Green Plants
Dieffenbachia, Ficus Trees, Ferns, Ivy’s, Pothos, Nephthytus,
Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily), Spider Plants, and Scheffalera Plants are the
most frequently sought after house plants. The Spider plants are known for their ability to purify
indoor air. The Spathiphyllum
(Peace Lily) is a favorite choice for sympathy remembrances and are easily
maintained. Ferns and Ficus
are large and showy but a bit more difficult to grow.
A favorite specialty of Engwall Florist artisans is a wonderful basket
of plants done European Style…Designers at Engwall’s can
transform several combinations of green and blooming plants into a
beautiful presentation appropriate for any occasion.
These unique European Gardens are easily divided for future use, or
left combined they make a stunning addition to any indoor décor.
All plants are covered by the Engwall “Satisfaction Guarantee”.
Dieffenbachia
| Light: |
Bright light with some direct sunlight especially
during the short days of winter. |
| Temperature: |
Prefer warmth and no temps below 60F.
high humidity is essential. |
| Water: |
Allow the top inch to dry out between waterings. |
| Feeding: |
Give actively growing plants standard liquid
fertilizer every 2 weeks. |
| Potting: |
Use soil based potting mixture, moving plants into
pots one size larger every spring until
maximum convenient pot size has been reached (8” –
12”). |
| Propagation: |
A tip cutting 3”– 6” long will root if taken in
spring. Take cutting immediately below a
node, strip off lower leaves, dip into rooting powder, and
plant in 4” pot. Enclose
in plastic bag and keep warm in
bright filtered light. It
is also possible to take a 3” – 4”
section of the main stem with at least one growth bud and
place it horizontally on the surface of mixture.
Treat as above. Dieffenbachias
can also be air layered. |
| Special Points: |
The sap is poisonous.
If it gets in the mouth it causes swelling, pain, and
temporary loss of speech, hence
the nickname “dumbcane.” |
Ferns
(The Boston and related Cultivars, Fluffy Ruffle, Whitmani, Roosevelt
and Dallas)
| Light: |
Ferns prefer a bright or east window.
Avoid direct sunlight and drafts. |
| Temperature: |
Normal room temps from 65 – 75F are ideal.
The warmer the temp, the more humidity
the plant should receive.
Spraying should be done with tepid water since some varieties
may become marked or spotted. |
| Water: |
The amount of moisture lost through the fronds of a
fern is remarkable. Because
of this, ferns generally need
to be watered plentifully so roots are kept thoroughly moist as long
as temps are above 60F.
Thoroughly soak root ball, but drain excess water. |
| Feeding: |
Avoid excess feeding.
A one-half strength application of high nitrogen liquid
fertilizer every 3 – 4 months
is adequate (use ˝ strength to prevent roots from burning). |
| Potting: |
Ferns grow best in a tight pot.
Repot only when the roots have completely filled the pot,
preferably in early spring.
Never overpot a fern since if there is too much potting
mixture, the plant’s watering needs will be more than met
at each watering and the mixture
will remain too wet for the good of the roots. |
| Propagation: |
Plants have underground rhizomes which can be divided
by cutting the rhizome in small pieces
and planting in 3” pots. Rhizomes
creeping over the surface should be propagated
by tip cuttings. Place
it on the surface of moistened mixture in 3” pot. |
Ficus
| Light: |
Bright, with some direct sun every day, except for
creeping figs, which prefer bright light
without direct sun. |
| Temperature: |
Ficus do best in average room temps but can be
acclimated gradually to a wide range of
temps. Watch for mites in hot rooms. |
| Water: |
Moderately, allowing top ˝” to dry out before
re-watering, except for creeping fig, which
should never be allowed to dry out at the roots.
Overwatering causes lower leaves to
yellow and drop. |
| Feeding: |
A standard liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks applied to
actively growing plants. |
| Potting: |
Don’t overpot.
These plants like slightly cramped root conditions.
When roots emerge through drainage holes, move plants (preferably during spring) to
pots one size larger until
maximum convenient pot size has been reached.
Topdress annually. |
| Propagation: |
Creeping varieties root easily from 6” tip cuttings
if planted in 3” pots and enclosed in a
clear plastic bag. When
new growth appears gradually remove bag and treat as a adult.
Larger leaf varieties are slower to root from cuttings and
may be air layered as an alternative. |
| Special Points: |
Sponge shiny leaf varieties to keep them free of dust. |
Ivys – Hedera
| Light: |
Hedera need bright light.
Variegated forms should have 2 – 3 hours direct sunlight a
day. |
| Temperature: |
Ivies tolerate a wide range of room temps as long as
temps don’t fluctuate often.
Keep cool (50F) during
winter rest period. |
| Water: |
Moderately during active growing period allowing the
top ˝” to dry out between watering.
In the rest period, water sparingly, allowing the top half to
dry between. |
| Feeding: |
Apply standard liquid fertilizer to actively growing
plants every two weeks. |
| Potting: |
Using a soil based mixture move plants into one pot
size larger each spring, whenever roots
emerge through drainage holes.
Maximum size 5 – 6”.
Topdress annually. |
| Propagation: |
Hederas are easily rooted by placing 4” long tip
cuttings in water. After
rooting has occurred, plant 2 – 3
cuttings together in a 3” pot and treat as an adult. |
| Special Points: |
Mist spray often to discourage spider mites.
Cut back at any time to encourage full
healthy plants. |
Nephthytus – Syngonium
| Light: |
Bright filtered light but never direct sunlight. |
| Temperature: |
Normal room temps are ideal. |
| Water: |
Allow top ˝” to dry between watering.
During brief winter period, water only enough to
keep mixture from drying out. |
| Feeding: |
Apply standard liquid fertilizer once every 2 weeks
during active growth period. |
| Potting: |
Repot every spring using pots one size larger up to
8”. Topdress
thereafter. |
| Propagation: |
In later spring, by means of 3 – 4” tip cuttings
taken just below a node either dipped in a
rooting powder or rooted in water.
May be grown upright with the aid of a moss pole or
as a hanging basket. |
Pothos – Scindapsus
| Light: |
Bright filtered light is best. |
| Temperature: |
Normal room temps are suitable, but try to give them a
brief winter rest period of 60F. |
| Water: |
During the active growth period allow the top ˝ to
dry between watering. During
the rest period keep mixture
from drying out completely. |
| Feeding: |
Apply standard liquid fertilizer once every 2 weeks
during active growth period. |
| Potting: |
Move plants into pots one size larger every
spring—maximum pot size 8”.
Topdress. |
| Propagation: |
These plants are easily protected from 4” tip
cuttings rooted in water or dipped in a hormone powder and covered
with plastic bag. |
| Special Points: |
Cut back in spring to encourage a fuller habit. |
Spathiphyllum
| Light: |
Grow in medium light as direct sun will scorch leaves. |
| Temperature: |
Normal room temps are suitable.
They are sensitive to dry air, so mist often. |
| Water: |
Allow the top ˝” to dry between watering. |
| Feeding: |
Apply liquid fertilizer once every 2 weeks from early
spring to late fall. |
| Potting: |
Use peat based mixture moving plants into one size
larger pots each spring. Topdress
annually thereafter. |
| Propagation: |
In spring by dividing overcrowded clusters of leaves. Pull rhizomes apart gently with at
least 3 leaves attached and plant in 3” pots. |
| Special Points: |
Red spider mites will attack these plants if not kept
humid; mist spray often, concentrating on leaf undersides where
mites collect. |
Spider Plant – Chlorophytum
| Light: |
Bright with some direct sunlight.
Keep out of hot midday sun which may scorch leaves. |
| Temperature: |
Normally warm room temps are suitable.
They do not thrive below 45F. |
| Water: |
During active growth keep mixture thoroughly moist.
In the rest period allow the top
inch to dry out before watering. |
| Feeding: |
Every 2 weeks throughout the year apply standard
liquid fertilizer to well established plants. |
| Potting: |
Repot when roots have forced the mixture upward to rim
level, allowing top of root ball to lie an inch below the rim. |
| Propagation: |
Root plantlets in jar of water.
Plant in soil based potting mixture. |
Umbrella Schefflera – Brassaia
| Light: |
Bright light without direct sunlight is best. |
| Temperature: |
Ideal temps are 60 – 65F but these plants tolerate
warmer rooms if the humidity is high.
In temps below 55F, leaflets may fall. |
| Water: |
During active growth period, water moderately allowing
top inch to dry out between watering.
Water only enough to keep mixture from drying out during rest
period. |
| Feeding: |
Apply standard liquid fertilizer every two weeks
during active growth. |
| Potting: |
Use a soil based potting mixture.
Move plants into pots one size larger every spring until
maximum convenient pot size has been reached.
Topdress annually. |
| Propagation: |
Tip cuttings and air layering. |
| Special Points: |
Clean leaves regularly with a damp sponge.
Spider mites are sometimes a problem with
Brassaia. Spray
with a recommended insecticide.
Leaves become transparent, mottled with yellow and sometimes develop purple spots. |
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