In the News - February 2008
You can be a successful houseplant caregiver during winter
LITTLE ROCK - Having the heat on during the winter is great for humans, but
not so great for houseplants.
Wintertime heating dehumidifies the air, so plants may need more water. A
relative humidity of 75 to 85 percent is ideal for most plants, but in winter,
the average home has half those levels.
"Success or failure with houseplants often comes down to your ability to
water the plants correctly," says Gerald Klingaman, retired horticulture
specialist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. "The
appearance of the plant and your finger are the best guides to water needs."
Stick your finger in the soil before watering, and only water when it is dry
to the touch.
Kitchens and bathrooms are more humid than other rooms, so these are good
locations for plants that do best in more humid environments. Grouping plants
together also creates pockets of higher humidity.
Temperature conditions should be somewhere between 65 and 75 degrees F. Avoid
locations near heating vents where hot blasts of air blow directly on the
plants.
Decorative containers can also be deathtraps for houseplants.
"Decorative containers that lack drainage holes are intended as sleeves for a
regular pot, not as a planting container," Klingaman says.
Be sure to pour any excess water out of the pot soon after watering. If the
pot is too large and this is not possible, put a layer of gravel or stones at
the bottom of the decorative pot. Then, place a stick of bamboo in bottom of the
decorative container to use as a dipstick to test the depth of the water level.
Klingaman says insufficient light is also a major factor that may limit
success with houseplants. As a general rule, if the location you choose for your
plant(s) is bright enough to read the want ads in a newspaper, there will be enough light for plants to
grow. However, such areas may not be suitable for all plants, just those adapted
to low light conditions.
To keep plant from growing lopsided and toward only one direction of
sunlight, rotate the plant one-quarter turn every couple of weeks when new
growth occurs.
Some homeowners consider using artificial light sources for growing plants,
but it is not generally a very practical solution for large plants.
For more information about caring for plants or horticulture, please contact
your county extension agent or visit www.uaex.edu. The
Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.
February 8, 2008
By Rhonda Conner
For the Cooperative Extension Service
Media Contact: Lamar James
Extension Communications Specialists
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207
ljames@uaex.edu
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