Large or small, climbing or hanging, ordinary or exotic - any plant is only as decorative as it is healthy and thriving. And here, I disagree about the proverbial "green thumb." I contend that this is a misguided figure of speech and that, instead of having some "magic power" over plants, successful growers have intelligent interest in learning what growing conditions plants need and in satisfying those needs. It's neither difficult nor troublesome to grow plants well, but it does require some thought and care.
Let's start with a simple concept of how plants are constituted. In the first place, they are inhabitants of the out-of-doors, where they get light from above and from all sides. Secondly, different types and varieties of plants grow naturally in different climatic and other conditions. Some are adapted to the hot, dry desert; some to humid jungles; some to the cool, crisp air on a mountain slope. Each has its own preferred habitat with its own preferred temperature, type of soil, moisture, active growing season, full sunlight or lack of it. A plant may even have other types of plants it prefers to associate with. For every plant there is a combination of cultural conditions in which it naturally grows best out-of-doors.
We can't expect to tuck the roots of these outdoor inhabitants into pots and bring them indoors, into completely opposite conditions, without making some adjustments for their needs. Light, for example, is absolutely necessary to any plant's life processes.
Indoors, it is not only less intense, but also usually comes from only one direction. Indoor winter temperatures in our well-heated homes are often too high for plants like the indoor palm trees. Soil moisture, fresh air, humidity, and fertile soil of the proper type can be provided by a careful grower.
If you will try to make your home habitable for house plants, most plants will meet you halfway and adapt amazingly well to indoor growing. Sun-lovers will accept less of it, for example; cool growers will tolerate warmth. The difference may be merely setting the thermostat up or down a notch, or rotating a window-sill plant every few days so that over a period of time it receives equal light on all sides, or providing a suitable pot or type of soil.
Let's start with a simple concept of how plants are constituted. In the first place, they are inhabitants of the out-of-doors, where they get light from above and from all sides. Secondly, different types and varieties of plants grow naturally in different climatic and other conditions. Some are adapted to the hot, dry desert; some to humid jungles; some to the cool, crisp air on a mountain slope. Each has its own preferred habitat with its own preferred temperature, type of soil, moisture, active growing season, full sunlight or lack of it. A plant may even have other types of plants it prefers to associate with. For every plant there is a combination of cultural conditions in which it naturally grows best out-of-doors.
We can't expect to tuck the roots of these outdoor inhabitants into pots and bring them indoors, into completely opposite conditions, without making some adjustments for their needs. Light, for example, is absolutely necessary to any plant's life processes.
Indoors, it is not only less intense, but also usually comes from only one direction. Indoor winter temperatures in our well-heated homes are often too high for plants like the indoor palm trees. Soil moisture, fresh air, humidity, and fertile soil of the proper type can be provided by a careful grower.
If you will try to make your home habitable for house plants, most plants will meet you halfway and adapt amazingly well to indoor growing. Sun-lovers will accept less of it, for example; cool growers will tolerate warmth. The difference may be merely setting the thermostat up or down a notch, or rotating a window-sill plant every few days so that over a period of time it receives equal light on all sides, or providing a suitable pot or type of soil.
About the Author:
For a greater understanding on the subject of repotting house plants. Drop by today at http://www.plant-care.com/repotting-house-plants.html.
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen