Your plants are looking nice, and you think, 'hmmm, maybe a little water?' NO. Step away from the plant. Plants tell you if they need to be watered. So if you're observing the plant and it looks good, watering is the last thing you want to do. Remember, most plants originate from the Rainforest of the world.
Here's a brief story on the age of plants in our world from Science Daily, University of Bristol, article submitted on April 23, 2007.
Earth's First Rainforest Unearthed
The Earth's first rainforests dates from the Carboniferous period, 300 million years ago, when most of the world's coal resources were formed (humanity appeared on the scene about 200,000 years ago in Africa).
The rainforest is composed of a bizarre mixture of extinct plants: abundant club mosses, more than 40 metres high, towering over a sub-canopy of tree ferns, intermixed with shrubs and tree-sized horsetails.
The fossilized forest was preserved following a major earthquake 300 million years ago. The quake caused the whole region to drop below sea level whereupon the forest became buried in mud, preserving it forever.
The fossil forest is the largest ever found, covering over 10,000 hectares (1 hectare = 2.47 acres), an area 10 km by 10 km (which would cover the city of Bristol, UK). The fossils preserve a unique snapshot of what tropical Rainforests were like 300 million year ago.
Source: Science Daily/Universal of Bristol
The article above was referenced because plants have been here a lot longer than humans have. Therefore, when you bring a plant into your environment, give it what it needs and back off. Obviously, there would be no over-watering in the Rainforest, so, as tempting as it may be, don't over-water in your indoor garden.
Over-watering is one of the more common causes of problems with houseplants. Heavy and poorly drained soils are susceptible to becoming waterlogged. Roots growing in waterlogged soil will not survive because they cannot absorb the oxygen needed to function normally. The longer the air is cut off, the greater the root damage. The dying roots decay and cannot supply the plants with nutrients and water.
Inserting one or two fingers a couple inches into the soil is the best way to determine if your plant needs to be watered. If it's moist or damp, do not water the plant.
Plants growing in containers, at some point may become root-bound; they out-grow the pot. When roots have no where to go, this stifles the growth of the plant. The plant will droop or react as as if it needs water but the soil is moist. Simply re-pot root-bound plants into the next size pot and your problem is usually solved.
Use the proper potting soil that drains well, with fertilizer already mixed, such as Miracle-Gro Potting Soil, or Espomosa Organic Potting Mix. These soils are not as dense as outdoor gardening mix and allow proper drainage after watering.
It's also important to use pots that allow the water to drain completely. Most pots have a removable tray at the bottom.
In my trial and error experience with indoor gardening, over the last 30 years, I've found that plants do better if you remove the tray, allow all the water to drain, then put the tray back.
The reason is that sometimes the tray that is attached to the pot can get clogged up thereby not allowing water to drain fully and could lead to the plant suffering. The Dragon Tree pictured above right shows a 14-inch self-watering pot with a bottom that cannot be removed. You could just pour water into the lid but I choose to water the plant from the top of the soil. I'm not a big fan of the self-watering pots because of the fact that the soil always appears to be bone-dry. Therefore, my preference is to water from the soil and allow the water to drain.
If you purchase a decorative clay or ceramic pot with no holes on the bottom, you will need to place small rocks and/or pebbles and even a few sticks at the bottom of the pot to allow for proper drainage.
The official term is the "Dracaena Marginata," aka "Dragon Tree," one of the easiest, most durable houseplants to grow. I've had my Madagascar for 25 years and she has sired at least 10 other Dragon Tree's in that time frame.
Pruning the Madagascar, makes her thicker, fuller, and the 'trained' stems grow it varied directions. The stems are trained based on the way the Marginata is pruned.
The pictures to the right show the stages of rooting (yes, the stems can root in water) the Dracaena Marginata. In 2-3 weeks it start to root. This particular cutting remained in water for about 3 months. The goal was to keep it in water for an undetermined time but today, I decided to send the cutting home, back to its mother - my 25-year old Madagascar.
Caring For the Dracaena Marginata
The Madagascar dragon tree is one of the easiest house plants to grow and takes neglect on the chin - then recovers quickly once the correct conditions and care is provided.
If leaves start dying and coming away at the bottom of the plant, don't be concerned. This is natural and similar to how a yucca tree sheds it's bottom leaves for new growth. You can remove them once you see them deteriorating in look.
Dragon Tree Care
- Temperature: Average room temperatures are ideal between 65°- 75°F (18°- 24 °C) or more. Dragon Tree's will live through much colder temperatures during winter, but keeping them in optimal health requires the room to be no less than 50°F (10°C).
- Light: Bright conditions with shade is suitable for the dragon plant. Direct sunlight will damage the leaves.
- Watering: Keeping the soil slightly moist is the best indicator of correct watering. During the winter, like most plants they need much less.
- Soil: Use an all purpose potting mix.
- Re-Potting: These can be re-potted every two years during spring or later if needed.
- Humidity: Normal household humidity is fine and misting the leaves is advised. They do like fresh air during the summer from a window open, and do not like stuffy hot rooms from central heating systems.
- Propagation: Cutting and re-planting stem cuttings a couple of inches long is an easy method used. Apply root hormones and give it a few weeks for them to begin rooting.
- Pruning: You can remove old leaves that are ready to fall from the bottom of the trunk which will make it look more attractive. And, cut back stems to keep the plant to the size you want.
By Nikki Phipps
(Author of The Bulb-o-licious Garden)
If you’re looking for an easy succulent to grow indoors, opt for the string of beads (Senecio rowleyanus) plant. In addition to its carefree growth habit, this interesting houseplant can provide a unique focal point in the home. Sprawling over the edges of containers or hanging baskets, the string of beads plant resembles a beaded necklace with its fleshy green, pea-like foliage. Learn more about growing string of beads houseplant so you can also enjoy its unique characteristics and ease of care.
What is a String of Beads Houseplant?
Also called rosary string of beads or string of pearls plant, this creeping succulent is an odd looking plant that many people enjoy adding to their indoor gardens. Though the flowers may seem small and unattractive to some people, if they’re even lucky enough to get them, others find the faint white blooms (which smell a bit like cinnamon) quite welcome.
Still, it’s the thin thread-like stems and fleshy round, bead-like leaves that make this unusual houseplant a great addition to the home. Learning how to grow a string of pearls houseplant is extremely easy.
How to Grow a String of Pearls Houseplant
The string of pearls plant grows well in bright light, including sunlight.
You should provide this string of beads houseplant with average indoor temperatures (around 72 F./22 C.) throughout its active growth. During its dormancy, however, you’ll need to provide cooler conditions, generally somewhere between 50 to 55 F. (10-13 C.).
Give this houseplant a well-draining sandy soil, preferably the type most suitable for growing cacti [2] and succulent plants. Pot your plant in a hanging basket so its trailing foliage can hang down.
String of Pearls Care
As with most succulent plants, the string of beads requires little care. However, while there’s little maintenance involved with growing a rosary string of beads plant, you will need to provide it with some care.
This succulent plant is drought tolerant, surviving long periods without water. In fact, the plant’s water-storing abilities allow it to be watered thoroughly one week and then pretty much forgotten the next week or two. Watering too often can increase the chances of root rot. So be sure to let the soil dry out at least half an inch or so between waterings. In winter, cut back watering to about once monthly.
Occasionally, you may find that pruning becomes necessary as part of your string of pearls care in order to maintain its size or appearance. This is simple to do. Trim off any dead stems and pearls, as well as any stems that have lost a lot of their ‘beads.’ Pruning back will help promote fuller, more compact plants.
Even better than its ease of care is the fact that you can share the plant with others. Whenever pruning is in order, you can take advantage of the plant’s easy propagation. Simply place a cutting or two in a pot of soil and they will easily take root.
The string of beads houseplant makes an excellent conversation piece. Your family, friends, and neighbors will love it as much as you will.
Note: Since this succulent plant is considered to be somewhat toxic, it is recommended that care be taken when growing string of beads houseplant in homes with pets or small children.
A terrarium is a collection of small plants growing in a transparent, sealed container.
It is typically a closed environment, and can actually be used to illustrate how an ecosystem works. Inside a terrarium's walls, many different natural processes may be observed: photosynthesis, respiration, and the water cycle.
Terrarium's have the essential requirements of soil, water and light for the survival of plants that are housed in it, as well as a reservoir of water, as water is trapped inside the bottle and unable to evaporate. The carbon dioxide from plant respiration is used for photosynthesis, and the oxygen from photosynthesis is used for respiration. As such they require almost no maintenance.
Photosynthesis is "the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water. Photosynthesis in plants generally involves the green pigment chlorophyll and generates oxygen as a byproduct."
The Process of Photosynthesis
- Sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll in a leaf
- Carbon dioxide is taken in from the air
- Water is transported from the roots
- Glucose is synthesized and distributed throughout the plant
- Oxygen is released
Sources:
Earth's First Rainforest Unearthed
