Noninfectious Disease Agents Some of the most difficult diseases to diagnose are caused by noninfectious (abiotic) agents. Abiotic symptoms can be non-specific and are often similar to symptoms associated with infectious diseases. Plants weakened by noninfectious agents may develop secondary infections which further confuses the diagnosis. Disease-Causing Factors Noninfectious diseases develop due to the presence or [...]
Infectious Plant Pathogens The interiorscape is a foreign environment for most tropical plants. Providing them with the proper moisture, nutrition and environmental conditions for optimum health is a constant balancing act. Plants weakened by improper care or incorrect environmental conditions can develop diseases. Defining Plant Disease Plant disease affects plants in two ways: it interferes with [...]
Summer's heat is upon us and our containerized exterior plants need lots and lots of water to keep them growing and looking their best. If they should go too dry between waterings they will develop that lackluster, stressed look that is most unprofessional. It's time to water heavily and frequently on those outdoor pots. Hydretain [...]
Cacti are a fascinating group of enchanting plants making beautiful standalone pieces in the interiorscape, particularly in areas with a lot of light. Its popularity with interiorscapers is due to its no-nonsense "leave-me-alone-and give-me-maximum-light" qualities. Cactus will survive for many years with very little care even in buildings with wide temperature extremes, making them a plant [...]
Resurgence: when pesticides kill off natural pest enemies and populations rebound. Secondary pest outbreak: when natural enemies of potential pests are killed bringing them to pest status Residues: the number of pesticides remaining in or on plants after a pesticide spray. The residue can also be in or on soil and in water - these move [...]
It's summer, which means it's tool time. There are some great tools out there to help you sweat a little less while still getting the job done. Maybe you've heard of some of the tools. But if you haven't, maybe you'll learn a few "new" tricks of the trade. Here are some uses for conventional tools [...]
Does everything seem especially dusty to you right now? It does to me. Maybe the sun is shining into our accounts at a different angle and we can see the dust better. Sometimes there just seems to be dust and dirt everywhere! Let's break down the dirt and dust, and learn some new techniques to keep [...]
The presence of plants in restaurants and cafes are booming, but what is it about the food service biz that makes our jobs so challenging? Top 10 complaints from interiorscapers across the United States: Dirty, greasy plants (from food fumes) Torn leaves High plant turnover Limited service hours High management turnover Slow bill paying Pest control [...]
Bromeliad assortment Just in case you haven't heard, bromeliads (bro-mill-ee-ads) are a happening plant right now. There are so many great new varieties showing up for interiorscape use. It’s like a veritable candy shop of choices and there are colors and styles for every design theme you can imagine. It’s our opinion that the [...]
NASA growing plants on the International Space Station You've probably heard about this study before, as it is a plant advocate favorite, but here it is again. While looking for a way to remove airborne pollutants from a sealed environment such as a space capsule, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) discovered [...]
