Maintenance/Management of Indoor Plant

1. Light: Light is a critical requirement for plant growth and development. The average light intensity in a house is about 55 lux, compared with more than 130,000 lux outside on a bright sunny day. Light requirement can be arranged

a) Shifting plants around the room depending upon their light requirement

I. Plants adopted to direct sunlight (South facing window)

-Croton, Poinsettia, English ivy, Rhododendron sp. etc.

II. Plants adopted to low light (North facing window)

-Iron plant, Snake plant, Philodendron,

III. Plants adopted to medium light (East facing)

-Zebra plant, Spider plant, Weeping fig, etc.

b) Providing supplementary or artificial light

-Mercury vapour light

-Fluorescent light

2. Temperature: Generally house plants prefer (18-24)⁰C for better growth and development. Plants may thrive other than optimal range i.e. above or below (10-30)⁰C but the danger to house plants lies in the fluctuations in temperatures. A change in temperatures of more than 20⁰C is detrimental to house plants.

Some important caution can reduce the risk of loss to adverse temperature.

a) Mist spraying during winter to keep high humidity

b) Don’t place plants in the path of drafts on- from air conditioner or heaters

c) Windows and doors close to plants should be air tight to prevent unsuspected cold drafts in winter

d) If flowers are placed in kitchen avoid placing them near sources of heat

3. Humidity: Humidity and temperature work together. in general, RH of 60% is satisfactory for most houseplants, by high humidity level is uncomfortable for human. If RH is less than 40% many plant experience stress eg. Drying of leaf tips of palms occurs. Plants with thick leaves are often able to tolerate low level s of humidity in the air, unlike those with thinner leaves.

Indoors humidity can be increased by various methods

a) General humidification: providing additional humidity to the whole room by using humidifier

b) Localized humidification: plants can be misted with water, this practice provides only short term effects

c) Moistened pebbles tray provides micro-climates

4. Water: One of the most common problems in house plants culture is over watering. Several factors determine the water needs of houseplants.

a) Room condition determines how much plant must be watered

b) growing status of the plants (actively growing-demand more water)

c) plants with thin and larger leaves surfaces transpire more thus need more water

d) Container materials also play a role in the moisture need of the plant.

e) the size of the container in relation to plant size

5. Nutrition: Fertilizers used in houseplants are available in several forms solids, liquids, powders, crystals or granules. One tea spoonful complete fertilizer once every two month should be applied when the plant is in actively growing condition.

a) Re-potting: Re-potting of houseplants should be done as per need considering the problems of pot bound, salt deposition, pot-plant size, type of house plants and desire of the owner.

b) Training and pruning: Corrective pruning, pinching, disbudding, tying, twisting and/or other training operations should be done to define shape and regulate the growth.

c) Cleaning: Foliage houseplants are regularly cleaned by sponging with water preferably with warm water to remove dusts and grease. A small amount of milk or few drops of vinegar may be added in washing water to improve appearance of leaf. The leaves of African violet and Rex-begonia may be gently brush with soft paint brush.

6. Insect-pest, diseases and disorder management of houseplant

a) Yellowing of leaves: N deficiency, drought, winter stress

b) Stunted growth: Moisture stress, improver temperature, pot bound, viral disease infection

c) Foliar burns: Fungal disease or drought.