When choosing a houseplant, we always pay attention to the appearance of leaves and flowers, shape. But each plant has its own individual energy, affecting the human condition.
A beautiful indoor plant is, first of all, proper care and maintenance. Even small errors in care can lead to brown dry spots or drying out of the tips or edges of the leaves.
The temperature and humidity in the room also play an important role. And so that your flowers grow beautifully, magnificently and please the eye - listen to the advice of experienced florists!
Water is the main basis for the life of all plants. For each type of plant, watering should be individual.
Also, indoor plants must be fed if you want beautiful flowering and lush foliage.
- Sugar. The most natural way of fertilizers, for top dressing of indoor flowers. Sugar breaks down into glucose and fructose. It is glucose that does wonders.
It is the source of energy for all plant life processes. To prepare such top dressing, you need to dilute 1 tbsp. a spoonful of sugar in 0.5, a liter of water, or simply sprinkle the ground with sugar in a pot, and then pour.
- Castor oil. Ideal for flowering plants. You will need 1 teaspoon of castor oil per 1 liter of water. When using castor oil: plants grow faster, bloom beautifully and do not get sick.
- Wood ash. Florists recommend it for the prevention of plant diseases. The most common way to use ash is to add it to a liquid.
Not a large amount, usually 100-150 grams of wood ash is diluted in a bucket of water, mixed and watering is ready. Apply ash no more than 1 time per month.
- Pomegranate peels or any citrus fruits. It is also a healing and wonderful top dressing. We take the crusts of any citrus fruits and fill them with water, leave it to brew for a day, and water it.
- Aspirin. Every two months, an aspirin tablet is added to the irrigation water. One tablet per liter of water.
If this condition is met, then the plants will be resistant to diseases, and their leaves will have a rich green color.
In addition, the growth rate will also increase.
- Aloe juice. It is a biogenic stimulant of plant origin. It is an ideal natural growth stimulator for plants. The use of aloe juice will help grow a strong and beautiful plant in a short time.
Preparation: dilute one teaspoon of juice in one and a half liters of water.
- Milk. Milk is recommended not only for watering (1 teaspoon per 1 liter of water). You can also wipe the leaves with a solution of milk and water in a ratio of 1:10.
After wetting a cotton pad with the prepared liquid, wipe the leaves once a week. The leaves will shine, giving their beauty and freshness.
In order for indoor plants to bloom and develop, it is necessary to carry out a regular transplant.
When transplanting plants receive nutrients, and when replacing the earth - the development of the root system. Spring is the best time to transplant.
For successful cultivation of indoor crops, proper watering is one of the most important conditions.
Indoor flowers can be a great decoration for your home, but only if you provide them with the right care. Growing and caring for indoor plants is different from outdoor cultivation. In order for your indoor flowers to constantly delight you with fresh greens, you need to provide them with optimal temperature, humidity and lighting.
In this article, you will learn how to properly grow and care for indoor plants, and examples of some popular home flowers will help you master this process.
Indoor plants are able to decorate and transform any interior. In order for them to delight you with greenery and flowers all year round, you need to follow certain rules for growing and caring for them.
First of all, home crops need a stable temperature regime (20 degrees in winter and 23 degrees in summer). The battery regulator will help maintain it in winter, and in summer it is necessary to regularly ventilate the room.
Note: Tropical species, like any other, should not be grown in a hot room. If lowering the temperature is not possible, provide high humidity to compensate for evaporating moisture.
Tropical flowers need care that replicates natural conditions. For example, arrange an artificial season of rains and droughts. The rainy period can be reproduced by intensive watering, and during the drought (from October to March), watering is significantly reduced. Other species also need to provide conditions that are as close as possible to the natural change of seasons, reducing or increasing watering, humidity levels and daylight hours.
All varieties need to provide a period of vegetative dormancy. During this time, they accumulate nutrients. To do this, reduce watering and stop fertilizing and fertilizing. As a rule, the period of vegetative dormancy falls on the winter months. However, if the room is too cold, the temperature must be raised artificially, using induction heaters or conventional batteries. They smoothly increase the temperature, do not dry out the air and do not cause leaf burns.
Note: You can not use heated floors, as they dry the air very much and the flowers in such a room will die. If there is no other heating option, the leaves should be sprayed with water daily.
Regular ventilation will help to reduce the temperature. But it is important to ensure that there is no draft in the room: intense air movement will lead to frostbite of the leaves and the death of crops. To reduce the temperature, you can use a fan running at low speed.
Peculiarities
Indoor flowers, especially tropical ones, are very sensitive to the level of humidity in the air. The use of heaters and other heating devices greatly dries the air, so the flowers need to be provided with additional moisture (Figure 1):
- Place the pot in a large pot, covering the bottom with a layer of expanded clay. You need to water as usual. The layer of water under expanded clay should not reach the bottom of the pot;
- The space between the walls of the pot and the cache-pot can be filled with moss or peat, constantly maintaining its moisture by regular spraying;
- Place a container of water near a fireplace or other open fire;
- Put a small decorative fountain that will not only decorate the room, but also saturate it with the necessary moisture;
- Spray the leaves regularly on both sides. But this method of increasing humidity can only be used for crops with hard, dense leaves. Varieties with thin decorative leaves from such a procedure can get sick with a fungus.
Figure 1. Common ways to increase air humidity The most modern device for increasing the humidity in the room is a saturator. This is a container that is filled with water and hung on a battery. Moisture gradually evaporates, humidifying the air.
Rules
Without regular watering, flowers begin to get thirsty and use their own reserves to replenish moisture. For example, species with dense leaves, tubers, bulbs or thick stems can exist on their own reserves for a month, but varieties with thin stems and leaves die quickly due to lack of watering.
The first sign of a lack of moisture is yellowing and wilting of the leaves. If this happens, the earthen lump must be well wetted.
The intensity of watering depends on the time of year, ambient temperature and variety:
- In April-September, at an air temperature of 20 degrees, watering is carried out twice a week;
- At temperatures above 24 degrees, the frequency of watering is increased and moisture is replenished once every two to three days;
- From October to March, most flowers are in a state of vegetative dormancy and only need to be watered once a week;
- If the temperature is below 15 degrees, water is added once every two weeks.
If it is too hot in summer, watering is carried out daily, but in small portions. To do this, it is better to use rainwater collected in the countryside. City rainwater is not suitable, as it contains many harmful impurities.
But most often ordinary tap water is used for irrigation. Since it contains a lot of chlorine and lime, you need to add the juice of half a lemon to 10 liters of water and let it stand overnight.
Note: Azaleas, gardenias and orchids need soft water, so tap water should not be used to water them. It is better to collect rain or soften water with lemon.
As a rule, crops are watered from above so that the substrate is saturated with moisture. But if the variety is prone to fungal diseases, it is better to put the pot in a pan with water. Cuttings or seedlings are watered by spraying so as not to disturb the substrate in which the culture takes root. Figure 2 shows the main methods of watering.
- Indoor crops should not be watered with cold water. Fill the watering can in advance and let the liquid stand so that it warms up to room temperature;
- If you will be away for several days, place the pots on a felt mat. Dip the end of the mat into a sink filled with water. Water the flowers well, and then they will absorb water from a damp rug;
- In rural areas, flowerpots can be exposed to warm light rain. This is especially true of ferns, ficuses and other species with large leaves;
- After watering, be sure to remove excess water from the pan;
- If the flower is watered too much, keep the tray full and pour water out of it. However, if the substrate begins to smell like mold, it must be changed so that the plant does not die.
Figure 2. The main ways to water flowers in the house It also happens that you urgently need to restore a wilted flower. To do this, the pot is placed in a container of water. As soon as air bubbles stop coming to the surface, the pot is removed, as this means that the substrate is completely saturated. In the future, water the flowers regularly, but do not let the water stagnate in the pan.
The substrate in the pot gradually loses the nutrients necessary for the growth of flowers. Therefore, indoor crops need regular feeding.
Practical tips for fertilizing such(picture 3):
- Liquid products are used for all varieties. They need to be applied to the ground every two weeks during the period of active growth (from April to September);
- Special fertilizer candles are simply stuck into the substrate, and the substance gradually dissolves, nourishing the roots;
- Granular fertilizers spread on the surface of the earth. They dissolve within a year during watering;
- Spray fertilizers are suitable for orchids and crops with brittle roots.
Figure 3. The main types of fertilizers: 1 - liquid, 2 - granular, 3 - nutrient sticks (candles) Standard fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other trace elements are considered universal. Standard fertilizers are divided into two types: for flowering and non-flowering varieties. In addition, there are separate substances for citrus fruits, tree crops, cacti, etc.
When fertilizing, you must follow the dosage indicated by the manufacturer on the package. Exceeding the dose can adversely affect the condition of the flower, since its roots will not be able to fully assimilate the applied top dressing.
Regular pruning helps not only to remove excess branches to preserve the silhouette of the flower, but also to stimulate its growth. Indoor crops are pruned infrequently, removing excess or damaged shoots, dried and diseased leaves. But with potted crops, you need to be very careful, accompanying pruning with intensive feeding, maintaining optimal temperature and watering.
As a rule, pruning is carried out during vegetative dormancy (in winter) or immediately after flowering. When carrying out the operation, you must first of all be guided by common sense, removing only damaged, diseased or ugly shoots and leaves. The exception is decorative bonsai trees, which are pruned more carefully, forming a crown of a special shape. They also periodically, once every 3-4 years, carry out defoliation. This is a special procedure during which all the old leaves are removed, and the new ones will be smaller. Since such pruning is a great stress for the plant, it is often not recommended.
Note: Proper pruning stimulates growth, and in combination with good fertilizer accelerates flowering.
Large and bulbous crops can be cut off completely (the entire above-ground part) so that the plant throws out new strong shoots. It is important that stemless or rosette varieties should not be pruned at all (for example, achimenes, clivia, primrose, etc.). It is strictly impossible to cut palm trees, as they grow at the expense of the apical bud. It is also important to remove wilted buds of flowering species to stimulate the formation of new ones. The procedure is best done with scissors so that the cut is even. You will learn the details of pruning from the video (using the example of a Chinese rose).
Growing indoor plants involves daily care for them. They need not only to be regularly watered and fed, but also cut, dusted and sprayed.
Helpful daily care tips(picture 4):
- Periodically, the leaves of flowers need to be cleaned of dust. To do this, use a soft cloth, sponge or brush. For crops with small leaves, regular spraying will suffice.
- The brown tips of the leaves must be cut off, leaving a small piece of dry leaf so that living tissues do not come into contact with air. The appearance of brown tips means that the air in the room is too dry.
- In order for tall varieties to begin branching, they need to be cut regularly, stimulating the growth of side shoots.
- Tall species should be sprayed daily if the temperature rises above 20 degrees. The upper layers of the air are hotter than the lower ones, and without additional moisture, the plant may die.
- In summer, indoor crops can be taken out into the garden or placed under light and warm rain.
Figure 4. Daily care: 1 - dust removal, 2 - pruning, 3 - fertilizer, 4 - watering With proper care, most species can live in the house for many years, but be sure to repot them in a more nutritious substrate and larger containers. More detailed information about the daily care of plants - in the video.
Growing indoor plants
Growing indoor flowers begins with planting new seedlings or transplanting existing ones. Before transplanting, select a substrate that is suitable for your crops. For example, cacti need soil that passes water well, and ferns need soil with a minimum lime content.
Transplantation is best done in the spring, when the plant wakes up from vegetative dormancy and begins to actively develop. During this period, the flowers take root better and grow faster. In addition, it is better to immediately move newly purchased crops to the new nutrient substrate, which have little space in the old pot.
- You can not change the substrate for a plant that has begun to bloom, because in this case it will drop the buds;
- When transplanting, you need to carefully examine the root system. If she has strayed into a tight ball, then the culture is cramped in a pot. Pick up a larger container, buy a nutrient substrate and untangle the roots;
- A week before transplanting, it is better to minimize watering;
- An earthen ball is carefully removed from the old pot and moved to a new one. A drainage layer (expanded clay or gravel) is laid at the bottom of the tank, and the free space is filled with nutrient soil;
- The soil needs to be compacted and watered.
Figure 5. Stages of transplanting houseplants Flowering species (such as azalea) are transplanted annually so that the crop receives enough nutrients from the soil. Large flowerpots that grow slowly are transplanted every few years.
Signs of a necessary transplant are:
- Falling of the substrate along the edges of the pot or the appearance of white stains on the surface of the soil;
- Loss of capacity stability;
- Water doesn't absorb well. This means that the roots have occupied the entire pot;
- The culture has significantly slowed down or stopped growing.
For large crops that are difficult or impossible to get out of the pot, only the upper part of the substrate is changed. This procedure can be carried out up to two times a year, removing the maximum amount of earth from the tank and replacing it with more nutritious one.
In the future, some plants may need supports. These are vertical columns, to which species with fragile and weaving stems are tied. Crops that grow in width need to be tied with nets or trellises. As a rule, the support is installed when the plant is still young.
There is a wide choice of supports on the modern market: in the form of columns, arches, bamboo sticks or columns covered with moss. All of them are suitable for climbing plants, but when choosing a support, care should be taken that it is not too noticeable in a pot or performs a decorative function. Popular types of supports are shown in Figure 6.
Note: Bamboo sticks are considered one of the best. They are easy to bend, almost invisible and suitable for most cultures. However, for large and heavy plants, it is better to pick up posts made of plastic and metal.
Species with aerial roots should buy supports covered with artificial or natural moss. They not only perform a supporting and decorative function, but also play the role of a substrate, providing the plant with additional nutrition. But for this, the moss must be regularly moistened by watering or spraying from above.
It is better to tie the plant to the support with soft threads or ropes that will not damage the stems. For this purpose, raffia is well suited - moss, which gives a special look to the African palm.
Indoor plants, like outdoor crops, bloom at a certain time. But there are those that cease to exist after flowering (for example, an azalea or a banana). For most potted crops, the full vegetative cycle lasts a year, and includes the time of active growth, flowering and vegetative dormancy.
The formation of buds directly depends on the degree of illumination. For example, to provoke the flowering of cyclamen, azaleas or primrose, it is enough to rearrange them in a shaded place for several days. On the contrary, crops that are covered with buds in summer require a long daylight hours, which can be provided with artificial lighting.
Figure 6. Supports for tying climbing plants Plants bloom for procreation, which is required only if the culture is in uncomfortable conditions. Therefore, if you want the culture to bud faster, do not try to provide it with absolutely suitable conditions for growth.
Peculiarities
The choice of dishes for plants is very diverse. Indoor flowers can be planted in pots, clay bowls, vases, bowls, planters or even wicker baskets (Figure 7). All dishes for plants are divided into two types:
- Growing containers with holes in the bottom;
- Decorative dishes without holes (pots). It can be placed on furniture without fear that water will leak after watering.
Despite the fact that decorative tableware is very beautiful, it has one significant drawback. Due to the lack of a hole in the bottom, excess water will accumulate in the tank. If they are not drained after each watering, the roots of the plant will begin to rot.
Figure 7. A variety of pots and planters for indoor plants It is very simple to determine this: the leaves of the flower first turn brown, and then completely wither.
Growware with a hole can also serve a decorative function. It is made of colored clay, varnished, enameled or painted. Under such containers, it is imperative to put a tray in which residual water accumulates. To prevent the development of fungus on the roots of plants, excess liquid from the pan must also be drained regularly.
Dishes for indoor plants should be the right size, which depends on the type of plant:
- Most indoor flowers feel great in small containers, tightly wrapping their roots around an earthen ball;
- For palm trees and other plants with large leaves, it is better to choose large deep pots;
- Low plants with lush leaves feel better in low and wide containers.
On average, the optimal height of the pot should be one third of the height of the entire plant (including its root system). The correct diameter of the dish should be 2/3 of its height.
Note: The higher the plant, the deeper the pot should be, and if the flower is branched, you need to select the widest possible container for it.
It is also important to follow the rules for choosing a pot when transplanting young plants that have just begun to develop. With each transplant, you need to select a container whose size will be 2-3 times larger than the previous one. When transplanting an adult plant, the pots can be the same size, since the main purpose of such a transplant is to change the old substrate to a more fertile one. Tall plants are best planted in plastic pots. They are much lighter than clay ones and easier to move. Pots for planting tall plants can not be used.
Attention should be paid to the stability of the pot. Since indoor flowers grow asymmetrically and stretch their leaves towards the light, the pots must be wide at the bottom and heavy so that the weight of the container itself matches the weight of the leaning plant. You can add some sand to the substrate to make the dishes heavier and more stable.
Note: You can plant several plants in one pot. This will make it easier to take care of them. But you should select flowers with the same requirements for watering, lighting and temperature (for example, cacti of different types). In addition, plants need to be planted at some distance so that they do not interfere with each other's development.
When choosing a pot, pay attention to the water tank (Figure 8). It should have a grill with exhaust wicks or cloth. The fabric will absorb water and moisture will gradually rise to an earthy coma. The flower should stand on the grid until the substrate absorbs enough water. It is important not to leave the plant in a water tank for a long time, as the soil in contact with moisture will turn into dirt, the roots will begin to rot and the plant will die. But containers like these are a great way to store indoor flowers if you need to be away for a few weeks or just don't have enough time to water them regularly. Using a similar container, water is poured into it, and not onto the surface of the soil in a pot.
Note: The tank does not need to be constantly filled with water. Wait until all the liquid is absorbed into the ground, take a week break and only then re-water.
Cacti and orchids cannot be grown in containers with a water tank, as they are especially demanding on watering conditions. It also happens that the roots of the plant protrude beyond the drainage hole. This means that it is time to transplant the flower. Carefully remove it from the container, cut off dry and brown roots and move the plant to a larger pot.
Figure 8. Trays for collecting excess water The presence of a drainage hole is a prerequisite, since with their help excess moisture is removed from the pot. If not, just drill a hole with a drill.
Pots deserve special attention. With their help, you can hide or decorate simple but reliable pots for indoor plants.
The main differences between planters and pots include:
- There is no drainage hole in the planter, as it is put on top of the main container with the substrate;
- Excess water after watering from the pots must be drained;
- Using a planter can help increase indoor humidity levels. If the house is hot, just pick up a pot a few centimeters larger than the pot and place wet expanded clay or moss between the walls of the containers.
The planter helps in the cultivation of climbing plants, since it is possible to install a support in it without sticking it into the substrate. You can also make a flower pot yourself, using metal or any other containers of the original design for this. For example, modern metal tea or cookie boxes are perfect for growing cacti.
When choosing a planter, be guided by the type of plants that will be grown in it:
- For blooming, it is better to choose a flowerpot of a simple design that will not drown out the beauty of the flower itself;
- Plants with dense foliage without flowers require additional decoration, so choose bright pots or products with decorative molding for them.
Hanging pots and baskets are used to grow orchids and ampelous plants. With their help, you can decorate a balcony, cornices or tall furniture. The only disadvantage of such dishes is that they use a porous lining. It does not retain moisture well, so the plants will have to be watered more often, but in small portions. When growing climbing plants next to a hanging pot, you need to stretch the threads, fishing line or wire so that the branches are arranged nicely.
If you are planning to grow indoor plants yourself, you will need a mini greenhouse. It can be any large glass vessel in which it is easy to maintain the desired level of temperature and humidity. As a mini-greenhouse, plastic containers covered with a glass lid are also used.
An important element of the full growth of indoor plants is the use of the correct substrate. The soil for indoor flowers is selected especially carefully, since it is from it that they receive moisture and the necessary nutrients. In nature, the soil is constantly exposed to environmental factors that change its composition.
In a pot, the composition of the soil is stable, so it is important to monitor which elements are included in the substrate:
- The earth must be dense enough for the plant to take root;
- At the same time, a high-quality substrate retains water well, nourishing the roots;
- But it is important to ensure that the soil does not turn into dirt, as this can cause the flower to rot.
One of the components of the soil is humus - a substance that is formed during the decomposition of organic matter. Expanded clay is also added to the ground for indoor plants - a neutral porous material that acts as a drainage. Sometimes expanded clay is laid out on the surface of the substrate to hide salt deposits. In addition, expanded clay can be used to maintain moisture levels. To do this, it is poured into a pan and filled with water.
Flowers bought in modern stores sometimes contain small white polystyrene balls in the soil, which lighten the soil and make it more porous.
In order for indoor plants to grow normally, you need to properly prepare the ground for them:
- The best soil is ordinary garden soil, but it needs to be cultivated and fertilized regularly. From such soil, you must first remove all weeds and their roots, as well as small stones or other foreign objects. Do not use land treated with herbicides. You also need to make sure that there are no living organisms in the soil (for example, earthworms). The proportion of garden soil in the substrate for flowerpots is 20-50%, depending on the plant variety. As a rule, it is used for planting large species that need heavy soil for rooting.
- Substrate supplement coarse and fine river sand. You can also use quartz sand, which acts as a drainage. The share of sand can be 50% if it is used for rooting cuttings or growing cacti.
- Peat It is also an indispensable element of the soil for indoor plants, as it retains moisture perfectly. In addition, it does not decompose and provides a normal supply of oxygen to the roots. As a rule, the proportion of peat is 25-35%, but for young plants, the substrate may consist of 50% peat.
- heather land formed when heather decomposes on undergrowth or sandy soil. It is used only for growing azaleas, since such soil contains too little mineral salts. However, it is also introduced into the composition of the substrate for ferns, bulbous plants and begonias.
- household compost, which are formed during the decomposition of household and food waste (food leftovers, eggshells, grass, leaves, small rags and ash), can also be used as an element of the substrate, but it must be sifted before being applied. Due to its high fat content, compost successfully replaces garden soil and humus.
- For the preparation of earth mixture is used and pine bark, especially for orchids. Parts of the bark saturate the soil with air and nutrients. Pine bark should not be replaced with deciduous, as it slows down the growth of indoor flowers.
- The composition of the substrate for epiphytic orchids crushed fern roots are included to lighten and ventilate the soil.
Figure 9. Types of substrate for indoor cultures Now artificial elements are often added to the soil: expanded clay (balls of porous clay), perlite (silica granules), pozzolan (crushed volcanic stone), asbestos fiber and dolomite. All of them act as drainage and help retain moisture in the soil.
Note: At the bottom of the pot, be sure to lay a layer of drainage to remove excess moisture. To do this, you can use expanded clay, sand or peat.
When buying a substrate, it is better to give preference to expensive balanced soils, since cheap analogues do not contain enough nutrients and do not retain water well. Each plant species has its own substrate (Figure 9). As a rule, the packaging of the finished earth indicates what colors it is intended for.
There are many ways to propagate indoor plants. In addition, citrus fruits, pineapples and even avocados can be grown at home.
- To plant an avocado, stick three matches into the stone at an angle and place the stone in a nutrient substrate or water. Over time, the stone will crack and release the root with the stem. When two leaves appear, the shoot is transplanted into the substrate and pinched regularly to give the shrub the desired shape.
- Seeds of lemon or orange are planted in small containers filled with a substrate for young plants. The soil is constantly moistened and covered with a transparent cap.
- Pineapple is propagated by cutting off the top with leaves from the fruit. The cut point should dry out a little, after which it is placed on the substrate, slightly pressing down. The earth is pressed down a little, watered and covered with a cap.
Other indoor plants are propagated by cuttings, seedlings, seeds, tendrils, division, and other methods (Figure 10).
- cuttings
Many indoor crops produce cuttings that take root well in water (for example, cyperus, senopolia). Just cut off the shoot and place it in a container of water. When the plant takes root, it is transplanted into nutrient soil. As a cutting, you can use a piece of the stem, leaves or young shoots. To form roots, cuttings can be placed in a nutrient substrate or simply in water with charcoal.
- seeds
They are bought in specialized stores and sown in small pots or bowls according to the instructions indicated on the package. If the seeds are small, they should be sown in shallow grooves. In addition, they do not need to be sprinkled with a substrate, but simply lightly press the soil.
- disputes
This is how ferns reproduce. Spores are collected on glass or paper and scattered over the soil surface. The earth must be moistened by sprinkling water on it, and covered with a cap. When the first shoots appear, young ferns are seated in separate pots.
- Division
This method propagates large plants, from which young stems with leaves and roots are separated. Division is best done in late winter or early spring. By division, cultures with fleshy stems and a tuberous root system are propagated. Sometimes the young shoot can be separated without removing the mother plant from the ground, but care must be taken not to damage the roots or stems. This is how most varieties of orchids are propagated.
Figure 10. Propagation methods for indoor plants (from left to right): layering, cuttings and leaves Weaving plants and orchids are propagated by layering and aerial roots. To do this, the shoot must be carefully bent to a container with a nutrient substrate and lightly sprinkled with earth to form roots. When the young plant is tightly held in the ground, it can be separated from the parent.
Rules
Lighting plays an important role in growing indoor plants. The intensity of illumination of indoor plants is measured in lux. One lux is equal to 1 lumen of light per square meter. Light levels vary throughout the day due to the weather, season and day. For example, in the morning the sun's rays are weaker than in the evening, so it is better to put plants that are undemanding to light on the eastern windows, and those that need intense sunlight on the western windows.
In addition, the level of illumination changes in the room itself: the farther from the window, the more the rays are refracted and the level of light weakens. Therefore, plants need to be rearranged depending on the time of year and the position of the sun. For example, bright light-loving flowers can be placed on the windowsill in winter, and in summer they need to be additionally protected from direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation (Figure 11).
To properly arrange flower pots, follow a few simple rules:
- Only cacti or plants with hard and dense leaves can be in the sun;
- Holders of bright green leaves require less light than flowering plants;
- Flowerpots with light foliage are highly susceptible to burns, so they need to be shaded.
The degree of illumination depends on the location of the window. The sunniest windows are those facing south, and the darkest are those facing north. Some light-loving plants do not have enough natural light, and they need to provide additional. For this, fluorescent lamps are used, since they do not heat up and cannot cause leaf burns. It is not necessary to illuminate the plants around the clock, it will be enough to extend the daylight hours by only a few hours. Using such lamps, you can grow flowerpots even in a long corridor, where sunlight practically does not penetrate. In this case, the lamp will have to be turned on for at least 6 hours. The diagrams in Figure 12 will help determine if the temperature regime is optimal.
Figure 11. Light intensity depending on the position of the flower and the season With the right lighting, you can easily emphasize the beauty of indoor plants. For example, a light source located below or to the side will emphasize the silhouette of large and tree-like varieties. Flowers with thin and original leaves are best illuminated from behind, and top lighting not only emphasizes the small details of the flower, but also stimulates its growth.
How to care for a houseplant money tree
The money tree is a popular houseplant, which is scientifically called the fat woman. This is a very beautiful plant that can become a real decoration of the house with proper care.
Figure 12. Signs of excess and lack of sunlight The money tree grows quickly, but it does not require special care. He needs to provide(picture 13):
- Scattered sunlight: it is better to put a fat woman on a southeast window or shade the window with blinds;
- Watering should be moderate, only 1-2 times a week, as the fat woman does not like an excess of moisture;
- Top dressing is carried out mainly in the summer, using fertilizers for cacti;
- It is desirable to maintain the temperature at + 18 + 25 degrees, and in extreme heat, the leaves can be periodically wiped with a damp cloth or sprayed.
Figure 13. Growing a money tree at home The most important thing in caring for a money tree is to prevent an excess of moisture, as this can cause disease and rapid death of the plant. From the video you will learn how to properly care for the money tree.
Indoor primrose flower: care and photo
Indoor primrose flower with proper care will delight you with bright flowers throughout the year. Despite the beauty of the plant, it does not have high care requirements, and even beginners will be able to cope with the cultivation of this crop (Figure 14).
Figure 14. Growing indoor primroses Primrose does not tolerate elevated temperatures, so it is better to keep it in a cool room with a temperature not higher than +16 degrees. Ventilation will help keep the temperature down. Primula loves good lighting, but without exposure to direct sunlight. In addition, the flower needs to be watered regularly so that the soil is constantly moist. In summer and during the flowering period, the leaves are additionally sprayed with water.
How to care for a bride's indoor flower
Delicate inflorescences of the bride houseplant look great as home decoration. But this plant is valued not only for its beautiful appearance, but also for its unpretentiousness.
The second name of the flower is the bride - campanula, and at home they take care of her like this(picture 15):
- For planting, hanging planters are used so that the flexible shoots of the campanula hang down beautifully;
- A temperature within +25 degrees is considered comfortable, but the bride tolerates a short increase in this indicator well;
- Lighting should be intense, but without exposure to direct sunlight;
- Watering should be regular and plentiful, and in hot weather, the leaves are additionally sprayed.
Figure 15. Caring for an indoor flower bride In the spring, the bride also needs pruning of the shoots. This will help to renew the ground parts of the plant and speed up the start of flowering.
Caring for indoor jasmine flower
Jasmine is not only an ornamental shrub, but also a popular indoor plant. Jasmine is considered an unpretentious culture, but some features of caring for it should still be taken into account (Figure 16).
First, the water for irrigation should be soft, as the lime content in it can cause the leaves and shoots to dry out. Secondly, to maintain regular flowering, jasmine must be transplanted regularly: young plants annually, and adults once every 2-3 years.
Figure 16. Features of the care and cultivation of indoor jasmine Jasmine tolerates normal room temperature well, but if the indicators rise above +25 degrees, you need to water more often and spray the leaves with water.
Indoor violet flowers: care and reproduction
Violet is considered one of the most common indoor plants, as it is unpretentious, does not require special care, but at the same time blooms for a long time and regularly (Figure 17).
Note: In fact, violet care comes down to standard activities: regular watering, periodic top dressing and ensuring optimal temperature and humidity conditions.
Figure 17. Growing indoor violets Violet is best placed on a well-lit window sill, but protected from direct sunlight. Watering is necessary twice a week, but it should be carried out so that moisture does not linger in the soil. In addition, for planting it is better to choose loose and light soil that easily passes water and air. It is these conditions that are considered as close to natural as possible.
Indoor cyclamen flowers: home care
Cyclamen is also called alpine violet. This plant prefers coolness, but at the same time loves bright lighting. Therefore, in summer it is better to put it on the eastern and western windows, and in winter - on the south (Figure 18).
Figure 18. Features of growing indoor cyclamen Cyclamen needs a constant supply of fresh air, but at the same time it is afraid of drafts, so it is better to place it at a distance from open windows and heat sources. In addition, this plant is quite demanding on watering. The flower does not like either drought or excess moisture, so it is best to water it through the pan.
Growing indoor plants is very exciting and anyone who has a couple of pots on the windowsill will agree with this. Indoor flowers not only decorate the interior of the room, but also have useful properties. For example, dieffenbachia and chlorophytums purify our air from all kinds of harmful impurities, and the well-known aloe plant is widely used in the treatment of various colds. Let's take a closer look: how to grow a plant at home, and what you need to know and be able to do for this.
Before you grow a plant, you need to familiarize yourself with the conditions for caring for them. To breed domestic nature, you will need:
- pot;
- planting material;
- soil mixture;
- drainage.
When choosing a plant that you would like to grow, you need to consider one point: as a beginner, it is better to opt for those species that do not require special knowledge and are easy to care for. For example, the same cyclamens and azaleas need special conditions during their dormant period and may be too difficult to grow for a novice grower. But tradescantia, ivy and chlorophytum are not particularly demanding on the conditions of their maintenance.
cuttings
How to grow a plant and propagate it? It should be noted that many indoor plants can be propagated by cuttings. With the help of rooting a cutting, you can grow ivy, pelargonium, tradescantia, coleus and ficus without any problems. Chlorophytums can be grown from their side shoots, and some types of succulents reproduce well using leafy cuttings. The most suitable season for cuttings is spring. In order to proceed with the cuttings of a certain plant, it is necessary to cut off a young shoot from the plant that can be propagated by cuttings. Its length should be five to seven cm.
It is necessary to root the cuttings themselves in a moist substrate or in water. If you want to root them in water, then for this you need to choose an opaque container. Pour settled water at room temperature into it and place the cuttings in the water so that the leaves that remain on the shoots cannot touch the water. In some cases, you can add an activated charcoal tablet directly to the water.
In the process of rooting our shoot, the water can not be changed constantly, but it is necessary to check its condition. If there is turbidity, it must be changed. Do not forget to monitor the condition of rooted shoots. If suppuration appears, you need to cut off the damaged part of our cutting and treat it with a weak solution of medicinal potassium permanganate. And the container in which the cutting was rooted must be thoroughly washed.
Once the cutting is rooted, it can be transplanted into the potting mix. Each type of plant has its own type of mixture, so before you purchase a mixture or mix the soil, you need to find out what kind of soil is right for your plant.
Plant location
Before growing, indoor plants need not only good care, but also an individual place and a pot. For growing the plant you like, clay pots are the most suitable. We pour drainage material at the bottom of our pot. You can use for this coarse sand, expanded clay, polystyrene with the addition of hydrogel, as well as ceramic drainage. A moistened soil mixture should be poured onto the existing drainage layer, and now your rooted cutting can be placed in it. Then we sprinkle the roots of the plant with earth and gently compact the soil.
Depending on the requirements of a particular plant, we place it in a lighted or darkened place. Often, indoor plants require good lighting, and must also be protected from drafts and direct sunlight. If you want to place a pot with a beautiful flower right on the coffee table in the middle of the room, but you don’t know if the plant will have enough lighting in this case, you can purchase a fluorescent lamp and the problem is solved. It will provide the necessary illumination.
How to grow a plant and not harm it? In order for the flower to bloom magnificently and not get sick, it must be properly watered. Most houseplants need to be watered as the soil dries out. For irrigation, it is better to use settled water. In summer, plants are watered much more often than in winter. So that your plant does not suffer from dry air, during the heating period, for example, it is necessary to spray it with the same settled water. If the plant has large leaves, you can sometimes wipe them with a damp cloth.
Do not forget to ventilate the room at any time of the year. This is beneficial both for your health and for the plant itself. But at the same time, you should make sure that the flower is not in a draft.
If you notice a white coating in the pot, then the water that the plant is watered with is too hard. In this case, you need to replace the top layer of the earth, and soften the hardness of the water with the help of special tools or simply boil it.
In no case should you water indoor plants with cold water, you must warm it to room temperature. If your plant is located on a cold window sill, it does not need to be watered in the evening, because. at night, a pot of damp soil can become supercooled and this will lead to damage to the roots.
The child is interested in everything around. Why is the sky blue and the sea salty? Every day, "why" make us think how easy it is to explain the complex. In this article we will talk about how a flower grows for children: step by step and understandable.
A little about plants and flowers
Imagine a flower bed with roses in bloom. Speaking of roses, we often call the whole plant a flower: stems, leaves, and buds. Although this is not entirely true.
A rose is a flower, but the bush from which we cut it is a plant. We will understand how a flower grows if we first talk about the plant itself.
The seed falls into the soil
It all starts with seeds. The seeds of different plants are very different from each other. For example, oak seeds are acorns, cherry seeds are the seeds inside its berries, and tiny poppy seeds are often seen on baked goods. Usually the seeds are small, but among them there are giants such as coconut.
Seeds look for a new home in different ways: someone flies to him, picked up by the wind, someone floats on the water. Birds and animals help many plants to travel around the world. The seeds of different plants take root in different places, but all need water and warmth to sprout.
Rooting
A seed that has fallen into suitable soil, lets out roots. From now on, they will perform many important tasks, supporting the life of the plant.
Roots grow down. Usually they look like the crown of trees turned upside down, but the roots of different plants (as well as the same, growing in dissimilar conditions) are different.
Roots draw out gases, water, organic and mineral substances dissolved in it from the soil - that is, everything that replaces food for the plant. Roots can bring out harmful substances and retain beneficial ones. And, of course, the roots firmly fix the plant in the ground, preventing strong winds and streams of water from destroying it.
Roots are the most important part of a plant. As long as they are healthy and remain in the ground, the plant will not die. Plucked branches and stems, flowers and leaves will surely grow again.
The emergence of a sprout
After the roots are released, the first shoot hatches. It breaks through a seed like a chicken through an eggshell and reaches up through the earth to see the sun.
A little time will pass - and the sprout will appear on the surface, where we can see it. From now on, we can call it a seedling. A thin stem with a pair of leaves will develop into an adult plant. To do this, he needs the sun, water and air, as well as the nutrients that the roots take in the soil.
Plants have different needs. Someone needs warmth and bright sun, while someone feels good in the shade and coolness. Some plants need a lot of water, some less. In the right conditions, seedlings stretch and grow. Along with the visible part of the plant, roots develop.
Maturity, flowering and the circle of life
The time comes, and flowers appear on an adult plant. This happens when the plant builds up enough energy to produce its own seeds.
A bud appears on the stem of the plant, at first it looks like an ordinary folded leaf. It develops to a bud. When the bud opens, we finally see the flower.
Insects carry pollen from one flower to another. This process is called pollination, and after it is successfully completed, the plant produces new seeds.
The seeds are carried around by wind, water or animals, and everything starts all over again. This is the circle of life that plants go through.
Most of us grow flowerpots on the windowsill, but not everyone knows how to properly combine indoor plants, which ones have positive energy, which are safe for children or, conversely, can cause allergies.
1. The combination of indoor plants.
First of all, pay attention to the rules for the care of violets. These are quite whimsical plants. Keep in mind that tobacco smoke is a bad companion for indoor flowers. However, cases of the influence of one plant on others are observed. For example, not everyone can coexist with geraniums. Put next to only those flowers that are similar in care and require approximately the same lighting and humidity. According to violets, they can die if they are in the same room with lilies of the valley. But hibiscus has a life-giving effect on weak plants. It is advisable not to put different flowering flowerpots close together, because they can oversaw and bloom very strangely.
2. Energy of plants.
If we talk about energy, then ordinary bamboo, butterfly orchid, dracaena, Potted rose, orange or lemon are considered plants with strong energy. Plants with heavy energy are cacti, poinsettia, echmea, and those with soft and timid energy are violet, camellia, maidenhair, etc. In recent years, original compositions, sometimes called "parks on tables", have become popular in indoor landscaping. Various alpine slides, "stumps", "islands" often decorate the living room or representative offices. To create them, you need to select plants that have the same requirements for lighting and humidity, soil properties. If some plants feel great in acidic soil, others may die.
3. Indoor plants and children.
It should be remembered that plants with a large green mass absorb a lot of oxygen at night, so they should not be kept in the room where the child sleeps. Do not grow allergenic plants, cacti there! However, poisonous plants are really dangerous. Among them are such toxic species, one touch to them can lead to a burn, even a tumor. However, they are rare and you need to take care of them with special gloves. Among the common houseplants, there are many dangerous for children and pets. To poisonous are those that, when the leaf is torn off or the stem is damaged, they secrete white milk. Plants of the aroid family (diffenbachia, monstera, alocasia) are considered poisonous - they are very beautiful, but do not forget that they can be harmful. If it gets into the mouth, poisonous juice can cause swelling of the larynx and mucous membrane of the mouth, if it gets into the eyes - conjunctivitis and changes in the cornea. No less poisonous are plants of the euphorbia family (poinsettia, croton, spurge, akalifa, etc.). Oleander, adenium, Mandeville and catharanthus are very dangerous. The juice of these plants contains a large amount of alkaloids and glycosides. When ingested, it can cause a violation of cardiac activity, and in large doses it becomes deadly. Azalea is highly toxic: if a piece of its leaf enters the stomach, convulsions and colic will begin.
4. Allergy to indoor plants.
Most often, any flowerpot or flower that blooms can become the cause of an allergy to indoor plants. It is during flowering that polynomials arise. Moreover, even the soil under them can be saturated with spores of various plants. Allergy to indoor plants is individual, so I can’t give any specific advice on their choice. But if symptoms have already appeared, take the flowerpots out of the room, especially from the bedroom. Most often, an allergy manifests itself in fragrant pelargonium (geranium). The leaves of this plant contain essential oils, which have a wonderful aroma, but are a source of a suffocating odor. Allergic reactions can also cause fern, because they emit pollen, it easily scatters throughout the room. Potentially dangerous indoor plants include krinum, catharanthus, oleander, Alamandi, and eucharis.
Doctors do not have information regarding specific allergen plants, so if you already have symptoms - tearing, sneezing, get rid of all flowers. Philodendron, dieffenbachia, taro, alocasia are dangerous for the skin and mucous membranes. Even Kalanchoe, having medicinal properties, can cause severe allergies. Safe indoor plants are bromeliad, pineapple, begonia, balsam, be palm, trachycarpus, netcreasia, golden mustache, erica.
5. Plants that can be grown without sunlight.
Many plants can be grown under artificial lighting, but it is necessary, firstly, to use only fluorescent lamps and, secondly, to strictly observe the care regimen - temperature and water. In addition, such rooms should be regularly ventilated. The peculiarity of such cultivation of plants is that artificial lighting should be as close to natural as possible - almost 12-14 hours in spring and summer and 7-9 hours in winter. Such conditions are most often found in workshops and other work areas where there are a lot of fluorescent lamps. If the room is small, you can put a table lamp near the plants, but in no case an incandescent lamp (its radiation has a detrimental effect on plants!), But a fluorescent one. 
Such lighting is as close as possible to natural, almost does not radiate heat and is much more economical. Therefore, weigh how much light and conditions you can provide your plants, and choose them to your liking. If bright light is not enough in your office, plant plants that do well in dark rooms. For example: - Scindapsus- climber with aerial roots and yellow or white spots on the leaves, does not like drafts, dry air and direct sunlight. — Aspidistra- not only loves the shade, but is literally afraid of direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves
(it will suit moderate and cool temperatures - up to zero degrees). — Aglaonema- a good exotic plant with oblong variegated leaves. Aglaonema can grow in full shade, but with yellow or white-green leaves, in the complete absence of light, they will lose their variegation. This plant loves warmth and abundant watering. Does not tolerate drafts and tobacco smoke. — sansevier feels quite comfortable in the shade and in the sun, tolerates dry air and drafts. Watering sansevera can also be moderate, even rare, but you need to make sure that water does not get into the socket between the leaves. Excess moisture can also be detrimental. — Asplenium(Nesting rump) loves shade and moist air, so spray it regularly and ensure plenty of watering. Do not use hard and chlorinated water for this. — Philodendron also loves shade, tolerates cold well, but the temperature in the room should not be lower than 12 degrees. Water the philodendron often and abundantly (only reduce to moderate in winter) and spray frequently.
