In this category we will consider all possible problems for the care of plants. Beginner a horticulturist must know the some rules for the care of houseplants. A violation of the norms leads to the appearance of pests and death of the plant.
Every problem of how to care for flowers, we shall consider in detail in the separate article.
The main difficulties arise when there is a violation of watering, lighting, room temperature does not correspond to the norm, the overuse or inadequate nutrition.
Let's look at the basic rules for the care because of their noncompliance leads to the death of plants.
When you need to buy the plants?
You can buy the plants at any time of year, but it is recommended to purchase in the warm season from the spring until the middle of autumn. It all depends on your climate.
If you buy the flowers in the cold season (especially when there is frost), then the time of acclimatization after the change of dwelling place is greatly increased.
Before buying on the surface of the leaves should not be insects. Externally, the flower must be healthy with no visible damage.
Put the pot separately from other plants for 2 weeks immediately after moving to a new location.
Maybe there are insect larvae on leaf surfaces, and you run the risk to infect all of your home garden.
At the end of the incubation period, place the pot on a cozy place, but it should not be too sunny.
Any plant is necessary gradually accustomed to the sunlight and no matter how well it can withstand direct sunlight.
After a while move it to closer to the source of daylight.
Lighting
Often, all houseplants prefer a large amount of the scattered of sunlight.
Direct sunlight can cause burns the leaves.
The brightest place in the apartment is windowsills, verandas, mansards. In private homes, there are winter gardens.
Choose the window from the south or north side, depending on the plant species and climate zone.
The trade-off for the majority of species is the location to the south-west and south-east.
For example cyclamen, billbergia, the lily, geranium, begonia blossom forever, the
Amaryllis, can tolerate direct sunlight without consequences.
The shady parties prefer palm, ficus, sansevieriya, philodendron, and dieffenbachia.
Citrus plants are partially maintained direct rays of the sun but you must accustom thereto gradually.
For example, room azalea, anthuriums, Saintpaulia to grow well in the room with a small amount of light.
Temperature
It is one of the important indicators of which is responsible for the successful growth of your flowers.
Temperature parameters have no special influence for the shrubs and trees which grow in the garden outdoors.
The ambient temperature significantly affects the growth and flowering for houseplants.
Each kind of has its own rules of temperatures in the summer and winter season. If the plant is expressed during dormancy in winter, the temperature is decreased to 60-65 F (16-18 degrees). This is particularly true of tropical and subtropical representatives.
There are some plants that need to create a sufficiently low temperature 43-54 F (6-12 degrees). Sometimes it's difficult to make at home.
For the flowers are very dangerous temperature fluctuations over a period of 46-54 F (8-12 degrees) at 24 hours.
Do not put the pot near a heat source or in a draft. These plants as a dieffenbachia, dracaena may lose leaves or even die.
The humidity in the room
Air humidity changes depending on the room temperature.
Humidity in the room is reduced if the temperature is low to avoid by rotting of the root system. With the coming of spring is increased the humidity.
Tropical plants prefer high humidity with obligatory spraying every day in the summer.
Use water for spraying without of lime for 35.5-40 F (2-4 degrees) above the environment.
The pot put on a pallet with the moist pebbles, expanded clay, or with moss to increase the humidity. Is also installed a decorative fountain in the room.
Rules of watering
Water the flower carefully. It depends from the species of plant. Some varieties prefer abundant watering, but with the beginning of cold weather watering is reduced.
There are indoor plants which are extremely dangerous surplus of moisture. This is a kind of cacti. There are watered moderately in hot period. In winter, watering is almost stopped, and only occasionally is moistened the soil.
Always must be a hole in the bottom of the pot for removing of excess moisture. Preliminary before planting in a pot is poured a layer of expanded clay as drainage.
Softened or purchased water is used for irrigation. You can use the rainy water.
For beginners gardeners there are a few recommendations:
- Soil is watered only after its drying of the upper layer.
- You must water only the soil and the water should not get on the leaves and flowers.
- Never water the cold water. The plant immediately discards the leaves.
- Spray only those species that need it. Details can be found in the instructions for each plant.
- The water should not stagnate in the pallet.
The plants that slow growth in the rest period are watered occasionally.
The mulberry species such as Ficus Benjamin completely stop growing in the winter and do not require watering.
Sometimes it is advisable to use the lower watering.
Fertilizing
All ornamental flowering plants need fertilizer, especially in the active growth period. During the period of rest, most of varieties are not fertilized.
Feeding is introduced according to the instruction for this type 1-4 times per month. You can use the mineral and organic matter.
Most of the fertilizers exists in a liquid state or is diluted in water for watering.
Specific norms for the fertilizers do not exist. For each type of plant it individually.
Be careful not to overdo it with the dose. Better to underfeed than overfeeding.
Transfer
Exists are a few rules when you need to transplant the plant.
- Flowering plants with fragile roots are transplanted every 3 years.
- All young plants are transplanted each year.
- Transplant is carried out as needed when the pot is too small for the root system.
- Sometimes doing only a partial replacement of topsoil.
- This procedure is performed from the beginning of March to April.
- Flower pot is selected on 2-3 cm (0.78-1.2 in) larger in diameter than the previous one. Too spacious flowerpots are not conducive for the growth of shoots.
- Before planting into a new ground, previously is laid on the bottom of the drainage. As of drainage is used expanded clay or gravel.
- Dry the roots you need to cut off and sprinkled with charcoal.
- Soil composition is selected in accordance with the instructions for a particular variety.
- Do not fill the pot the earth to the top. You need to leave to the upper edge (0.78 in) 2 cm.
- Liberally pour the bush after the procedure.
If you fail to comply with the above recommendations for the care of a plant, there is a great probability of occurrence of pests or diseases.
More about this is described in the sections the insects and struggle against them and diseases of ornamental plants.