Indoor Plant Care - How to Houseplant Care

Poinsettia Plant Every Christmas season  for twenty or more years, I have had hundreds of these lovely "flowers" in my care.They are delicate and fragile and you must use care when handling them. Place them out of high traffic areas and away from places where they might get a cold draft. If you are moving them during cold weather be sure to enclosed them in a loose fitting sleeve or plastic bag. Just be careful not to break them. They are quite fragile and easy to damage. When shopping for  your Poinsettia, be sure the bracts are well colored up. For maximum use of your flowering Christmas Poinsettia, the flower, small and yellow in the center of the bracts, should be.... read more about Poinsettias

Use beautiful greenery in your office space Adding plants to your office is something that every employee (and business owner and employer) should want to do. The benefits, both physical and psychological are evidenced in numerous scientific studies. The cost savings are also significant enough for any cost conscious  business owner to sit up and take notice. Many people working in an office environment surround themselves with reminders of home. That often includes house plants. Whether you bring your own and care for them yourself or engage the services of a local interior landscape company, every office should include beautiful potted plants. Improve your environment and help clean the air, add indoor tropical plants to your work space! Click through for more about why plants are good to have in the office. Then come visit us at  www.PlantAndFlowerInfo.com  to read about lots of different plants that you can put in your work place.

Welcome to the New Orleans Botanical Garden. From the 1930s to today, we're proud to offer the city of New Orleans carefully cultivated gardens. Open year round, twelve acres of gardens and art await you. Whether you are a local or a tourist, make sure to  take a leisurely stroll through our many gardens. We know you'll see something new each visit and always leave with a smile. After you visit the New Orleans Botanical Garden, come see us over at www.PlantAndFlowerInfo.com  to learn more about your favorite house plants...

Photo by WK Fletcher Doing some research on rare orchids, I came across a few news articles regarding the discovery of a rare orchid in 1987. Paphiopedilum rothschildianum, also known as The Gold of Kinabalu Orchid or the Rotchschild's Orchid is believed to grow in the wild in only one location. If you want to see this beautiful slipper orchid growing in the wild, you will have to visit the Kinabalu National Park in Malaysia. That is quite a journey from the east coast of the United States. Following is some information from Wikipedia about the Malaysian Park. "Kinabalu Park  or  Taman Kinabalu  in  Malay , established as one of the first  national parks of Malaysia  in 1964, is Malaysia's first  World Heritage Site  designated by  UNESCO  in December 2000 for its "outstanding universal values" and the role as one of the most important biological sites in the world with more than 4,500 species of flora and fauna, including ...

Beautiful Orchids Do you love orchids? I know that I do. Although many of them need a special environment that not everyone can provide, that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the unique beauty of these wonderful plants. We most often use Phalaenopsis orchids in our interior landscapes and that is the type I usually keep at home but there are thousands of types of orchids. Wouldn't it be fantastic to see many of these all in one place? If you live in the Santa Barbara, California area or plan a visit or trip to the area, you might want to consider stopping in at the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate . Check them out and be amazed at the scope of orchids they have on display and for sale. As an additional bonus , there is an annual orchid show in Santa Barbara. The 70th Annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show will take place March 13-15, 2015. There will be an art show and sale, information on flower arrangement and exotic displays and, of course, orchids to see an...

Norfolk Island Pine The Norfolk Island Pine is a versatile plant. It can be used as a unique indoor potted plant, a decorative focal point on your patio as a container plant and it is often decorated with miniature ornaments and used as a holiday tree. Yes, the holidays are almost here. The poinsettias will soon be out and the Christmas trees and other holiday decorations will be showing up everywhere. Time sure does fly! The 2014 holiday season is about to begin... An evergreen tree native to Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean, the Norfolk Island Pine, or Araucaria heterophylla , is often used as an indoor live Christmas tree during the holiday season. We often give these out during the holidays to our great interior landscape customers.  Read more about the Norfolk Island Pine...

Cute and simple way to display plants This interior design and architecture website has some interesting ideas for displaying indoor tropical plants. Believe it or not, there is one display that combines a dog house and plant container. Wonder if they make one for the cats? You could grow catnip in the planter. If you have lots of cats that could get kind of crazy! Take a look at these ideas, you will no doubt find something that catches your interest. Visit Homedit.com website for some plant display ideas. If you need help, advice or assistance with your house plants, you can come and visit us at  www.PlantAndFlowerInfo.com .... Let us know if you have an inventive or creative way to display your plants!

Dracaena Warneckii One of the easiest to care for indoor house plants is the Dracaena Warneckii . Besides being an easy care house plant it also quite attractive and will survive in lower light situations and tolerate some watering mistakes and a little neglect. Of course, you should not neglect your house plants and you should provide the best lighting and watering that you can. To illustrate my point I have a little indoor plant story or two to tell. I just love to tell silly plant stories! The first interior landscape company that I worked for as an interior plant technician was Tiffany's Decorative Plants in Fremont, California. This company no longer exists as it was eventually bought out by the larger interior landscape company called Ambius . Back to my Warneckii story... One of the accounts that I serviced for Tiffany's was a french restaurant called Papillon on Mission Blvd. in Fremont, California. Intended to be a romantic place to eat, the inter...

Hi New Plant People, Pothos Marble Queen Plant This is for the folks that are new to the business of interior plant care. I often receive emails from readers that are having problems with their indoor house plants. This is how they generally read: " I am new to houseplants and have just gotten my first indoor potted plant. It was love at first sight. I have never had a plant before so I was so happy to bring it home. I got her a new pot, some soil and potted it up as soon as I could. Now it is not doing so well. Can you tell me what is wrong with my plant?"  Just a few tips for starting in the fun of indoor gardening. It can be addictive and since most plants cost money it is wise to use a little common sense when acquiring new additions to the family. Indoor plants are something like a new puppy. Dog professionals will tell you that you need to research the dog breeds before you bring a new pup home. They each have different needs, energy levels, ...

National Orchid Garden-Singapore If you live in or are travelling in Southeast Asia and you are a plant lover, you might want to take in the wonderful flora and fauna at the Singapore Botanic Gardens . The botanic garden, an oasis in the highly urbanized Republic of Singapore, boasts a diversity of plant life for visitors to enjoy. There are many sections of the garden including the Rain Forest, the National Orchid Garden, Bonsai Garden, The Healing Garden and the Fragrant Garden. The  National Orchid Garden has over 1000 orchid species and 2000 orchid hybrids on display. Orchids have been associated with the gardens since 1859 and many of the Orchids are products of their orchid breeding program, which began in 1928. Showcasing over 400 medicinal plants, the Healing Gardens was designed as a tranquil respite. The main focus is on medicinal plants used traditionally in Southeast Asia. Come in and enjoy the peaceful serenity of the garden. Located near the Healing Gar...

Plants And Birdcage Carol at TheGardeningCook.com shows some attractive and inventive ways to combine birdcages and plants! Take a look at her website and join her as she cooks and gardens her way through life! Great ideas, Carol! The birdcage shown here uses quite a few succulents but there are many other ideas waiting to be discovered there. I wonder if the birds flock to Carol's place to get into her birdcages... Try some of these cute and creative ways to display your favorite outdoor plants. Come to think of it, this is a great way to display your hanging indoor plants too. If you decide to fill your birdcage with an  English Ivy , a Philodendron Cordatum or some other great indoor plant but find you are having some trouble with its care, stop in at PlantAndFlowerInfo.com for some houseplant care information and personal advice if you need it. Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Croton Petra - Codiaeum variegatum Croton houseplants  are one of the more colorful indoor tropical plants. It is hard not to notice this bushy, upright plant because of the vividly colored foliage. The Croton, or Codiaeum variegatum pictum , has leaves splashed with green, orange and red with the veins often yellow, depending on the variety. Sometimes referred to as Joseph's Coat  because of its many colors, Croton is a member of the Euphorbia plant family. One of its relatives is the  Poinsettia , Euphorbia pulcherrima. Read more about Croton plant...

With a working farm, childrens garden, Orchid and bromeliad displays and great nature trails for walking, you might want to plan a visit to Denver Botanic Gardens in Littleton, Colorado. And everyone loves a Corn Maze and Pumpkin Festival, part of the gardens fall fun. When you arrive home and find your indoor plants need some attention, come and visit  www.PlantAndFlowerInfo.com . But first  Enjoy Denver Botanic Gardens !

Paphiopedilum Orchid There are many great places on the internet to find pictures, images and photographs. I was looking through some websites last night trying to find some orchid pictures when I came across a fantastic site. I have never seen so many great orchid pictures all in one place. The photographer is named as  QT Luong . It also says that many pictures are from "our home-grown orchid collection".  Take a look, it is quite unbelievable. The website is  terragalleria.com  and the images are available through license.  All of those flower and orchid lovers out there, take a look, if you haven't seen this work before. I am amazed at that extent of these photographs.  If you purchased a houseplant (or an orchid) from your local nursery or retailer and you need some assistance with its care, come visit  PlantAndFlowerInfo.com . After you take a look at  QT Luong's  great images!

Lady Palm - Rhapis excelsa If I had to choose which indoor palm plant is my favorite houseplant , it would be Rhapis excelsa palm . This lovely plant is a favorite with interior landscapers as it is hardy and will survive in lower light levels. It is also more cold tolerant than many other tropical indoor palms. Most types of fan palms are not well suited to life in the average home because of their tendency to spread out, requiring lots of space. While used in large interior landscapes, most fan palms tend to quickly outgrow any available space in smaller areas. Rhapis excelsa , or Lady Palm, has more of an upright growth making it a good choice for use in your home. It has glossy, dark green fronds and while it can be maintained in somewhat low light levels, it will look its very best in bright light with some morning sun. Read more about the care of this beautiful indoor palm...

Field of Daffodils Where can you see 25000 flowers in bloom all at the same time? Visit the Tower Hill Botanic Garden  in late April or early May and you can enjoy the spectacular Field of Daffodils. The Field of Daffodils is just one of 16 unique areas at Tower Hill devoted to flora and fauna. The garden also boasts an apple orchard, vegetable garden and wildlife garden. If you are in the area during the colder months, Tower Hill also has an area with plants that are at their best during the winter season. Tower Hill Botanic Garden is located in Boylston, Massachusetts. A small town with a population of about 5000, Boylston is approximately 45 miles from Boston. If you are in the area, you should try to stop in and see the gardens. After a long day touring the historic area and visiting Tower Hill Botanic Gardens you may arrive home and find your own plants need some help. If so, come and visit us at PlantAndFlowerInfo.com .

Beautiful Aechmea Blue Tango If you need some help with a #houseplant #id, please visit the PlantAndFlowerInfo.com contact page . Please attach a picture you have resized for the web. If you cannot resize, just send a message and I will respond via email. Then you can send your photo. I do not post my email because the amount of spammers out there is ridiculous. And they still get through (into the spam box). I was, once again, visiting the a "garden web" site and was going to post some information on a houseplant identification for Jessie T. To get a simple id, there is a requirement that you join and accept the lengthy Terms of Service, so I could not help Jessie ID her #plants. She had also made a comment about what a pain it had been to do the post. If you happen upon this, Jessie, your house plants are a Tradescantia and a Eurcharis grandiflora. If there is not a page specific to your plants care(yet), just send an email . Thanks

Mealy Bug Insects (Missouri Botanical Garden) House Plant and Pesky Insects! The very best way to be sure you don't have insect problems on your indoor plants is to check for bugs before you buy. Always try to buy your houseplants when they have just arrived at the local retail store from the growers. The folks that produce your plants at the nursery follow a regimen of treatment to make sure they do not have insects damage their plants. However, once they arrive at the local store, the probability that they are going to end up with some kind of insect problem tends to increase. I usually walk through the indoor plant section of the local home improvement stores (I won't name any names) whenever I am there to purchase something else. I can't tell you the number of times that I find insect problems starting up on the house plants. My recommendations for keeping pests from being a problem indoors is to always check plants before you buy or bring home. Once you...

Crystal's New Peace Lily & Container Hi There Plant People The PlantAndFlowerInfo.com contest ended July 31, 2014. The grand prize was a new, beautiful houseplant and container, delivered by a local florist. The winner of the Grand Prize was Crystal G., University Place, Washington. She posted a picture of the gorgeous Peace Lily and container that she received on our Facebook Page . Here it is! The picture of her new plant. ------>>>> There were 2 other winners, Emily M. of Pittsburg, PA and Joshua P., from Dorchester, MA. They each won a botanical themed art print to help decorate their homes. Unlike Crystal, they will not have to water their prizes! Thanks to you guys that entered and I hope the winners enjoy their prizes. Have a great Labor Day holiday everyone!

Beautiful Orchid A basic common sense  approach to plant care and trusting yourself to make the right decisions will give you the best results with all of your plants. Working in the interior landscape business for over twenty years, I learned that the most important part of plant care is not so much the type of plant you have but the  light   your plants receive and the  watering  of your plants in relation to the lighting. A litte trial and error is really all you need to find out what your houseplant needs from you to grow and thrive. Read more about learning to care for your indoor plants...

Hi Plant People, The PlantAndFlowerInfo.com sweepstakes/contest ended on July 31, 2014. Thanks to all of you that entered the contest to win a beautiful, new interior houseplant and container. The winners have been drawn and notified. They include two runner-up winners who will receive a botanical themed decorative art print for their home. I am so happy to be able to send a few of our readers these great prizes. Winners will be announced as soon as their eligibility has been verified. Thanks again to everyone! Visit the website if you need some assistance with your indoor houseplants!

Free Houseplant Hi Plant People... Tomorrow is the last day to enter the  PlantAndFlowerInfo.com contest-sweepstakes to win a beautiful new houseplant and container, delivered to your door! There are also 2 runner up prizes. Hurry and enter today and tomorrow. Just click through here for the entry form page . Have a great day everyone and hope you are the winner...

Win a Houseplant or Botanical Art Enter Contest Enter the PlantAndFlowerInfo.com contest to win a beautiful new houseplant and decorative container delivered to your home. We are having a contest in the month of July 2014 and will be giving away a new houseplant and two other prizes. No purchase is needed, just answer a few multiple choice houseplant related questions. Odds of winning depend on valid entries. Here is the link to the contest entry page . You can enter once a day through July 2014. Have a great weekend!  Thanks and please share this with family and friends who might like to enter and win a gorgeous, new houseplant!

Orchids - Tropical Houseplants and their Care Orchid Flowers Orchids are beautiful  and unique flowering plants that you can keep in your home. Often considered difficult to care for, there are varieties that can be grown in the home. They do require good light , some humidity and proper temperatures but most anyone can keep one of these gorgeous tropical house plants with a little care, proper watering and some patience. There are thousands of types of Orchids  but only a few can be kept successfully in the average home. These include Phalaenopsis , Cattleya, Cymbidium and  Dendrobium orchids . You will find one or more of these types of Orchid available at most stores that sell indoor plants.  Phalaenopsis Orchids , or Moth Orchids, are the type generally found in local stores that do not specialize in plants and flowers, such as your neighborhood grocery store. That is because they are one of the easiest to care for Orchids. Read more about Orchids an...

Aglaonema Firecracker Top Ten Easy Care Houseplants  As an interior landscape technician  for more than 20 years, I have learned which indoor tropical plants are the best houseplants. When you work in the interior plant care industry, plant care is what you do all day and everyday. Dealing with plants that are in less than optimal growing conditions has become second nature. You also learn which plants are most adaptable and durable under adverse growing conditions. These are some of the most commonly used plants in the interior landscape industry and for good reason. Check links for more specific plantcare information. Here is my list of  top-ten best indoor houseplants .

Aglaonema Emerald Beauty - Question from Linda Aglaonema Emerald Beauty What could be wrong with my # aglaonema emerald beauty #plant if some of the leaves have started turning yellow. My plant is also a lot less full than it used to be. I am not sure how to prune it. Do I prune the leaves from the top to help the bottom get full again. Do I need to use new soil? Here are some photos of my plant. I have had it for at least 5 years. It used to be much fuller and healthier. My watering has been pretty consistent. It has been in a bay window which faces a covered patio. Aglaonema Emerald Beauty - Houseplant Answer Thanks for the pix. This is assuming it is not a problem from too much water... You can , and should , cut back a stalk or two of an aglaonema every once in a while. I would cut back the most bare, or the tallest and (or) anything that seems to be falling over. Just cut the stalk, about 2-3 inches above the soil level. You can root the cut stalk(s) in wate...

Question from Kate... Pothos Marble Queen  I'm wondering if there is any way to revive a pothos plant? I received it in beautiful, healthy condition - about 6 vines? ranging from 1-3ft long. I promptly left it in my un-garaged car for 3 days in 30-50 degree temps. I remembered it, brought it inside, watered it but many of the leaves & vine stems are now dark green & limp - not completely wilted, but getting there. I feel awful and am hoping it can be resurrected. Any advice will be very much appreciated, as is this forum -thank you! Answer...   Hi Kate, The best advice I can offer would be to cut back the vines and hope there was no root damage. If the roots are okay the plant should regrow. The damaged foliage will not recover and needs to be removed, in any case. I know many people balk at cutting their plants back. In my experience, the plants that I keep pruned on a regular basis are also the best looking plants. Pruning promotes new growth and ne...

Creative Container Ideas It can be difficult to find that perfect container for your #indoor plants and even your #outdoor #plants. Some of us like to use the old standards such as terracotta, ceramic and plastic or even those old oak barrel containers. However, sometimes it is fun to be really creative . I have seen plant enthusiasts use an old porcelain toilet or tub to display their pretty plants and flowers in the front yard. Recycling old items is a great way to avoid waste and creatively contain your houseplants and exterior plants. Just be aware of concerns with water leakage. You may need to line some items to avoid drips, leaks and water damage. Here are some cute and creative ideas for planting that you may not have thought about before. Take a look at these interesting ideas and pictures for planting succulents and cactus from LagunaDirt.com ... One of the favorite succulents for use as an indoor houseplant is the Sanseveiria  or Snake Plant . Come read more a...

It is just about a week since the first official day of  Suzy's www.WorthingCourtBlog.com spring but, as usual, the weather tends to be quite fickle during March and April. It still feels  like winter in so many places. Check out this blog with some cute ideas for bringing some spring into your indoor space. Even when it is still a little chilly outside,  you can enjoy your lovely indoor plants. Thanks for the great blog Suzy! If you need some help with your houseplants or are trying to find one that is just right for a certain spot in your home, come on over to PlantAndFlowerInfo.com for #houseplant ideas that can help brighten up your indoors and for some great houseplant care help and advice. Have a great Spring!

The #Bellagio Hotel in #Las #Vegas is famous for its fountains, but did you know they also have a conservatory and #botanical #gardens? There are many great sights to see in Las Vegas, so if you're visiting in Las Vegas, Nevada soon, consider putting the inside of Th e Bellagio on your "places to see" list.  http://www.bellagio.com/attractions/botanical-garden.aspx Then, once you get home, head on over to  www.PlantAndFlowerInfo.com  to pick out houseplants for your own indoor gardens.

Do you love  #houseplants  but you're not really sure how to place them in your home? Take a peek at this blog for some interesting ideas for different containers and interesting placement ideas. http://www.designsponge.com/2013/04/sneak-peek-best-of-indoor-plants.html  Then come take a look at  www.PlantAndFlowerInfo.com  for help in deciding which plants you are going to use...

Houseplants and Care, Dracaena Janet Craig Dracaena Houseplant A member of the Dracaena family, Janet Craig, or Corn Plant, is one of the more common Dracaena found in homes and interiorscapes. Dracaena Janet Craig is grown in a variety of forms including the tip, bush and cane. This glossy, dark green plant can be anywhere from one foot tall to twenty feet tall, though it is uncommon to find them at that height except in interior landscapes or the tropical jungle. If you are trying to find a nice looking houseplant that will tolerate lower light, the Dracaena Janet Craig...read more about this great indoor plant

House Cat, Wheat Grass Houseplants, Cats and Dogs I have recently posted some information from the ASPCA about # houseplant s that may or may not be toxic to your beloved #pets. Here is that link again.  ASPCA list of toxic and non-toxic plants, including houseplants. I know that all of my pets like to eat grass. If they can't get to grass, they will eat your houseplants, if they can get close enough to them. That can make your plants look really bad (if there is anything left to look bad ;}) and some of these plants may be harmful to your pets, so it is best to keep them out of reach. You can also grow grass specifically for your pets. This is great when you keep them indoors. One thing I have found is you need to plant your "pet" grass in a fairly heavy pot or they may knock it over and damage the plant (before they get a chance to nibble on it). Here is a link for more information on  growing wheat grass for your pets, both cats and dogs. For information and ...

Grandfather Mountain NC These are a couple of photographs I took of Trillium flowers. The first one to the right was growing on the East coast, near Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. From what I have read, this particular Trillium is fairly rare and Grandfather Mountain is one of the few places that it grows. That may or may not be so. Any information about Trilliums? The next photo of what I assume is a Trillium was taken in the forests of Oregon. I happened upon it as I was taking a little hike with the dogs and spotted it on the side of the trail. There were only a few but they are kind of pretty. Oregon forest I just thought I would post these, even though my website is about the care of indoor houseplants. Any one out there an expert on Trilliums or have any information to offer about them? Houseplant care and information available here . If you need some advice, I would be happy to help out. Hope everyone's new year is going great.

Fittonia Plant If you walk into your neighborhood greenhouse or house plant retailer and you see a Fittonia plant , you will want to have it in your collection of indoor plants. It is an attractive, creeping plant with either red, pink or white veins throughout the leaf and hairy stems. Mosaic Plant, Nerve Plant or Painted Net Leaf are some other common names for Fittonia . The larger leaf varieties can be difficult to grow and require a warm, humid environment. The dwarf variety, Fittonia argyroneura nana, is less demanding and may have a better chance at surviving the average household conditions. Houseplant questions or problem? Read more about Fittonia and houseplants and their care...

Arboricola is a common houseplant and is sometimes referred to as an 'Umbrella Plant'. The Schefflera Arboricola and Amate are the two types most commonly used as interior houseplants. They are most often grown in a bush form but sometimes can be found in a standard or braided trunk form. Pictured to the right is the Schefflera Arboricola. Arboricola is also known as Dwarf Umbrella tree or Parasol Plant. In some plant information it is named as Heptapleurum arboricola but it is usually sold as Schefflera arboricola. Schefflera is best in bright, indirect light but can be acclimated to medium light placements. Very low light is not recommended. Read more about Schefflera Arboricola plants and their care...

Birds Nest Fern Ferns have been popular houseplants for centuries even though some of them can be difficult to maintain in normal household conditions. There are many varieties from which to choose. Most ferns will do well in bright indirect light and require a regular schedule of watering and care. They will need more attention than most houseplants. One of the easiest ferns to care for as a houseplant is the Birds Nest Fern or Asplenium Nidus. It is more likely to let you get away with a few mistakes than many other ferns. An added attraction is the leaflets that often fall from other ferns, creating quite a mess, are not present on Birds Nest Fern. A great looking, easy care fern that doesn't make a mess on the floor! You can't beat that. Read more about Birds Nest Fern houseplants and their care... 

Healthy Houseplant If you want your houseplants looking great, you need to know that the available light and how you water your  indoor plants relative to that lighting is more important than any other factor. Forget the fertilizers , the re-potting, pinching and pruning and concentrate on learning how to water your plants properly . This alone, if done right, will make more difference than anything else you can do for your houseplants. Watering indoor plants correctly can be tricky. Improper watering is the main cause of death with indoor plants. Usually this would be from over-watering but if you are not caring for your plants on a regular schedule, under-watering can be a problem. Advice that give you watering intervals, amount of water, etc. are really not reliable. Having cared for thousands of plants as a Plant Lady, I know that the only way to determine if a plant needs water is to check the moisture level in the soil at regular intervals. Every plant is differ...