User:Aeong/Indoor Gardening: Difference between revisions
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=== Climbing Plants === | === Climbing Plants === | ||
Some plants will want to expand out and climb on objects in search of light (and in some cases nutrients), but not every plant does so the same way, and some have special needs. Some plants are only seeking light and will wrap themselves on to just about any safe object you give them. Other plants such as the Pothos and Monstera will have roots on their stems, and are looking for moist places to grow those roots in to, and will be in better health if allowed so. There are 3 solutions to this: Trimming the plant from getting too long (if possible), or providing the plant a moss pole or wood plank to climb on. Wood planks take advantage of these plants desire to cling to trees are the cheapest and lowest maintenance solution. But since they provide no solution for your plant to expand it's roots, they do not promote optimal health for your plant. Moss poles come in many types but the right ones are designed to be filled with sphagnum moss and have holes for your plant to root into as it climbs up them. They provide optimal health, but must be watered frequently, and certain pests love them. | Some plants will want to expand out and climb on objects in search of light (and in some cases nutrients), but not every plant does so the same way, and some have special needs. Some plants are only seeking light and will wrap themselves on to just about any safe object you give them. Other plants such as the Pothos and Monstera will have roots on their stems, and are looking for moist places to grow those roots in to, and will be in better health if allowed so. There are 3 solutions to this: Trimming the plant from getting too long (if possible), or providing the plant a moss pole or wood plank to climb on. Wood planks take advantage of these plants desire to cling to trees are the cheapest and lowest maintenance solution. But since they provide no solution for your plant to expand it's roots, they do not promote optimal health for your plant. Moss poles come in many types but the right ones are designed to be filled with sphagnum moss and have holes for your plant to root into as it climbs up them. They provide optimal health, but must be watered frequently, and certain pests love them. | ||
== Common Plants Sold in Stores == | == Common Plants Sold in Stores == | ||
Here is a list of common plants based on difficulty ratings '''(add more here about there being no perfect plant, and that all plants require some effort)''' | Here is a list of common plants based on difficulty ratings '''(add more here about there being no perfect plant, and that all plants require some effort)''' | ||
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If you bought the plant from a store, The first thing you will want to know is what type of pot your plant is in before watering it. A good majority of these plants are sold in pots with no drainage, but contain a secondary (often black colored) container inside that contains the plant and its soil, and has drainage holes at the bottom. This allows the plant to be pulled out of the pot and watered. Some plants are only sold with this black container, and are intended to be put in a proper pot after purchase. Others will already be in a pot that has drainage holes and can be watered with no extra steps. Finally, some plants will be in a "self watering" pot that has no drainage at all and is intended to keep the plant constantly hydrated. They will often have a water gauge near the bottom of the pot. While some plants may benefit from these, self watering pots are often harmful to many of the plants they are sold with, as they tend to rot the plants roots and attract pests that love moist soil. | If you bought the plant from a store, The first thing you will want to know is what type of pot your plant is in before watering it. A good majority of these plants are sold in pots with no drainage, but contain a secondary (often black colored) container inside that contains the plant and its soil, and has drainage holes at the bottom. This allows the plant to be pulled out of the pot and watered. Some plants are only sold with this black container, and are intended to be put in a proper pot after purchase. Others will already be in a pot that has drainage holes and can be watered with no extra steps. Finally, some plants will be in a "self watering" pot that has no drainage at all and is intended to keep the plant constantly hydrated. They will often have a water gauge near the bottom of the pot. While some plants may benefit from these, self watering pots are often harmful to many of the plants they are sold with, as they tend to rot the plants roots and attract pests that love moist soil. | ||
One last thing to keep in mind is that the type of material the pot is made of can impact how long it retains water. The most common pot types are Plastic, Ceramic, Metal, and Terracotta. The main thing you want to know here is that Terracotta pots are renowned for how little they hold water, and thus are often recommended for Cactus's and other plants that don't want wet roots for long periods of time. '''(There has to be a way to coherently organize this with re-potting instructions below)''' | One last thing to keep in mind is that the type of material the pot is made of can impact how long it retains water. The most common pot types are Plastic, Ceramic, Metal, and Terracotta. The main thing you want to know here is that Terracotta pots are renowned for how little they hold water, and thus are often recommended for Cactus's and other plants that don't want wet roots for long periods of time. '''(There has to be a way to coherently organize this with re-potting instructions below)'''<gallery widths="200" heights="200"> | ||
File:Ceramic Stoneware Plant Pot.jpg|A Ceramic Pot | |||
File:Epipremnum aureum (Marble Queen) houseplant (2).png|A Terracotta Pot | |||
File:Pink chrysanthemum 'Mei-Kyo' in Övre Tuntorp.jpg|Concrete Pots | |||
</gallery> | |||
=== Proper Watering === | === Proper Watering === | ||
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File:Spruehflasche 02 (fcm).jpg|A Spray Bottle for Misting Plants | File:Spruehflasche 02 (fcm).jpg|A Spray Bottle for Misting Plants | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
== Fertilization == | |||
If you repot your plants several times a year using premixed packages of soil, fertilizing your plant is often unnecessary, as the new soil plants receive from repotting is filled with new nutrients. However, if your plant is slow growing, or does not have much soil in it's potting mix, your plant may require fertilizer every other month depending on the plants specific needs. | |||
== Pests == | == Pests == | ||