Houseplant Basics

Claudia Steen
 Caring for
your Plants
Majority of houseplants are from Tropical regions
Ø Light
Ø Light is required for photosynthesis, intensity
depends upon nearness to the light source
Ø Requirements can vary between full sun, light
shade, shade and deep shade
Ø Maximum distance is 6 feet from a window or
minimum of 5,000 lux. Southern exposure best
Ø Plants require at least 6 hours of dark in 24 hours
Ø Artificial light - requires mostly blues, some reds
Ø Most plants bend toward the light so turn plants
occasionally for even growth

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Temperature

ØTemperature
Ø Interior plants do well
between 68-75 F
Ø In the winter plants
enjoy a resting period
when temperature, light
& moisture requirements
are lower
Boston Fern

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Watering requirements

ØWatering requirements
Ø Vary from dry to very
moist depending on plant
Ø Best to have pots with
drainage holes
Ø Determine water needs by
feeling soil or use moisture
meter
Ø Roots are in the bottom 2/3
Ø Best to water in the
morning and use room
temperature water
ØDon t let pot sit in water Maiden Hair Fern
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Watering methods

ØThree types of watering methods

1) Top watering easiest, water
close to base, avoid wetting the
foliage assure water goes out
drain hole
2 ) Bottom watering put water
into bottom tray and allow soil to
absorb through drainage hole
• Can have salt accumulation
so need to top water to flush Variegated Grass
every 4-6 months

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Watering methods

3) Plunging
Ø Submerge pot in
water, removes air
Ø Wait until bubbles
stop then allow to
drain

Hard water not good

rainwater best or use
de-mineralized water

Parlor Palm
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Humidity

Ø Humidity
Ø Affects extent to which plant
transpires
Ø Ways to increase humidity
Ø Grouping of plants
Ø Misting around plants early in
the day
Ø Stone and tray method
Ø Humidifiers in the house
Ø Washing foliage Shamrock Plant
Ø clears pores of dust
Ø Don t put plants near heat
registers
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Fertilization

ØFertilization
Ø 5-10-5 or 20/20/20 is
good mix for house plants Devil s Ivy
Ø Liquid / granules added to
water / or sticks with slow
release formulas
Ø Best to have repeated
doses of weak solution
rather than infrequent strong
dose
Ø Feed March – September
Ø Less frequently during
dormant season
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Repotting

ØRepotting
Ø Necessary when roots fill the
pot, every year ideal
Ø May need to cut roots around
root ball with thin, sharp knife or
unwind and cut roots that encircle
Ø Leave headroom to allow for
watering
Ø Use clean pot – wash in 1 part Coleus
bleach / 9 parts water
Ø Types of containers – clay,
ceramic, plastic, fiberglass,
wood, aluminum, copper, etc
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Soil

ØSoil
Ø Standard potting mix
of sterile peat moss,
vermiculite or perlite
Ø If soluble salts are
seen replace top soil &
add fresh water until English Ivy
seen coming out drain
hole for a few minutes

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Pinching & Pruning

ØPinching & Pruning

Ø Keeps plants compact
and full
Ø Pinch off growing tip
above leaf joint
Ø Disbudding to eliminate
flowering Peace Lily
Ø Remove all spent flowers,
dying leaves & dead
branches

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Propagating

ØPropagating plants
depends on the
individual plant variety
Ø Cuttings – root in
water and replant
Ø Nice to use
rooting agent
Ø Can do tip cutting
or leaf cutting
Ø Crown or root
division Piggy Back Plant

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Cultural problems

Ø Cultural problems
Ø No growth or leggy
growth – insufficient light
Ø Curled leaves – too
much light or aphids
Ø Brown leaf tips – low
humidity or salt build up
Ø Pale leaves – too little
light or iron shortage

Spider Plant

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Insect problems
& Diseases

ØInsect problems
Ø Aphids, whiteflies, red
spiders, mites, mealy
bugs, Thrips, etc
Ø Wash plants with mild
soap solution first
Ø Diseases
Ø Botrytis blight, fungus
leaf rot, mildew, root rot
Fiscus tree
Weeping fig

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Boston fern

q Nephrolepsis bostoniensis
q Best in hanging basket or
pot stands
q Grows 3 high & 5 wide
q Bright green leaves with
drooping 40 fronds
q Likes moist soil & humidity
q Mist periodically important
q Prefers being pot bound
q Clean out old fronds and
dried leaves periodically
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Maidenhair
Fern

q Adiantum aethiopicum
q Fan shaped leaflets with lacy
look on very slender stalks
q Likes steady moisture and
rich soil
q Does not tolerate dry air well
likes frequent misting
q Fronds die back briefly in the
winter

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Parlor Palm

q Chamaedorea elegans
q Can grows up to 6 tall
q Likes to stay moist
q Prefers humidity
q Mist occasionally to clean
fronds of dust
q Needs indirect light

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Coleus

q Coleus species
q Regular water
q Strong indirect light
q Likes humidity so mist
frequently
q Colorful leaves with
interesting foliage
q Pinch stems important to
keep compact
q Container can be taken
outdoors in the spring

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Piggyback plant

q Tolmiea menziesii
q 4 – 8 high
q Waxy, shiny dark green
heart shaped leaves with
scalloped edges
q Likes lots of light
q Even moisture with good
drainage
q Moderate humidity so mist
while cleaning foliage
q White flowers occasionally

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Devils Ivy

q Scindapsus pictus
q Leathery dark green leaves
splashed with white or yellow
q Requires high humidity so mist
q Loves to send out long runners
so pinch back when too long
q Used in hanging baskets
q Fun to use as wall decoration –
adds to the Solarium look

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 English Ivy

q Hedera helix
q Moderate water
q Green leaves deeply
lobed or cleft
q Likes humidity
q Mist leaves periodically
q Good in hanging baskets
q Pinch growing tip to halt
the length of growth

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Peace Lily

q Spathiphyllum maunaloa
q Broad bright green waxy
leaves that come to point on
slender stalks
q Likes high humidity
q Keep soil moist
q Likes extra fertilizer
q Periodic blooms of white
bract

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Spider Plant

q Chlorophytum comosum
q 1 – 3 tall
q Soft curved leaves
q Best in hanging baskets or
elevated pot stands
q Likes light so rotate plant
periodically
q Small white flowers on long
stalks
q Propagation by rooting
plantlets

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Weeping fig or
Benjamin tree

q Fiscus benjamina
q Over 900 species with trees,
shrubs, hanging plants, etc
q Can grow to 8 or more
q Likes bright indirect light
q Water evenly
q Clean leaves with damp sponge
q Feed regularly
q Likes to be pot bound
q Drops yellowing leaves in winter

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Grasses

q Many species of grasses can

be brought in over the winter
q Minimal water required
q Likes light
q Container can be returned
outdoors after last frost day

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Shamrock

q Oxalis deppei
q Over 800 species
q Lucky four leaf clover
q Bright green leaves
q Likes sunny location
q Don t over water
q Moderate humidity
q White to pink delicate
flowers on long stalks
q Propagated by division

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Dieffenbachia

q Dieffenbachia sequine
q Many species
q Likes increased humidity
q Does not like being pot bound
q Semi-shade not full sun
q Water but let dry in between
q Plant leaves contains
strychnine!

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 Christmas cactus

q Schlumbergera bridgesii
q Zygocactus/Rhipsalidopis
q A succulent
q Withhold water but do not
let joints shrivel
q Prefers shade
q High humidity
q Special attention needed
to bring about flowering

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
 The Joy of Plants

Any Questions? Decorating your home with plants

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
Turn your home
into a Solarium