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Received A Houseplant For Mother's Day? Keep It As Strong As Your Child's Love For YouCopyright © 2006-2008 Wesley Berry, AAFYou're so happy with the beautiful plant you received for Mother's Day, but you're afraid you have a brown thumb. It's not nearly as difficult to keep your plant healthy and strong as you might think it is. And, if you're really at a loss, your local florist can help. Your florist is an expert in plant and flower care and will have some great advice that's easy to follow no matter what kind of plant you've received. There are three factors in caring for your plant that will play a big role in how healthy your plant remains. Those factors are placement, watering, and repotting. Although each type of plant will have its own specific set of rules, there are some general tips you can follow for almost any plant you've received. Placement Where you place your plant in your home will make a big difference to its health and growth. Never put your plant on top of your television set or other appliance that produces heat. This will cause your plant to dry out quickly and become dehydrated. Most plants will do best in areas with a medium level of light, but flowering plants will do best where there's lots of indirect sunlight. Those without flowers will do alright in areas of lower light. Watering Watering might be the hardest part of keeping your plant healthy. You don't want to underwater it, but you certainly shouldn't over-water it either. For many people, the key indicator for watering time is a wilted appearance. Try not to let that be your cue. Instead, check your plant's soil frequently. A good rule of thumb (if you'll pardon the pun!) is to stick your finger into the soil to a depth of about two inches. If the soil feels dry, it's time to water. If it's still moist, check it again in a few days. When you do water, use room temperature instead of cold water. If you have soft water, allow it to sit in a pitcher overnight so that the chlorine and fluoride dissipate. Repotting When you keep your plant healthy and strong, it's going to grow, which means it will eventually outgrow its pot. Now you've got to repot the plant. That might sound like a scary prospect, but it's not as bad as it might sound. You'll know your pot is ready to replant when: It's best to repot your plant during the spring or summer when it's at a peak growth period. You'll need to remove it carefully from its current pot-sometimes gently knocking the side of the pot is all it takes to loosen it up enough to be tipped out. If the plant has become root bound, gently unwind the roots. If you can't unwind them, it's okay to cut a few to loosen them. Scrape off crusty white build up on the top of the soil-it's salt, which isn't good for your plant. Then, repot the plant in a larger pot with fresh potting soil. Keeping your plant healthy and strong needn't be difficult or time consuming, but it will be rewarding. Be sure to talk to your florist about the specifics of care for your plant. About The Author:
*** Digital Reprint Rights *** *** Author Notification *** We ask that you notify the author of publication of his or her work. Wesley Berry, AAF can be reached at: wes@wesleyberryflowers.com *** Print Publication Reprint Rights *** If you desire to publish this article in a PRINT publication, you must contact the author directly for Print Permission at: wes@wesleyberryflowers.com
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