How Much Should I Water Indoor Plants?
A thorough watering occasionally is better than a little frequently. The latter moistens only the top of the soil and causes the roots to come towards the surface in search of it. Most plants can safely be plunged in a bucket of water for half an hour or until bubbles stop, then stood where the surplus water can drain out freely. This ensures that water does not merely run down the sides of the pot and out at the bottom, which is what may happen when using a watering can. Those plants which hate having their leaves splashed can be stood in a saucer of water for hour, then drained.
Wick-watering is another alternative: place pots round a large bowl of water and put a length of thick cotton or wool between each pot and the water, so that the plants can continuously absorb some water (a useful device when going on holiday). Use pebbles to anchor the cotton.
Most indoor plants need liquid fertilizer in the water during the growing period, because a pot holds little soil and the nutrients in it are usually exhausted quickly.
If you can collect rain water, this is better for plants than tap water. You can also use water-softening tablets or a handful of peat left in a can of water overnight if the water is very hard. The water you use should be at room temperature.
Most plants dislike soggy soil - hence the advice elsewhere in this book to put pebbles or charcoal inside containers that lack drainage holes. For the same reason, do not leave a pot standing in a saucer full of water. It is better to keep pots on dishes or trays containing gravel, seashells, pebbles or anything else to raise them up a little.
|
|
 |
What is a Ground Cover? -
Ground covers tend have one thing in common – they tend to grow , Codling Moth horizontally rather than vertically. Some of them hug the ground and form a dense carpet; others grow , Topiary in clumps or tufts; some send out trailing stems and some are bushy in h...
Plants for Hanging Baskets -
Since you will be seeing the basket from below, trailing ones are an obvious choice; plus some to climb up the chains. Very small flowers , Preparing your lawn - Levelling will scarcely show....
Fruit Fly -
The Queensland fruit , Kitchen Design fly (Dacus [StrumetaJ tryoni) is the common pest , Perrenials in Planters species in the coastal areas and in certain other districts of this State and mainly infests summer , Rose Fertilizers fruits, particularly the later varieties. Citrus fruits, , Lawn Creation - Lawn Seed except grapefruit, are not g...
Hanging Baskets -
The most usual hanging container is a wire basket (which may have to be lined with plastic , Growing Passion Fruit or foil for indoor , How To Transplant Australian Native Seedlings use, to prevent drips), or a plastic , How To Grow Beans one with drip-tray incorporated. Other possible containers are lined wicker baskets, gilded bird , Garden Feng Shui cages, or...
The Rice Weevil -
The rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae, S. zeeamais) infests maize, wheat, oats, barley and other grains. It may also infest other hard foodstuffs such as macaroni and spaghetti. Infestation usually occurs after harvesting, but on the north coast maize may be...
Planning a Garden -
One of the first steps in planning a garden, , What Plants to Plant, and Where? and an important one, is to examine carefully the soil , Hedges - Growing a Hedge on the block chosen, noting any special points such as depth or apparently wet areas. It might prove advantageous to submit a sample of soil , Gardening Resources to a soil-chem...
Low Maintenance House Plants -
Some plants, , Tree and Shrub Propagation luckily, are happy in almost any conditions. If every pot plant , The Green Peach Aphid you were given in the past died almost as soon as you looked at it, do not lose heart. Try some of the plants , Virus Diseases listed below - they are virtually impossible to kill....
Water Garden -
First dig out a sufficiently large hole to the size of the water garden , Grouping House Plants required, plus about six inches in floor , Choosing House Plants depth, and at least four inches in width for each wall. , The Cherry Aphid This space allows for solid construction....
Miniature Roses -
Miniature roses , Planting a Garden range from 8 to 20 in. high. The tiny individual blooms are often replicas of hybrid teas. The foliage is also proportionately smaller. They are excellent for edgings of beds of floribundas or hybrid teas, as well as for window , Water Garden boxes or ro...
|
|
|
|
