Specific Plant Care
Learn how to take care of your plants from D Garden Floratique with these tips for care of specific plants.
Aglaoneman “Chinese Evergreen”
Aglaonema, also known as Chinese evergreen, are very tolerant plants that do well in a range of environments. They prefer medium to low light in a warm room with slightly higher humidity, but they’ll adapt to a spot that’s slightly dryer and brighter (they make nice plants for the bedroom or bathroom). Allow their soil to dry out a bit between waterings (though, avoid letting it become bone dry), and gently clean off their leaves on a regular basis.
Areca Palm
Areca palms are generally hardy plants and prefer medium to bright light. Keep their soil moist but not soggy. If you allow the soil to become too dry, areca palms wilt dramatically, but it’s easy to revive them with just a little water (though some of their fronds may turn yellow). Trim back palm fronds that become damaged or turn brown.
Bonsai
Display your bonsai in a spot that gets a good amount of bright, indirect light. Keep its soil moist to dry, watering it every 2-3 days from the bottom by submerging its planter in water (just to the top of the soil) to allow its roots to absorb water for about 15 minutes.
Pinch off or prune new growth (avoiding any flowering buds) to help it maintain its shape, and “root prune” your bonsai once a year in late winter by gently taking it out of its planter and trimming about a third of its roots. Fertilize it monthly when it is actively growing new buds or leaves.
Boston Fern
Many cultivars of Boston fern are available some are compact forms, others are large spreading plants with graceful fronds up to two feet in length. Ferns like bright diffused light and moist soil. Prune dead fronds from the plant immediately and keep humidity near the plant high for best results.
Bromeliad
Native to Central and South America, bromeliads are a large family of plants – all with a similar rosette of stiff leaves and some kind of bright central flower spike or colored leaf area. They’re tough, easy-going plants, preferring bright, indirect light or direct sun.
Keep their soil moist to dry, and pour the water in the center of the plant where the leaves join together, allowing it to drain into the soil. Avoid letting the plant sit in water. If you live in a hard water area, use rainwater or distilled water whenever possible, as bromeliads are very sensitive to salts, which may cause their leaves to turn brown at the tips.
Cacti & Succulents
Hardy cacti and other succulent plants are accustomed to desert conditions and prefer bright, indirect light or direct sun. Water them thoroughly and evenly, allowing them to dry out completely in between watering. If the soil becomes too hard and causes water to run off, place the pot in water just to cover the soil, and allow it to soak for about 30 minutes.
Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachias are popular plants because they thrive so well indoors and handle a wide range of light conditions, though they do best when you place them in bright, indirect light. In the winter, make sure they receive more light.
Water your dieffenbachia thoroughly, allowing the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out in between waterings. Allowing the plant to become bone dry will cause it to wilt.
Ficus
While your ficus plant is adjusting to its new home, it may drop a noticeable amount of leaves. This is normal, and with proper care, it will begin to thrive again in no time. Just pick up the fallen leaves, remove the yellow ones still on the plant, and cut off dead and dry twigs. This will help the light penetrate to the inside foliage and promote new growth.
Be careful not to over water your ficus. Feel the soil with your finger tip, and if it feels dry to the touch one inch below the surface, it’s time to water it – but if the soil feels moist, hold off for a day or two. Keep in mind that your ficus will need less water during the winter. When your ficus is new, mist it daily as well. To provide proper humidity and prevent the roots from standing in water, place the planter on a plant tray or saucer filled with gravel.
Display your ficus in a bright spot with indirect light, away from drafts and large windows that change temperature throughout the day. Use plant fertilizer monthly throughout the growing season, but not during the winter months.
Ivy
Although ivy can survive in a range of temperatures, it’s more vulnerable in the winter with dry air from heating. To make sure it gets enough moisture, set the planter on a tray or saucer filled with pebbles and water.
Display your ivy in a bright spot with indirect sunlight. In the summer, you can move it outdoors to a protected area, but make sure it’s out of direct sunlight, which can burn its leaves.
Philodendron
Native to the jungles of tropical America, your philodendron prefers medium, indirect light and it will do best in a bright spot with indirect sunlight. (If its new leaves develop smaller and farther apart, it’s a sign that it’s receiving too little light.) Many types exist including large split-leaf varieties, and the distinctive ruffled-edge philodendron xanadu. Keep its soil evenly moist, but allow it to dry out in between watering. In the winter months, when growth slows, keep it slightly drier. Over watering will cause the leaves to turn yellow, while under watering will cause them to turn brown and fall off.
Philodendrons tolerate the natural levels of humidity found in most homes, but because of their tropical origin, they respond particularly well to high humidity, so mist them regularly to promote lush growth and shiny foliage. Dust their leaves with a damp cloth and feed them houseplant fertilizer in the spring and mid summer.
Schefflera Arboricola
Your new schefflera plant may thin out a bit and loose some leaves as it adjusts to its new home. This is normal, and with proper care, it will begin to thrive again in no time. Although it adapts to a wide variety of light levels, the schefflera arboricola prefers medium to higher light, which keeps it full and more compact. If your plant does stretch out, don’t be afraid to prune it – it can handle even an occasionally radical pruning and come back strong.
Scheffleras don’t like to sit in water, but do best when their soil is kept moist. If its leaves begin to turn black and drop off, it’s a sign that the soil has stayed too moist. On the other hand, if you notice that the tips of the plant begin to wrinkle, you’ve allowed it to get too dry. Wipe its leaves-both the tops and undersides-with a damp cloth to remove dust and prevent spider mites.
Spathipyllum
With dark green leaves that can be more than a foot long, the spathiphyllum plant produces hood-shaped white blooms, and in some cases, can grow up to 4 feet tall (although many varieties are developed to be compact).
These plants can wilt easily, so it’s important to keep the soil moist, providing good drainage and emptying excess water from trays or saucers to prevent their roots from rotting. Display them in a spot with bright, indirect light. Low light slows their blooming cycle, and too much direct sunlight may cause burn spots on their leaves. Wipe their leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust.