Plant Care

Light Guidelines:

High Light: Full or direct sunlight

Medium light: Partial Sun or Bright location, out of direct sunlight

Low Light: Shade, or poorly lit areas (Bright enough to read by)

 

TIPS: How to keep your plants alive

Watering:

Water only when plants need it. How? Stick your fingers about an inch to 2 inches into the soil to feel if its dry. This is the most important factor when taking care of a plant.

Over watering is the number one plant killer!

Signs of over watering:

If young and older leaves fall off at the same time, there is standing water in the bottom of the container or drainage tray, there is fungus or mold on the soil surface, leaves have brown rotten patches, yellowing leaves**

 **Yellowing leaves can be signs of both over watering or under watering.**

Signs of Under Watering:

Signs that your plant needs to be watered: Leaves have just begun to wilt (Do not fear they will comeback). If the leaves are wilted and dried up to a brown colour… it should have been watered weeks ago.

If you notice a gap forming between the soil and your pot, if the soil becomes light in colour or cracked, it’s time to water.

Low light plants like to dry out completely, they are more prone to root rot.

High light Plants will dry out quicker.

Ex: Small pot in a warm sunny spot dries out faster than a Large pot in a low light area will.

If all of this seems like too much work then you can buy a moisture meter.

 

Fertilizer:

Flowering tropicals: fertilize when flower buds appear

Fertilize most tropical plants 2-3 times during growing season (March-August)

Warning: Do not fertilize dry plants. Fertilizer treatment will burn the roots.

 

Temperatures:

Most tropical plants will not withstand temperatures below 13 degrees celsius.

Do not place plants near heating sources, or any ventilation or spots with a cold draft.

Insects:

Check plants regularly under the leaf for damage.

Care:

Dusting should be done regularly.

Remove any flowering buds if you would like to promote the leaf growth.

• By removing the flowers, all of the energy they took up will go directly into the leaves, making them appear stronger and healthier.

Re-potting should be done in spring when needed* (If plant becomes pot bound)

• Pot Bound: When your plant is well established and the root system has flourished, you may notice that the amount of soil has diminished. This plant may require a larger sized pot.

Side note: Soil is used to give plants nutrients, if the soil level is low the nutrient level will be low as well.

*Exceptions: ZZs, Snakes, Succulents, Cactus (like being pot bound) *

 

Air Plants

Light requirements:

• Air plants need bright filtered light (no direct sunlight)

Watering:

• Thoroughly wet your air plant 2 - 3 times a week. (If the area is dry it will require 3 waterings vs if its a cool environment only 2 waterings etc)
• WARNING: Air Plants will not survive in standing water