3E


Plant Needs

LIGHT

Light is always one of the most limiting factors for interiorscapes. Light is used by the plants to make photosynthate for growth. Luckily for most interiorscapes the goal is to maintain the plant, not to have it grow. All species have different light requirements. For plants with high light requirements it may be a good idea to have them close to a South facing window (provided that you are in the northern hemisphere).

TEMPERATURE

Most of the plants that are used in interiorscapes are from the tropical rainforest so they like very moderate temperatures. It is important to be aware of plants that are near doorways or drafts in the cold months. If plants are exposed to temperatures below forty-five degrees Farenheit for too long they will incurr chilling damage. Chilling damage is evident from curling of leaves, necrotic spot, and also loss of leaves.

WATERING and NUTRITION
Watering may be the most important part of caring for plants. As a rule of thumb, plants that are growing faster need more water. Since indoor plants are usually not growing very fast it may be easy to overwater. Watering depends on a few simple principles.

1)Bigger containers hold more water making watering less frequent.

2)Different plants have different watering needs.

3)Some medias drain faster than otheres.

4)Bigger plants can use more water than smaller plants.

Water is so important because it carries nutrients. Most fertilizers are composed of three "macronutrients" that are essential for plants, Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorous. They aren't more impotant than other "micronutrients" that are used by the plant but they are used in greater quantities by the plant. Just like with watering nutrients are needed less with less growth and more with more growth.


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