Many people think that referencing color is a great way to identify a houseplant. However, it takes more than just a typical houseplant name to be able to know its scientific species. It does not matter if you are trying to impress someone with your skill or knowledge concern houseplants, some people go to great lengths studying as much information as possible to know all about a particular plant.
There are various ways to go about finding out information about plants. Your local library is an excellent starting point, it will have books containing many pictures about every kind of plant you can imagine. An encyclopedia will show pictures, have in depth information, as well as genus and species names of many kinds of plants. You can use the pictures in the book to compare and make reference to the plants you have at home.
If you plan on breeding or creating hybrids of your houseplants, than it is important you know all you can. You can determine which plants to cross pollinate and create beautiful varieties. How you cross them is up to you, but knowing the information beforehand will enable you to do it correctly.
A Rose By Any Other Name?
When seeking information about your indoor houseplants, there are many who wonder if knowing the actual name is really all that important? Is it really going to matter if you have a corn plant or an exotic dracaena fragrans massangeana. This plant is non-flowering and its foliage is striped, many people find it appealing just for that matter alone. There is also a similar relative of the dracaena fragrans massangeana, called the striped dracaena around the house or also known as, dracaena deremensis. This particular variety has a thinner, longer type of foliage.
The scientific names of these houseplants, indicate that they need to be kept indoors. Due to their need for partial sunlight and minimal watering requirements. Some other species of this family are flower producing, most are admired and used for their such as the majesty palm. Plants care guide and books can let you know the differences among houseplants which will allow you to choose the most attractive ones for your house.
Another common houseplant is the ficus, it has tall stems with some reaching as high as six feet or more, with irregular shaped leaves. A ficus elastica, is a smaller member of the ficus family, and can easily identified by using a plant book. But, the more this plant is more widely known by its more popular name, the rubber tree.
Picture Of House Plant
As a general rule plants with very thin leaves or very large leaves are going to require more frequent watering. The best way to determine whether your plant needs water is to feel the soil. Do not go by looks or by how dry the surface soil feels. You will need to get your hands dirty. Since indoor plant roots cover the bottom two thirds of the pot, put your finger into the soil approximately one third into the pot. For example for a standard 6 inch pot you need to feel the soil about 2 inches down. When this part of the soil feels almost dry it is time to water. If you have to struggle to push your finger into the soil it means that the soil mixture is not porous enough or the plant has become root bound. To solve this problem you will need to re-pot the plant.
Ideally if you could collect some rain water to use for your indoor plants they will definitely thank you. This can be done very easily by placing a large bucket on your patio or roof. If that is not possible, try to use room temperature water only. Cold water can stunt the growth of your plant. Pour the water slowly on the surface until it drains out of the bottom of the pot. Remember the bottom two thirds contains the roots so you want to ensure they get sufficient saturation. The draining also helps wash out excess salts and fertilizer residue. You do not want the plant to sit in this water as this can cause root rot and kill the plant. After this thorough watering wait for the soil to dry out as explained above. Most plants will require watering about once a week only.
If during watering you notice that the soil is pulling away from the sides of the pot, it is an indication that you have allowed the plant to dry out too much between waterings. You can place the plant in a shallow water container so the plant can absorb enough water to fully saturate the roots. You can even re-pot it at this time. Do not allow this extremely dry condition to re-occur though.
Both Keith Markensen & Ann Mckee are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Keith Markensen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Gardening, Family and Gardening. Unpack for yourself why so many people are interested in . You're only a click away -. Keith Markensen's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
Ann Mckee has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acne Treatment, Womens Health and Home Management. Ann is a home based business entrepreneur who researches various topics and reviews internet products. For more information on Indoor House Plants visit her site all about. Ann Mckee's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.
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