Purchasing and Nurturing a Perfect Houseplant

nertera, sansevierhia, sensolia, paslen, trandescancia, fichus, cholophitum

and chrysanthemum.

Sunny window

Plants that grow well in front of a window that receives a lot of sunlight

are agapanthus, acacia, heliotrope, hibiscus, hippeastrum, jasmine, zebrin,

irezina, cactuses, callistemon, coleus, lantana, citrus, nerine, oleander,

passiphlora, pelargoniya, rose and celosia.

Cool place in winter

Plants that should be placed in a cool environment during the winter

months are araucaria, aspidistra, beloperone, hortnensia, cactuses, clivia,

nertera, rose, sectreasia, streptocarpus, tolmia, chlorophitum, cyclamen

and cineraria.

Symptoms of insufficient light include:

1. Leaves are smaller and more pale than usual.
2. Very small blossoms or a complete lack thereof on blossoming plants.
3. Lower leaves turn yellow, dry up and fall off
4. No growth or elongated sticks.
5. Bright leaves turn green.

Symptoms of excessive light include:

1. Brown or gray spots on leaves.
2. Pale colored leaves.
3. Leaves fade and wilt during the day.
4. Leaves on shade-loving plants shrink and die.

Recommendations for buying plants

Room plants are grown in greenhouses that feature a warm and damp atmosphere.

Plants have to endure more severe conditions outside greenhouses, so buy

plants from a store or nursery that keeps plants outside of a greenhouse

for a time to ensure that they are accustomed to living in every-day conditions.

This will prevent a plant from undergoing a sort of “shock”

when you take it home.

You can buy houseplants any time of the year but it is better to purchase

more sensitive types during the later part of spring or the middle of

fall. Some plants are sold only during winter so you have to be even more

careful.

If you decide to buy seeds we recommend you choose hybrids of the first

generation. When buying bulbs make sure that they are hard and free of

dents, rottenness or other blemishes.

Before buying a plant think of its size and the size of the place

where you will put it.

Always make sure the plant is healthy prior to purchase. To

know that a plant is healthy, use the following guidelines:

1. Choose a plant that has more buds than flowers.
2. One of the main signs of a healthy plant is an even distribution

   of leaves.

3. There shouldn’t be any gaps between pot walls and soil.
4. Outside walls of a pot and soil surface shouldn’t have any

   green patches.

Before leaving a shop or a greenhouse make sure that the plant is well

packed. The package should be sealed at the top during winter.

The newly purchased plant should undergo a period of acclimatization.

Do not put it in the path of direct sunlight and drafts, keep it in a

moderately warm place and don’t water it too much for the first

few weeks. It is normal for most sensitive types of plants to loose leaves

during this period, so don’t worry if this happens.

Blossoming pot plants (azalea, chrysanthemum or cyclamen) should be

immediately put in a place that receives a lot of light during winter.

If the plant’s roots are coming through the bottom hole of a pot

than the pot is too small and you should remove the plant and place it

in a bigger pot.