Weird Foliage Colors Loss of green color in mature leaves or the new growth appearing with abnormal pigments is frequently a symptom of fertilizer deficiency. Look closely at your plants; do they have a lush, vivid color or are they looking tired and dull? If they are looking tired, they might need a dose of fertilizer. [...]
Most interiorscape companies replace plants as part of the on-going guarantee to their customers. The goal of this policy is to replace declining plants before the client notices there is a problem. So how do we know when it is time to replace and not just go overboard, replacing every plant at the slightest sign of [...]
Increase watering as the season changes and temperatures rise. Check moisture levels before you water. Write a to-do list to keep you on track Check seasonal flowers every Monday morning, as some buildings will be warm during the weekends. Fertilize interior plants that have been in account more than six months. (Careful not to [...]
Mealybug are active in the spring To some Spring means the scent of spring bulbs wafting through the air, to others it means lovely bird songs, but to those of us in horticulture, Spring means it’s insect season. Spring finds us with populations exploding of various insects and mites on our plant friends. As [...]
Ivy plants are beautiful and hardy plants Plant technicians have been battling the “obnoxious” ivy for years in gardens. If left alone, ivies could possibly take over the world! But, let’s step back a moment and consider the ivy (and tropical plants) in the interiorscape. Similar to the many varieties of tropical plants horticulturalists [...]
Chamaedorea Falcifera I have a new favorite plant, a tall very hardy palm closely related to our old friend the Bamboo palm, (Chamaedorea seifrizii). After 33 years in this industry it’s always fun to “discover” a new plant to add to our collection. This one is called Chamaedorea falcifera. Apparently I’m not the [...]
Air plants are amazing Many species of Tillandsia are ageotropic; they grow irrespective of gravity. You can mount air plants to a support in any position, even upside down. There is no wrong way to mount them. Tillandsias are hardly ever bothered by insects or mites. They hang in the air with no soil, [...]
Get there safely As an interior plant technician, you will spend a lot of time driving to your accounts. It's important to always plan for any inconveniences you may encounter while driving. Here’s a checklist for staying safe when you’re in transit. Know something about where you’re going before you get there. That means [...]
Great customer service matters As an interior plant technician who strives to provide the best customer service at all times, it's best to remember that great communication skills provide for smooth transactions. Sometimes words add turbulence rather than smoothing over a sticky situation. Use those same words with an angry customer and you could [...]
Don't wait until pruning is overdue Does your Schefflera arboricola look more like a sprawling octopus than the compact bushy plant it was meant to be? The arboricola is one of the easiest plants to care for when you know how to maintain its shape. When the arboricolas in your care start to look [...]
