Weekly watering and attention is advised for indoor plants. Proper placement of plants depends on appropriate lighting levels for each variety. Be considerate of drafts that may be created from doors or heating/cooling vents. Here are the Plant Lady tips…
- Watch for pests. Spider mites are microscopic bugs, which create leaf discoloration and fine spider webs. Mealy Bugs look like white cotton and can be best killed with a 50/50 solution of rubbing alcohol and water. Scale is a bug that forms a small bump on the trunk.
- It is advised to let new plants acclimate to their new environment (1-2 months) prior to up-potting and fertilizing. Oftentimes, the change of location can put the plant into shock.The plants in the ficus family (Bejamina, Ali, Fiddle Leaf Fig, and Rubber Tree) are known to drop leaves when moved.
- Up-potting is only necessary when the plant starts to create deformed and/or curled leaves. Another sign that it is time to up-pot is when the roots begin to grow out of the holes in the bottom of the pot.
- Be careful not to over-water plants. Yellow leaves or spots on the leaves are often a sign of too much water. Many varieties of plants like to dry out between watering, another reason that it͛s best to water once a week.
- Always protect plants when moving them in the cold Winter months. A box, brown paper bag, or garbage bag can prevent the cold air from getting to the leaves and destroying them. Brown and black leaves are a sign of frozen plants. Any temperature below 50 degrees is considered a risk for tropical plants.
- If you choose to plant into a pot without drainage, it is recommended to plant it terrarium style with pebbles at the base, then charcoal, then moss and then soil. Otherwise, the plant may rot-out.