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 [...]
Symptom Possible Causes Take a Closer Look For no apparent reason, the plant is drooping Too much lightToo much water High temperature Kept in draft Is the foliage too pale or warm?Is the soil sour smelling? Does the foliage have black edges? Are there no roots, making the plant easy to remove from the soil? [...]
Ficus benjamina (weeping fig), part of the large Moraceae, or Mulberry, family, are native to Southeast Asia, India and Australia. F. benjamina has glossy green elliptical shaped leaves and a light tan colored trunk. Mature plants may produce small, inedible figs. Ficus benjaminas are available in a wide variety of forms including multiple standards, braided, single [...]
The horticultural technician has a lot to do in a short time. We have a lot of tasks and they need to be done efficiently. Use the following checklist every visit to make sure you are performing a complete and comprehensive observation of your plants. Observe the foliage Are leaves pale (chlorotic), yellow, brown, or spotted? [...]
