Good posture helps prevent injury Plant technicians are increasingly susceptible to repetitive stress injuries of all kinds, so remember that good posture is among the things you can do physically to help ward off unnecessary strains. Heed these tips: 1. Don’t lean your head forward The average adult head weighs 10 pounds. When it’s carried [...]
Water flowers and plants efficiently There are a number of components that contribute to the interior plant technician's ability to create beautiful, healthy plants for the client. Good business sense dictates that the technician do so as cost-effectively as possible. Obviously, water is a key contributor to the plant’s health. How the technician transports [...]
Manage your time efficiently How can you give your accounts the attention they deserve when you're always busy? Is it possible to even do a good job and still get everything done in time? Surely there's a better way to manage your time and not feel stressed. Someone once said, “We all have the [...]
Fiddle leaf fig trees are prone to broken branches It’s so upsetting to walk up to a plant that you haven’t seen for a week and see a broken, dangling branch, maybe even more than one. Ohhh, the poor thing! How did that happen? How long has it been like this? It’s gotta hurt! [...]
It's important to take care of your hands Working with plants, whether indoors or outdoors, can be hard on hands. Soil, water, fertilizers and chemicals leave them dry and irritated. Your hands are very important in your line of work. They need to be cleaned and lubricated just like your pruners, scissors and other [...]
Always listen to your customer's concerns As an interior plant technician, you never know what question or problem will be thrown your way next. In order to survive, you need to think fast. You need to be able to respond to even the most difficult customer complaints in a way that not only addresses [...]
Neem oil treats pests organically Here's something new to try in the war against insects taking over your interiorscapes. Neem oil is a natural, organic insect and pest control made by pressing the seeds of the neem tree (Azadircta indica). This plant is native to East India and Burma, and is a tropical evergreen [...]
How does a plant drink water? How does a plant drink water? When you pour that half of a gallon of water into the soil of your Spathiphyllum do you ever wonder how it gets up to the very tips of the leaves? Part of the answer lies in the makeup of the water [...]
Jade pothos Epipremnum aureum is a wonderful addition to any interiorscape. Also known as Golden Pothos, this plant was formerly known as Scindapsus aureus. A member of the Araceae (Philodendron) family, they are native to the monsoon tropics of Malaysia. Here they are tropical climbers, creeping by rootlets, attaching to tree trunks to climb upwards through [...]
Watch out for signs of mildew on ivy plants One day, when watering your favorite grape ivy, you may discover something new. A white, floury deposit is suddenly covering the new growth! What could it be? This powdery looking deposit is actually mildew. Various conditions like fluctuating temperatures and stagnant interior air can create [...]
