House Plants

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Basket Of Houseplants

Your lovely basket of houseplants include Croton variegatum (the brightly marked foliage), Maranta leuconeura (red veined prayer plant because the leaves tend to close at night), Chamaedorea (parlor palm), dumb cane (Dieffenbachia) and Dracaena marginata. After a time you may want to separate them, but for now place in bright indirect light, take each one out to water in the sink allowing the water to drain out before placing back in the basket (unless they have been planted in soil together - then make sure it drains properly because plants sitting in water may lead to root rot) and feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer formulated for container plants. Water when the soil feels dry to the touch down to the first knuckle.

By | 2016-03-30T14:18:06-07:00 March 30th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Dracaena Problem

There could be one or more of several reasons why the leaves are turning brown: make sure when watering (about once every 7 days) that the soil feels dry down to the first knuckle before watering again and that the water drains out without allowing the plant to sit in water (if there is a saucer under the plant and it is sitting in the water after watering, then this may lead to root rot); feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer formulated for container plants; the potting soil should be a well-draining commercial potting soil or cactus potting soil (sterile and well-draining); needs bright, indirect light. Finally, if the leaves continue to brown, suggest you switch to steam iron water - many houseplants come from the rainforest and are sensitive to the salts in tap water.

By | 2016-03-30T11:04:24-07:00 March 30th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Umbrella Plant

This appears to be Schefflera actinophylla, common name umbrella tree. A popular indoor plant especially in regions with frosty winters, this is considered invasive in many areas of the world because of its ability to readily re-seed. Plant can reach 10 meters tall and small red flowers emerge in clusters near the top of the plant followed by small red or dark purple fruit only where winters are mild. Indoors needs bright indirect light, regular water but do not allow plant to sit in water as this may lead to root rot and feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer formulated for indoor container plants. Outdoors does well in partial shade or afternoon shade, regular water and fertilize during growth cycle. Does not tolerate frost.

By | 2016-03-29T13:24:50-07:00 March 29th, 2016|House Plants|2 Comments
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Scale

These do look like scale insects, which suck the nutrients out of the leaves and branches and if untreated, can seriously damage a plant. And they love citrus. If you scrape with your fingernail and it pops off, it's scale. Underneath each hard, brown shield is a sucking insect. If there are only a few, wipe them off with a Qtip dipped in rubbing alcohol. Sprays cannot penetrate the shell, but mature insects cannot reattach. The immature ones are hard to see, but they are vulnerable to spraying. Test a mix of one part mineral oil, one part soap, and eight parts water on a single leaf, to make sure it doesn't damage the foliage. After 48 hours without signs of damage, go ahead...and if you see signs of burn, reduce the solution and retest.

By | 2016-03-28T19:40:36-07:00 March 28th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Diffenbachia

There are dozens of cultivars of diffenbachia, and we have no way to tell which one you have.

Dieffenbachias have been decorating homes and offices for decades. These showy houseplants are prized for their vividly variegated foliage and large bushy growth habits. Some varieties grow up to several feet tall. The large pointed leaves grow from a central stem, or cane. As the plant ages it will lose its lower leaves, giving it a palm like look. You have a green variety

It gets the nicknames “Dumb Cane” and “Mother in Law Plant” as a result of the effects of the milky sap it contains. If ingested it causes a burning sensation in the mouth, swells the tongue, and paralyzes the vocal cords, literally taking one’s voice away.

By | 2016-03-28T11:48:18-07:00 March 28th, 2016|House Plants|2 Comments
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Golden Pothos

Your houseplant is a hybrid variegated variety of a vining Pothos. Provide bright indirect light, regular water and feed with a slow-release fertilizer formulated for container plants. Do not allow plant to sit in water because it may lead to root rot. Pothos is also one of the houseplants known to benefit air quality indoors. For optimum health, keep any houseplant away from heater/air conditioning vents. Yours seems to be in a location that does not receive enough light and if you keep it at the height pictured, perhaps gets too dry. Try an area that gets better indoor light and give it a good soaking in the sink allowing the water to drain out thoroughly before returning to its location along with a good slow release or organic fertilizer and hopefully it will recover for you.

By | 2016-03-27T15:10:45-07:00 March 27th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Croton

Your plant appears to be a Croton, a tropical plant prized for its amazing variation in contrasting colors and markings. Needs rich, well-draining soil, full sun, and fertilizer twice a year if you desire new growth. Does not tolerate freezing temperatures. Crotons have a wide variety of variegation possibilities, ranging from green with pink ribs and spots to flecked with yellow or wildly colored with red and yellow and even dark green. There are even new leaf shapes and sizes. Generally more intense sunlight brings out more intense variegation. Also popular as a houseplant - indoors, does best in bright indirect light, regular water and feed with a slow release or organic fertilizer formulated for container houseplants.

By | 2016-03-26T13:54:45-07:00 March 26th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Lucky Bamboo

This appears to be a "Lucky bamboo" - an easy care houseplant that isn't a bamboo at all. It can survive in many indoor conditions, but indirect lighting is best as direct sunlight can cause the leaves to turn yellow and burn. Water when the soil starts to get dry but before it's completely dry, and fertilize once a month with the fertilizer of your choice used according to directions and/or use a slow release pelletized fertilizer made for houseplants. When the plant gets too tall and "leggy" it's easy to clip off some of the tops, cutting off about 8" pieces, and rooting them in a glass of water. The remaining stems should leaf out lower down on the plant and the rooted cuttings can either be put in the same pot around the original plant or in a new pot.

By | 2016-03-26T00:47:52-07:00 March 26th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Calathea

Calathea ornata is a species of perennial plants in the family known as the prayer plants. It is native to South America, and is cultivated in temperate countries as a houseplant. Loves heat and humidity. It is affected by spider mites.Calathea ornata has large, elliptical, dark green leaves with closely arranged, thin, pink lines that radiate from the mid rib. The underside of each leaf is maroon. Resembles Calathea majestica, except that Calathea ornata leaves are broader. Two common cultivars can be found on sale, namely, 'Roseo-lineata' and 'Sanderiana'. 'Sanderiana', is a bigger plant with broader, shorter leaves, which grows to a height of 1 m whereas 'Roseo-lineata' can grow only up to 60 cm. The pink lines of Calathea ornata tend to fade as they mature.

By | 2016-03-24T17:12:18-07:00 March 24th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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Boston Fern

Make sure that the fern’s soil remains damp,m but do not leave it in standing water. Dry soil is one of the number one reasons that Boston ferns die. Check the soil daily and make sure to give it some water if the soil feels at all dry. Because Boston ferns tend to be planted in potting mixtures that are high in peat moss, it is a good idea to soak the pot of the Boston fern once a month or so to make sure the peat moss is fully hydrated. Be sure to LET IT DRAIN thoroughly after this. We note that it is sitting in a cache pot which would hold water. Not a good idea.
Boston ferns do not need much fertilizer. Fertilizer should only be given to the plant a few times a year.
This fern may actually also not be getting enough light. It looks quite weak. Indoors it needs bright diffused light.

By | 2016-03-24T08:51:49-07:00 March 24th, 2016|House Plants|0 Comments
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