Water has a special property. Its molecules stay together in lumps and attach to each other, and when lumped together, they form anything between puddles to our rivers and oceans. Plant roots tap into these grouped molecules in the soil and drink. What many people (and even some plant technicians) do not know though, is that [...]
Ever notice plants listing towards a window or light source? The entire plant strains in one direction. They look as if they are "looking out the window" or perhaps listing like a boat that is unbalanced. If not corrected a boat may sink. A plant that is listing will continue to grow lopsided, look unattractive and [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
