5 Common Phrases About Houseplant You Should Avoid
Tall Houseplants
Large plants stand out indoors and add a natural look to the room. They require less care than smaller houseplants.
Plants with large green leaves, like the Bird of Paradise, are quick-growing and thrive in bright sunlight. They also add color to your space.
Dragon Tree 'Madagascar'
The Madagascar Dragon Tree (or Dracaena marginata) is a popular tall houseplant due to its ease of maintenance and stunning foliage. This plant is a member of the Dracaena Genus, and is recognized for the red blood-like resin it produces when it is damaged or cut it is believed to resemble the blood of the dragon from its native Madagascar homeland.
The Madagascar Dragon Tree, like many other members of the dracaena family, is extremely adaptable and hardy. This plant is great as a container grown plant and can grow to six or more feet if left unpruned. However, it can be kept shorter when pruned regularly. As long as it gets sufficient light and moisture, this plant will thrive in most conditions and shouldn't suffer from overwatering.
The ideal place to plant your Madagascar Dragon Tree would be in a room that has indirect lighting. Be sure to keep it away from direct sunlight, as this will cause the leaves to burn and cause the red resin to ooze out. The ideal place to plant your Madagascar Dragon Tree is a North facing window ledge, or a place that gets shade from East / West or South windows.
Dragon trees prefer a decent amount of humidity. This can be accomplished by misting the leaves regularly in most homes. This is especially crucial if you live with the plant in a place that is prone to becoming dry, like your office or bedroom.
If the soil becomes dry and the plant becomes sloppy, the Madagascar Dragon Tree begins to produce brown leaves. Try adding more water to the pot to keep it damp. You can also boost humidity by putting it in a group with plants that release moisture through their leaves, or by placing it on a tray with water and pebbles (so the bottom of the plant is above the level of water). It is a very tolerant plant and can easily be revived if the root ball remains healthy.
It is very easy to propagate a Madagascar Dragon Tree. This plant is sold in nurseries at retail as cuttings from the mature plant. It is also possible to grow by air layering stems, which is a simple procedure that will quickly create a full-sized plant.
Dwarf Umbrella Plant
The Dwarf Umbrella Plant has become a favorite of houseplant growers. It is among the fastest growing plants, able of reaching six feet or more with good lighting levels. It also has the climbing habit and is perfect for rooms with high ceilings. Its foliage is a beautiful dark green with creamy blotches and it is available in several different variegated and all-green varieties.
Umbrella plants can withstand different conditions, however it is recommended to give them plenty of sunshine and avoid low temperatures. They can also grow very quickly and grow to be overgrown in just one season. To keep them looking great keep them pruned regularly and remove any dead foliage. They thrive in small pots, which is why it is simple to repot them.
When watering your dwarf umbrella plant it is important to use a watering bottle or hose that produces a fine mist to ensure that the soil is evenly soaked. This type of hydration is required to stop root rot. Wait until the top inch of soil is dry before watering again and do not allow the soil to remain damp. The amount of watering you need can vary based on temperature and humidity. In the summer, it is more frequent to water and in winter, less often.
Fertilize the Dwarf umbrella Plant every two weeks using a household fertilizer formulated specifically for foliage plants. This will allow it to produce healthy lush growth and help the development of flowers if you wish. This can be done while you water your plant.
Regularly trimming your dwarf Umbrella Plant is also a good idea. This will keep it from becoming tangled and leggy, as well retaining the most healthy and vibrant foliage. It's also a good idea to remove any blooms that appear and to deadhead any faded blooms as soon as you notice them.
The University of Florida recommends that you cut off 1-inch stems just below the topmost leaf and plant them in a sterile medium such as seed starting gel or rooting mix. Keep them warm and moist until they root in about approximately 1 to 2 months.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
Fiddle Leaf Figs might be the hottest houseplant of today, but they are a little difficult to keep. They require lots of light, and they don't like drafts or temperature extremes. These plants can also drop leaves as a result of environmental changes, which is normal. If the plant loses a significant amount of leaves, the area for absorbing sunlight may be reduced, which may slow its growth.
Fiddle Leaf Fiddles can increase to as high as a foot each year under the right conditions. If a ficus plant starts growing too slowly, it is an indication that something is wrong. It could be because the plant isn't getting enough light, or the soil or container isn't appropriate for the plant.
Fiddle Leaf Figs require bright, well-filtered light to thrive. It is often difficult to find enough of this type of light in an indoor environment and, therefore, it's often necessary to supplement with LED lights or other plant lighting. This means that the plant can thrive without being exposed to too much direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves or cause them to turn brown.
This kind of plant requires an excellent potting soil that is well-draining. Over-watering can lead to root rot, in addition to other issues. It is better to let the soil air dry out between waterings. However, when you do, use water that's not too hot or cold.
Give the plant more light to encourage branching. This will make it more likely to stop growing straight toward the sky and start branching out from the sides. Another method to encourage branching is to prune it often, removing any damaged or overgrown leaves, and trimming branches that cross to keep the plant clean.
To help you figure out when you should water your plant, Mast recommends using the test of the touch. If you still feel the moisture on your fingers after pressing your finger into the dirt until it reaches the middle knuckle of your hand, it's probably time to water the plant.
Spider Plant
Spider plants (Chlorophytum Comosum) are a wonderful tall houseplant for the sunroom, conservatory, or any other space that is tall. They are a fairly simple plant to grow and propagate and are great at purifying the air in your home. Their green flowers are beautiful and can add color to any room.
They are fairly tolerant to various light levels, but they thrive in bright indirect sunlight. They can tolerate light levels that are low however their health and growth could be affected if they remain in dark places for a long period of time. Watering is crucial as these plants do not like being overly dry. low maintenance house plants is also important to mist the plants often to avoid fungal problems. You can also put pebbles on a tray under the pot to help provide moisture.
One of the great things about these plants is their capacity to produce baby plants very easily! It is recommended to take the trailing spiderettes from the mother plant when they have roots that are at least one inch long. Then you can plant the new pots in well-draining potting soil. The baby plants should root within a few weeks and then you can remove the parent plant to keep growing!
This is a very resilient plant that doesn't need frequent pruning, however, it will benefit from being pruned in the Spring to encourage blooming and new leaves. They look stunning cascading from the ceiling and can be used as the focal point of a hanging planter. Spider plants are safe for homes with children and pets as they are non-toxic.
They can also be affected by bacterial leaf blight as well as pest infestations. It is also important to regularly check them for pest infestations and bacterial leaf blight.