Check Schefflera for cyclamen mites Cyclamen mites! Where did they come from? In the past, infestations of these tiny pests were rare and most commonly found on African Violets. The easiest solution was to remove the infected plant to prevent the spread of these mites. Recently, there has been an increase in cyclamen mite [...]
Take a closer look at those leaves Leaf problems: Erwinia, Xanthomonas, Anthracnose, Alternaria, Botrytis, Pythium and Phytophthora to name a few of the big, bad and ugly leaf spots occasionally seen on tropical foliage plants. The many foliar leaf spots and blights that can occur on leaves of plants outdoors or in a production greenhouse will [...]
Time-saving tips are invaluable Does it feel like there is never enough time to get everything done? We can help! Here are 25 time-saving tips gathered from interior plant technicians all over the world. Incorporate these tips into your daily routine and save some precious time! Plan your visits to job sites in an [...]
Succulent arrangements create interesting & beautiful focal points in interiorscapes The succulent trend can hardly be called a trend any longer - these desert natives are making a permanent statement in interiorscapes. We love succulents because they're low maintenance, beautiful and they thrive in any number of decorative containers. Succulent varieties span the color [...]
Interior conditions should support plant health Sometimes the best approach to preserve a plant’s beauty and the quality of an interiorscape design is to focus on the environmental conditions that may be causing a plant to deteriorate. In order to correct the situation, you must first determine the cause of the underlying stress and change [...]
Visible scale insects on the plant stem and surrounding leaves When you walk under that 16’ Ficus and your shoes stick to the carpet, like in an old movie theater, you have scale. When your Spathiphyllum looks like somebody has dribbled a can of soda over some of its leaves, you quite possibly have [...]
Moisture meters take the guesswork out of watering A moisture meter is a simple tool that can be useful for interiorscape technicians. It's a helpful way to check the soil moisture level and gives us an extra edge in providing quality of care for interior plants. A meter is easy to use; all you [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
