Lighting the Landscape

by Plant Pro · 1 Comment

On a recent trip to California I had a great opportunity to visit with some friends. Part of the trip was business and or course some relaxing too.

While out and about I always try to keep a focus on plants – both indoors and out as well as ways to get more enjoyment from them. One area that caught my attention while out in Sanata Barbara was outdoor landscape lighting.

Staying at the Fess Parker Doubletree every night when coming back from dinner I got to experience the beauty of the landscape in new ways all because of lighting.

There were some lights permantetly attached or mounted around trees and others areas just made subtle highlights with low voltage lights, and all in a variety of styles.

I’ve included a few pictures just to share some some ideas… also check out the store for outdoor lighting options.

This is a Ficus tree with a “spotlight” style outdoor light fixture.

This lighting fixture illuminates pathways and walkways…

Here’s a bunch of other ideas for landscape lighting at your home.

Filed Under: Landscaping
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Anthurium Care

by Plant Pro · 17 Comments

Question:
We just received an Anthurium as a gift. It’s in a pot which looks too small for the roots. Should we repot the plant into a bigger pot? Is watering weekly enough? What light does the plant need to stay healthy and flower?

Answer:

Anthuriums don’t need a lot of “root room” to grow. From my experience, the “flamingo flower” likes to be a little root bound.

Most Anthuriums you’ll find at the garden center will be in a 5″ or 6″ inch pot. Keep the plant in bright light (north or east windowsill would be best) but NOT direct light, watering on a weekly basis is about right. Generally they like to stay moist but dry out between watering. In Hawaii they grow the plants for cut flowers in volcanic rock where the water drains quickly.

If you have smaller pots you many ned to water a little more regularly. It is better on the watering side to underwater - less rather than more water.

Consider rotating the plant a quarter turn each time you water for even growth.

Time for Some Houseplant Tune Ups

by Plant Pro · Leave a Comment

September is a perfect time to give your houseplants a good tune up! Look them over and give them good cleaning, wipe down the leaves and do a thorough inspection for any bugs and insects. Wipe down the leaves and get rid of all that accumulated dust. Stay away from those plant shines!

Although I’m not a fan of repotting most indoor houseplants those small ones may need to little bump in room and repotting may be in order.

More resources on Getting your plants ready for winter.

Filed Under: General
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Make Container Plants Stand Out

by Plant Pro · Leave a Comment

There are, many ways, infinite variations and combinations you can use to set up an indoor garden, but basically it comes down to three main approaches when arranging houseplants:

Individual pots which can be moved around - Everything from Palms, Orchids, Ficus trees, Dracenas and more…

A tray or windows box arrangement where a number of different plants are grown together.

Terrariums - only small plants grown in almost a greenhouse environement

For the beginner, the easiest and best method is individual pots. Each plant can be given complete attention with its likes and dislikes catered to, and the chances of success are the greatest. The possibilities for arrangement are unlimited.

There are any number of cotainers, pottery, holders and shelf arrangements on the market designed to help arrange your plants to show them off to their best advantage.

Starting with individual pots rather than with a windowbox is safest, cheapest, and probably in the long run the most satisfying way to start enjoying plants, the colors and textures inside.

No Restrictions on Growing and Displaying

Don’t forget, you are not restricted to displaying plants in the same place you grow them. For instance, a sunny kitchen window may be an ideal spot for growing plants, but not much of a display area — there is no reason you can’t grow them until they flower and then “display” them into the living room.

A pot of trailing ivy on either side of the mantle, brighten up the dining-room with two or three plants. Nothing adds to the charm of a room like plants. A flowering Phalanopsis orchid in the guest room makes your home a much more attractive place to visit.

For the more experienced gardener, a really striking display can be made with a decorative pot or planter and mixing different plants together, in individual pots, or in one large windowbox or tray - Bromeliads gardens are especailly attractive this way.
These displays can consist of anything from specially built boxes which go under a picture window or on a sun porch to a small garden growing in a attractive container. By grouping plants you can really achieve some interesting looks, and with a wise choice of the plants you can make a indoor garden which blooms all year round.

For more permant displays remember plants placed together must live under the same physical conditions of sun, humidity and, to a certain extent, water supply. These problems are, of course, not hard to overcover since the range of plants that can live together is broad.

Terrariums are a completely different approach to houseplant culture. Back in the middle of the 19th century an English botanist by the name of Nathaniel Ward discovered by mistake that many wood plants will grow and posper with little or no care if kept in a sealed container.

Terrariums growing moss, ferns and lichens can provide a woodland in miniature for your home, and almost any glass container can be used, from a fish bowl to a cocktail glass. From the point of view of home decoration, the difficulty with terrariums is that the plants that will grow in them are relatively few, and because they are enclosed don’t add the same kind of color to a room as do potted plants.

It doesn’t matter if you have room for just one or two plants or a veritable flower garden indoors. The pleasures from growing plants are tremendous. And the pleasures are not just your own but shared by everyone who visits, sees and enjoys them.