| Healthy Houseplants |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-202 |
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Q: Can Jessie tell me how to keep my houseplants from dying?
A: (Jessie Mack Burns, Ask DIY Gardening Expert) I have three main reasons that I think indoor plants don't do as well as they could. One, overwatering -- that's a dreadful thing. Two, poor soil, without enough fertilizer. And three, rootbound, meaning the plant's gotten too big for its pot. To work through these problems, follow these tips: - To rescue a rootbound plant, slip it out of its pot. Loosen the roots by cutting them and the surrounding soil just a bit with some gardening scissors. Then re-pot the plant in a pot the next size up, making sure to fill soil in on the sides, not just the top.
- To promote new growth on a leggy plant, find the spot where the plant has healthy growth. And then cut the plant back to there, even if you're taking off two-thirds of its stem or cutting all the way back to the soil. A philodendron will have nodes along the leggy stem. Cut pieces that include at least one node six to 20 inches long. Then strip all but a leaf or two, and dangle the stem in a rooting vase (figure A) with the nodes underwater. Pretty soon the nodes will form roots and you'll have a new plant. You can also pot the piece with the node under soil, but make sure to keep it moist all the time until it roots.
- To improve your plant's nutrition, use fertilizer, but make sure it's the proper type for that plant and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Azaleas, for example, need fertilizer with more acid. You can also use fertilizer spikes.
- Concentrate on making sure the right plant is in the right spot. Plants with dark leaves, as a rule of thumb, go into dark areas. Plants with light leaves go into light areas.
More Questions for Jessie:
Q: Can you enlighten me about what jade plants need to live?
A: Jade plants hold water in their leaves, so if yours are dying you may be overwatering.
Q: When is the best time to water your houseplants?
A: When they need it! Feel the soil with your finger.
Q: How often do I need to add fresh potting soil to my potted plants?
A: See if your plant is getting brown or there are a lot of white particles on the top of the soil. Either sign could mean the nutrients have leeched out of the soil. If that's the case, add some fresh potting soil and mix it around a little with what's already there. Web site resources for Maintaining House Plants: Healthy Houseplants from DIYNET.Com Care for Houseplants from HGTV.Com Houseplants from HGTV.Com Book: Houseplants: How to Grow Healthy Houseplants Indoors
by Cathy Haas
ISBN: 0806970553
Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. (1998)
387 Park Ave. South
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-532-7160
Fax: 212-213-2495
Customer Service Phone: 800-367-9692
E-mail: webmaster@sterlingpub.com
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