Tag: House plant of the month

House plant of the month: Dracaena

The story of Dracaena
Dracaena is a tall, voluminous houseplant or tree with one or more trunks, from which fabulous leaves grow in green, yellow and gold, sometimes with some pink or red. There are many types of leaf: small, delicate and pointy or large and soft. The choice of trunks is also varied: thick, thin, tall, branched and woven. In terms of size, it ranges from a houseplant to an indoor tree, all with a beautiful tropical look. As a statement plant, Dracaena is easy to look after. The plant stores water in the trunk, and can cope if you forget to water it occasionally. The plant also helps keep the air indoors clean. According to the NASA Clean Air Study, Dracaena is one of the plants that helps improve the quality of the air in your home.
Origin 
In the wild, Dracaena grows particularly in Africa and adjacent islands such as Madeira, the Canary Islands and the Cape Verde Islands. There are varieties that really do resemble a tree with a trunk, but there are also robust bushy forms which are used as hedges and dividers in hot countries. They can live for a long time, and some species develop a very distinctive shape in the wild which seems to come straight out of primaeval times.
What to look for when buying Dracaena 
  • The taller the plant, the older it is.
  • With trunked Dracaenas check for good roots; the plant must be firmly rooted in the soil.
  • Leaf tips should not be larger than 5 mm.
  • The plant must be free of pests and diseases. Particularly look for mealybug and scale insects and possible stalk borers in the trunks.
  • The tops of the trunk must be sealed in order to prevent rotting caused by moisture.
Range 
Dracaena offers a wide choice of around 80 species and cultivars in various forms. Hence there are plants with a single stem, top cutting, tuft (several plants of one species in a single pot), Ti plant (double-headed plant), branched or woven trunk, plant with underplanting, stump, etc. Dracaena also offers various leaf shapes from narrow to broad and colours from yellow to dark red.
These are the best known varieties: 
– Dracaena marginata cultivars, with narrow 1-2 cm leaves
– Dracaena fragrans cultivars, with broad 5-7 cm leaves
– Dracaena fragrans Compacta Grp, compact structure with 2-3 cm wide leaves
– Dracaena fragrans Deremenis Grp, with 2-3 cm wide leaves
– Dracaena reflexa cultivars, somewhat curved leaves, 2-3 cm wide
– Dracaena sanderiana cultivars, with 2-3 cm wide leaves
– Dracaena surculosa cultivars, with oval spotted leaves.
Care tips for consumers 
  • Dracaena prefers not to be in direct sunlight, but does want a light position in order to keep the markings attractive.
  • Only water when the soil dries out. Dracaena cannot tolerate wet feet.
  • Spraying from time to time keeps the leaves attractive and fresh.
  • Give house plant food once every six weeks in spring and summer. Do not feed in autumn and winter.
  • Dracaena cannot tolerate cold. Do not allow the temperature to drop below 10-13°C.

November’s House Plant of the Month: Cyclamen

Thanks to its white and brightly coloured flowers, Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) is the ideal plant to combat the dark day blues. It may look delicate, but it’s a strong bloomer that emerges from a sturdy corm. It offers all sorts of excitements. The green leaves grow in a rosette, are heart-shaped and often have attractive silver-grey or pale green markings. Slender stems unroll between the leaves on which incredible flowers emerge which stand out like flags. They can be smooth, have fringes or stick out wide like a rara skirt, and come in colours that nature has made special effort with.
Origin 
Cyclamen has long been known as a decorative plant, and is a member of the primrose family. The species that occurs in the wild in the forests and on stony mountain slopes around the Mediterranean from Spain to Iran is the ancestor of today’s houseplants. The philosopher Plato described the plant as far back as the 4th century BC. Cyclamen arrived in Europe in the 16th century, where it was grown in the English Queen Elizabeth’s botanic gardens, amongst other places. The plant faded from view for a while after that, but came back into fashion in the 19th century thanks to the Romantics, and has never dropped out of sight again.
What to look for when buying Cyclamen
  • Alongside colour and flower shape, it’s a good idea to check whether the plants on offer are specifically houseplants or patio cyclamens.
  • Cyclamens are offered in various pot sizes, from mini to giant. In all cases look for an attractive round full structure, the number of flowers per plant, the ripeness and the number of buds that have developed under the leaves and can ensure long continued flowering.
  • The plant should be free of disease and pests when purchased. Botrytis manifests itself in black patches on the flowers (spot) or mouldy patches between the leaves (grey mould). Check that the plants have not been placed close together for too long, and ensure that the flowers and leaves never get damp or wet from watering, condensation or excessive humidity. Working clean and dry, not placing the plants too close together and removing them from the sleeve is important in order to prevent botrytis.
  • If the flowers or the foliage are damaged or flawed, this is often the result of shipping or storage. There may also be wilted flowers on the plant, or the plant may be drooping due to lack of water. Yellow leaves indicate conditions which are too wet or too dry. Cyclamen can cope well with cool temperatures, provided it’s above freezing

Choice of range
The choice of cyclamens is largest during the period when there is an R in the month. The best-known are the F1 cyclamens: uniform, strong plants with good flowering characteristics. The range includes large-flowered, medium-flowered (midi) and small-flowered (mini) cyclamens. There are also micro-cyclamens, supplied in a 6 cm pot or a vase. The range of colours is endless, but red, white, pink, lilac and bicoloured plants predominate. The flower can be smooth or have fringes, and the foliage can be green or silver. New shapes and scented flowers are making the range ever more diverse.
Care tips for consumers 
  • Cyclamen like a cool and light spot, and does not like full sun or sources of heat nearby.
  • The plant drinks a lot. Keep the soil slightly damp. Ideally, cyclamens like to take up their own water at room temperature from a saucer which can then be removed. The plant will indicate when it needs water again by drooping a bit.
  • Regularly remove wilted flowers and plant in order to encourage new buds to open.
  • It’s a good idea to give some plant food once every 3 weeks to ensure lengthy and lavish flowering.
Sales and display tips for Cyclamen
The red and white flowers are perfect for a ‘festive season with a twist’ feel, whilst the pastel colours do well in the run-up to spring. Cyclamen is a good match with a classic container, whereby black lacquered wood or a black shiny pot in particular shows off the colours beautifully. The houseplant acquires a very energetic, modern look in colourful pots which echo all the spectacle within the pot. Display cyclamens together, preferably on a staging to optimally show off the fantastic shapes of the leaves and flowers.

October house plant of the month: Pure Green

The story of Pure Green 

Pure Green is about plants with air-purifying qualities which greatly improve their surroundings. Research by NASA has proven that some plants absorb harmful substances and carry them away with their roots. They also release oxygen and help maintain the humidity level in the home. The Houseplants of the Month for October are the stars amongst the Natural Air Purifiers: Spathiphyllum, Gerbera, Nephrolepis and Ivy.
Origins
Ivy (Hedera) is a member of the Araliaceae family, and grows on rocks and trees in Asia, Europe and North Africa. The plant is able to climb to a height of 25-30 metres and does particularly well in cooler regions. The Latin name ‘Hedera’ roughly means ‘gripping’ and refers to the roots with which the plant secures itself. Ivy symbolises eternal life, because the plant is evergreen.
Gerbera flowers in Southern Africa, Asia, South America and Tasmania. This flowering plant is now available in 600 different colours, shapes and sizes. Gerbera is known as a cut flower, but it is the plant that can best absorb harmful substances from the environment.
Nephrolepis is a member of the fern family: beautiful foliage plants with very varied appearances which have been growing on Earth since the Devonian period (400-350 million years ago). Nephrolepis is found in tropical rain forests around the globe. This bushy plant with feathered leaves is one of the best air purifying plants for the home.
Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily) comes from the tropical rain forests of Colombia and Venezuela, and is the sort of plant that everyone falls in love with straightaway: soft green leaves, white bracts around a flowering spike, and very interactive. If Spathiphyllum is too dry, its leaves will droop.  Its leaves will spring back up again within a couple of hours after being watered.
What to look for when buying Pure Green 
● With all the plants you should look at the pot size, diameter, thickness and height of the plant. With ivy it’s worth checking the length of the tendrils, and with Gerbera and Spathiphyllum you should check the number of flowers per plant and the stage of ripeness.
● All Pure Green plants should have slightly damp soil. The smaller pot sizes in particular dry out rapidly and then suffer leaf drop, shrivel leaves or dry leaf edges.
● Plants should be free of yellow leaves in the heart of the plant, particularly in winter. It’s also a good idea to check for various types of scale insects and mealybug. Ivy can also suffer from red spider mite. These pests are often difficult to eradicate in the retail chain or at the consumer, so it’s advisable not to buy the plant.
● Plants are often sleeved in order to protect them from cold or during shipping. Check that the sleeves are perforated because of the damp that can cause the Botrytis fungus. This grey mould can rapidly infest the plant.
● During shipping and storage the temperature must be at least 12-15 °C or higher for Spathiphyllum and Nephrolepis. Ivy and Gerbera can tolerate lower temperatures.
Choice of range 
The range of plants with air-purifying properties is large. There are multiple cultivars available of each species:
Ivy offers a wide range of leaf shapes and colours. There are climbing and hanging forms, and many applications are created with it on arches, spheres, pyramids etc. The leaf colour ranges from smooth green through to variegated and marbled, and there is also a wide variety of leaf sizes. Cultivars such as Eva, Kolibri, Pittsburgh, Shamrock and Wonder are very popular.
Gerbera comes in many different sizes and forms, and is increasingly popular as a patio plant for use in the spring and summer. There is even a hardy variety (Garvinea). For use the home there are a number of series that are offered in many colours, such as Durora, Fiori Line, Sundayz and Revolution.
Nephrolepis is by far the most important species within the ferns, with the cultivars Bostoniensis (often called Boston Fern) and Green Lady (narrow leaf) as the best known varieties. But Corditas, Duffii, Emina and Vitale are also attractive ferns with the same air-purifying properties.
Spathiphyllum is available in many sizes, always with a white inflorescence. The leaves are usually green, although there are also a couple with variegated leaves, such as S. Silver Cupido or S. Gimini. Many cultivars are named after composers: Chopin, Figaro, Vivaldi or Bellini. There are now many varieties of Cupido available.
Care tips
All Pure Green Plants should be wrapped carefully for the journey home during the cold months.
Ivy likes a cool and light spot, but not in bright sunlight. The lighter the leaf, the more light it requires. The more chlorophyll, the less light it needs. The soil should not be allowed to dry out, but nor should the roots be standing in water. Give some plant food once a fortnight, place the plant under a light shower from time to time or treat it to a session with the plant spray. Remove old leaves, cut back scrawny tendrils. Ivy cannot tolerate dry air very well; this can lead to red spider mite. So don’t place it over  or near a heater.
Gerbera prefers a bright spot. The soil should not be allowed to dry out. Give plant food once every three weeks to ensure long, lavish flowering. Carefully remove exhausted flowers with a twisting movement from the heart so that the entire stem comes free.
Nephrolepis prefers a spot where the temperature is above 12°C, between partial shade and light. The plant can’t tolerate direct sunlight or the dry air over a heater. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Water onto the soil in order to protect the heart of the plant. Rainwater is preferable – ferns cannot cope well with lime and salt. Give the plants some plant food once every 3-4 weeks during the growing season.
Spathiphyllum prefers a light spot where the temperature is at least 12°C , but it does not cope well with full sun. Do not allow the soil to dry out. The plant will show when it’s short of water by drooping. Spray the leaves regularly with tepid water, give some plant food once a month, remove wilted flowers.