Houseplant Handbook. David Squire
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Название: Houseplant Handbook
Автор: David Squire
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Техническая литература
isbn: 9781620082331
isbn:
Use a soft, damp cloth to clean large, shiny leaves. Support the leaf with one hand and carefully wipe the surface. To avoid burning, never do this when the plant is in strong sunlight.
If a plant has a large number of small, shiny leaves, gently swirl them in a bowl filled with slightly warm water. When clean, remove the plant and stand it away from direct sunlight until dry, or it might burn.
Use a soft brush to gently remove dust from hairy leaves. Blowing on leaves while brushing them helps to remove dust.
Wipe the leaf with a damp cloth to restore shine and remove dust.
Swirl leaves under water to rinse off dust and dirt.
Use a paintbrush to clean dust off hairy leaves.
Tidying Stems and Shoots
Some plants become untidy and benefit from having stems and shoots removed. Where a stem or shoot spoils a plant’s symmetry, use sharp scissors to cut it back to just above a leaf-joint. Avoid leaving small stubs, which are unsightly and will die back.
Young foliage plants often need to have a shoot tip removed to encourage bushiness. Use sharp scissors to cut back the stem to a leaf-joint, or hold the shoot between your fingers and snap it sideways.
Some variegated plants occasionally produce all-green stems; cut these off.
Trim off untidy long growth with a sharp pair of scissors.
For houseplants with long flower stems, break off from the base of the stem to discourage disease.
Removing Dead Flowers
Dead flowers are unsightly and encourage the presence of diseases if left on a plant. Most dead flowers are removed by pinching them off between a finger and thumb. For houseplants such as cyclamen, remove the complete flower stem and dead flower; leaving short pieces of stem encourages the presence of diseases. Gently tug the stem so it parts from the plant’s base.
Snap off dead flowers between your thumb and forefinger.
Staking and Supporting
When plants need to be supported, it is essential that this is unobtrusive, whether you use traditional materials (raffia, green string, and split canes) or more recent introductions (plastic frameworks and metal rings).
Most houseplants need little support, but if it becomes necessary, use a thin split cane and soft green string. First tie the string to the support, then loop it around the stem just below a leaf-joint. Metal plant rings can also be used.
Some climbing plants, such as Jasminum polyanthum (Pink Jasmine), benefit from a supporting hoop formed of pliable canes. When the plant is young and has shoots about 12in (30cm) long, insert pliable canes into the compost and train the stems around the canes.
Climbing plants with aerial roots benefit from being given a moss pole as support (this is a stiff stake covered with several layers of moss). Use spirals of green string to hold it in position. Tie the plant’s stems to the pole and keep the moss damp.
Form a hoop with pliable cane and attach the plant with string.
A moss pole works well as a support for a climbing plant with aerial roots.
Vacation Care
Invariably, there are times when plants are left unattended for several days. This is not a problem in winter, when most are not very active, but arrangements need to be made to look after them in summer.
Helping plants survive
1 If you are going away for only a few days, place a plastic sheet on the floor in the center of a room and stand your plants on it. Fill their saucers with water.
2 Keep small plants moist by standing them in a shallow tray packed with moist peat.
3 Place a piece of capillary matting on a draining board and trail the other end into a sink full of water. Stand plants directly on it, not in their saucers. This works well for plants growing in peat-based compost in plastic pots, without crocks in their base.
4 Use wicks to keep compost moist in small pots. Push a wick into the compost and trail the other end into a pot filled with water.
5 Shallowly fill a wide basin with clean water and place one or more plants in it. This is ideal for houseplants that like plenty of moisture, such as some ferns.
6 Fill a shallow container with expanded, light-weight clay particles (which resemble small, hard, ceramic, shell-like pebbles with porous cores), add water to just below their surface, and stand plants on top.
Before leaving home
1 Close the door of the room to prevent drafts from drying plants or from pets from knocking them over.
2 Draw the curtains in summer, especially those that face strong, direct sunlight.
3 A week before leaving home, check that plants are not infested with pests and diseases. Spray immediately if they are.
4 Remove faded flowers and those that will be past their prime by the time you return. Remove dead leaves.
Close doors to prevent pets from knocking over plants.
Stand plants on capillary matting.
Use wicks to water plants.
Stand plants in a bowl of water.
Remove faded flowers.