Houseplants
MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
CLASS OBJECTIVES
 Understand basic growth requirements of
houseplants
 Understand how various aspects of light
affect plant growth
 Know how to water indoor plants
 Know what containers and soil to use
 Become familiar with insects/diseases of
houseplants
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
WHY GROW HOUSEPLANTS?
 Beauty
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WHY GROW HOUSEPLANTS?
 To nurture a
living thing
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WHY GROW HOUSEPLANTS?
 As part of our
interior design
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WHY GROW HOUSEPLANTS?
 To live with
green
plants year
round
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WHY GROW HOUSEPLANTS?
 To clean the
indoor air
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WHY GROW HOUSEPLANTS?
 To provide
fresh food
(herbs) year
round
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WHY GROW HOUSEPLANTS?
 To use
your
creativity
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THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A
HOUSEPLANT!
 Tropical Plant
 Desert Plant
 Annual/Tender
Perennial Plant
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
GOAL: REPLICATE NATURAL
CONDITIONS
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ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
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Light
Water
Humidity
Soil
Nutrients
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LIGHT—MOST CRITICAL
Brightness and intensity vary by:
 Exposure (North, South, East,
West)
 Distance from the light source
 Window coverings, film/dirt on the
window
 Dust on leaves
 Time of year
 Artificial light
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LIGHT
 Intensity/brightness
 Duration: hours of
light
 Quality: color or
wavelength
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WATERING
Factors that affect
frequency of watering:
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Type of plant
Type of Container
Temperature
Humidity in the air
Potting medium
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WATERING METHODS
 Water when the plant
needs it
– Feel the soil
– Water thoroughly
 Use water at room
temperature
 If water is chlorinated
allow it to stand 24 hours
 Improve oxygen level by
using Enki watering can
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DIFFERENT WATERING METHODS
 Some require
consistently moist soil
 Some require soil to
dry out between
watering
 Avoid water on foliage
 Let water run through
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TOO WET/TOO DRY
Overwatering symptoms:
 Lower leaves turn yellow and
drop
 Oedema can develop
 Adventitious roots on stems
 Root rot
Under watering symptoms:
 Dry or brown leaf tips/margins
 Leaves that turn brown and die
 Plants become stunted or
woody
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BASIC RULE OF WATERING
?
If in doubt. . . don’t
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HUMIDITY
 Desert natives prefer
dry air
 Tropicals miss their
rainforest
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INCREASE HUMIDITY
 Place plants in pebble filled
trays
 Group plants together
 Place plant in a bathroom or
near a kitchen sink
 Running a humidifier
 Move plants away from heat
vents
 Grow plants that require high
humidity in a terrarium
 Allow plants to spend time
outside in the summer
 Select plants that tolerate low
humidity
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CONTAINERS
 Large enough to hold
sufficient soil
 Allows for proper
watering – headspace
 Non-Toxic
 Provisions for
Drainage
 Attractive
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CLAY POTS
 Heavy, prevent tipping
 Porous – good aeration
 Overwatering less of a
problem
 Soil dries out faster
 Mineral salts and algae
may collect on exterior
 Breakable
 More expensive than
plastic
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PLASTIC POTS
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Light-weight and easy to handle
Less expensive
Easily cleaned for reuse
Overwatering may be a problem
Often tip easily
Variability in aesthetic appearance
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SOIL
Soil provides both nutrients and
physical support for the plant
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ALL-PURPOSE POTTING SOIL
 May be soil-less
 Must be sterile
 Is made of peat moss,
compost, bark, perlite,
sand, loam
combinations
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SPECIALTY POTTING MIXES
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Orchids
Cacti
Palms
Bromeliads
Azaleas
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FERTILIZATION HINTS
 Fertilize every two
weeks March through
September with water
soluble fertilizer at ½
the label rate.
 Never fertilize when
plants are dry
 When using liquid
solution make sure
some runs out of the
pot
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FERTILIZATION
Symptoms of insufficient fertilizer:
 Pale foliage (especially if Nitrogen is lacking)
 Leaf loss
 Few flowers
 Stunted and unhealthy looking plants
Symptoms of over fertilization:
 Hard, stunted growth
 Burned leaf margins
 Poorly shaped leaves
 Wilted leaves (when soil is wet)
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
INSECT AND DISEASE CONTROL
 Examine plants closely before purchasing
for insects or disease
 Isolate purchased plant for 2 weeks
 Prune out any bug/disease infested
portion of the plant
 Treat plant for specific insect or disease
 Never apply any chemicals to a moisture
stressed plant
 Avoid misting plants!
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
CREDITS AND THANK YOU TO:
 Presentation content and pictures provided by
Sue, Hennepin County Master Gardener
 Presentation formatting completed by Amy
Johnson, Hennepin County Master Gardener
 Information on container types and fertilizer
signs/symptoms used from Carl F. Hoffman,
Extension Horticulturalist for “Indoor Gardening”
presentation
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
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