Flowers and plants

Potted indoor plants

This page contains following subjects:

  • Introduction
  • Dividing in groups
  • The care of potted plants 
  • Tips for care

Introduction

Under potted houseplants we count all plants that can live for a short or longer period in our house, like green, multi colored and flowering plants. Tenability differences a lot and can take a few weeks till many years. Houseplants are called often pot plants or indoor plants.

Dividing in groups

Potted plants are divided in groups. We do this to make an advise for the care of the plants easier. There are several possibilities to put plants in groups. An often used schedule is:

Group 1 one-, or more year flowering plants
Group 2 Flowering plants with a boll, knoll or rootstock
Group 3 Flowering hang-, clime-, and trained plants
Group 4 Flowering plants, which can live more years
Group 5 Bromelia
Group 6 Cacti and succulents
Group 7 Small green and multi colored plants
Group 8 Greene plants higher than 15 cm
Group 9 Multi colored plants higher than 15 cm
Group 10 Green and multi colored hanging-, climbing-, and trained plants
Group 11 Ferns
Group 12 Palms

Another schedule is:

A. Leave plants - green plants
     - multi colored plants.
B. Flowering plants.
C. Plants who have fruits or berries.

We can divide plants also in this schedule:

A. Sun loving plants.
B. Half shadow plants.
C. Shadow plants.

Or we divide the plants into temperature:

A. Tropical plants.
B. Subtropical plants.
C. Moderate plants.

Another schedule is to the need of water:

A Plants who stand quite dry.
B Plants who need limited water.
C Plants who need much water.
D Plants who must stand in the water.

There are plants, which can stay a year around in a warm place. Other plants need a cool period in wintertime, a rest period. Some plants can stay in summer time outside.

The care of potted plants

Potted plants will grow only if the conditions are good. We call this the growing conditions. They are: Light, air, water (and humidity), temperature, nutrition and soil.
Essential for the care of plants is: The natural heritage of the plant and the knowledge of the climate, the natural circumstances.
Potted plants can be put in soil or in a system in water (hydro culture). On hydro culture the plant needs less care than in soil. Especially green and multi colored plants are put in hydro culture. This because the better tenability and easy care.

Tips:

  • Put plants not too close behind the glass, they can burn of freeze.
  • Put plants not too close by the central heating of a convector.
  • Put on a dark place only a green plant, which need few light.
  • Spray regularly ferns and keep the humidity high.
  • Use eventually the Isle method. Under the plant we put a plate filled with water to increase the humidity around the plant. The plant may not stand in the water.
  • Plants with leather leaves need less water as plants with soft abundant leaves.
  • Pruning can improve the model of the plant.
  • When the pot or soil becomes white, or the plant outgrow the pot, it is time to repot the plant.
    If the plant have fungi as we often see by Begonia, disappear it immediately or through the plant away.
    Plants standing in a draught will have easy insects such as spint.
  • Most cacti want to have a cool dry winter period.

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Last update of this page 23.05.2004