is a must-have for good plant care of soil in
potted plants and container gardening.
SoilSyrup is incredibly beneficial for improving the growth of all
plants and quickly revitalizing soils.
Download our Guide
to Houseplant Care (pdf 27k)
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