Stitching Pathways. Jack Kramer
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When You’re Away
Your weekends away do not need to be a problem for your plants. To prepare your plants, thoroughly water medium-size and large containers in the morning, right before you leave. Then mist the leaves.
A bathtub or shower stall is a good place for small and medium-size containers while you’re away. Set the containers on bricks placed in 2 to 4 in. (51 to 102 mm) of water so that the water level just reaches the top of the bricks. Going away for an long time? Have a friend visit every few days to water.
Place a plant on bricks in a tub of water before you go on vacation. Wrap damp paper towels or peat moss around the pot to slow the evaporation from the soil to the porous pot. This contraption keeps plants moist for five to seven days.
A capillary mat provides a simple means of keeping plants watered for a few days. Capillary attraction in the soil and roots draws water upward as needed, defying gravity in a phenomenon known as capillary action.
Seasonal Changes
Summer
Fertilize (see here) plants that are actively growing now. Protect plants from hot sun by means of a sheer curtain or window screen. Provide good humidity and ventilation—houseplants do not thrive in a stuffy atmosphere. Inspect for insects at this time of year as well.
Many houseplants enjoy and really benefit from a summer vacation outdoors. In early summer, when the nighttime temperatures no longer drop below 60°F (15°C), you can safely move tropical houseplants outdoors.
Fall
As summer draws to a close, before the weather turns cool—and certainly before there’s even a remote possibility of frost—bring your houseplants indoors. Don’t forget to bring in clay pots, which crack in freezing temperatures. In the fall, when days can fluctuate between warm and cool, water attentively, giving each plant the amount it needs. Remember: never try to force resting plants to sprout new growth. At this time, let the soil become somewhat dry but not caked between waterings.
Winter
Repotting of old plants (see here) is generally best done in February and March, just when they’re coming out of dormancy. This way the plants have moderate weather to resume active growth.
Spring
Most houseplants do the majority of their growing in spring and summer, so this is the time when they need the most water.
Troubleshooting
Make sure your plants receive the right amount of light, moisture, humidity, and fertilizer, and that the indoor temperatures are suitable for each plant, and your plants will most likely be fine. But when problems do come up, use this troubleshooting guide to diagnose and treat your houseplants. Plants showing physical problems may need soil with better drainage, a different watering schedule, increased humidity, or just more fresh air. When there are multiple possible causes, change just one condition at a time to isolate the problem. Generally speaking, ongoing inspection and good growing conditions will help you prevent a few insects from becoming a major pest problem.
Soak new plants in water to bring insects to the surface.
Spotted leaves suggest various potential problems: heat too high, humidity too low, not enough fresh air, or soil too dry or too wet. Change the conditions one at a time to be sure of the cause.
Insufficient light caused this plant to reach awkwardly toward the sun and grow leggy stems with sparse leaves.
Lack of water and humidity or excessive heat, or both, have caused this plant to wilt.
Swab tobacco tea on leaves to get rid of scale or mealybugs.
Sticky traps are used to catch flying insects, such as whitefly, that have attacked houseplants.
This plant is not diseased. Insufficient water or too much fertilizer has burned it. Cut off the damaged leaves, water the plant thoroughly, and mist.
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