Azaleas Indoors

There are two types of Azaleas available as flowering pot plants. The Indian Azalea (Rhododendron simsii) is the most popular one. The second type is the Japanese Azalea (Rhododendron obtusum).

Both are dwarf shrubs which grow about 1' - 1 1/2' tall. The Indian Azalea blooms in pink, white, red or purple, and some are white-edged. The flowers of the Japanese Azalea are smaller, but the plant has the advantage of growing outdoors in mild winter climates.

Either type will thrive indoors if the soil is kept wet (not just moist), it's in a brightly lit spot away from direct sunlight, and the plant is kept cool (50F - 60F) at all times. Mist the leaves daily while the plant is in bloom and remove spent blooms to encourage additional flowering.

If your plants are dropping leaves, they are communicating their unhappiness with their new growing environment. They may be overheated, in a draft, or not getting the moisture they require. Try to find a more suitable spot for your new plants and they should perk right up.

How to trim indoor ficus tree?

Healthy ficus withstand pruning very well, so if it is truly out of control you could cut it back fairly hard and then regular pruning can be used to keep in in the size range you need from then on. If you make a few tentative trims and watch the resulting growth pattern afterwards you will see how best to trim it in terms of individual cuts.

Overall it is better to do any extensive major pruning just before the big spring growth spurt because the new foliage hides the cuts more quickly. Keep in mind, too, that for a while after and extensive trim the tree's watering needs will be somewhat reduced to compensate for the lack of foliage.

House plants - Orchids, Oncidium

Oncidium orchids are great orchids for beginners, but they do need some special care to keep them happy. The following care instructions are specific to Oncidium
orchids.



• Placement
Your orchid will do best with several hours of sunlight per day. In the home, east, south or west-facing windows are best. Oncidium orchids prefer intermediate to
warm temperatures 75 to 85 degrees F during the day and 55 to 60 degrees F at night.



They can tolerate temperatures up to 100 degrees F, as long as humidity and air circulation are increased. Orchids like humidity between 40 and 60 percent. To make sure your orchid has adequate humidity, place the plant in a tray filled with
pebbles and water added to a level just below the bottom of the pot.



Do not allow the bottom of the pot to sit in water—it will cause the plant roots to rot.



• Watering
Your orchid will need water every two to ten days, depending on your climatic conditions. Orchids need to be watered thoroughly, but like to partially dry out between waterings. It may take you a few months to understand your orchids watering needs. You can tell it’s time to water if the potting media is dried out about halfway through the pot.



To water, take your plant to the sink and water the potting media until it’s saturated. Alternately, you can fill up your sink with a few inches of water and allow the plant to soak up water through the bottom of the pot.


• Fertilizing
Your orchid should be fertilized regularly during it’s active growth season—
spring to fall. Twice monthly fertilization is usually sufficient. Use a fertilizer
that is formulated specifically for orchids. During the winter months, it’s not
necessary to fertilize.



• Repotting
As a rule, orchids should be re-potted every two to three years. Orchids need
to be repotted for two reasons: to give them more space to grow and to refresh the potting mix. The best time to repot is spring or early summer.

Get your Orchids and other plants from Dutch Gardens.com

Tropical indoor plants - Bromeliad

Bromeliads, or “urn plants,”are members of the pineapple family and are native to the tropical rainforests of Central America, Ecuador and Bolivia.

Bromeliads form a stemless rosette and in nature it is an epiphyte growing on trees. Rainwater collects in the central cup formed by the plant’s upper leaves and in the cupped leaf bases.

The colorful "blossom"(inflorescence) will provide beauty for up to 12 weeks, after which the color slowly fades. The entire plant will then decline over a period of several months but new plantlets (or "offsets") will develop around the base of the plant.

When these offsets are one-third to one-half the height of the mother plant, they may be cut off at the base and potted into separate pots. Use a free-draining, houseplant potting mix. The plantlets may also be left to develop in the original pot and will eventually outgrow and replace the mother plant.

• Placement
Bromeliads require bright light with no direct sunlight to look their best. They will tolerate lower light, but the life of the blossom will be shortened. Temperatures between 55 and 85 degrees F are best. They can never tolerate temperatures below 40 degrees F.

•Watering
To water, fill the central cup and the cupped leaf bases, allowing the water to flow down and thoroughly moisten the soil. Allow the soil to become semi-dry between waterings. Once a month, empty the water out of the center cup by tipping the plant until all the water drains out. This will prevent the water from becoming stagnant. Refill the cups with fresh water.

• Fertilizing
Diluted applications of fertilizer are recommended for mature plants. It will also help new offsets to grow more quickly after flowering is finished. Use a flowering-houseplant fertilizer at one-quarter to one-third the recommended strength. Apply by pouring it into the central cup and allowing some to spill into the soil. Fertilize no more than once a month, during the spring and summer only.