House Plants Blog

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House Plants Blog https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/house-plants-blog.html The House Plants Blog keeps you up to date with new additions of plant profiles, pictures, and must-have care tips on the Guide-to-Houseplants.com website. Subscribe here. Apr 17, Anthurium Plant Care - How to Grow Anthurium andraeanum Indoors https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/anthurium-plant.html b4b01a6a8aa18831aaec1f0a414e34d0     Botanical Name: Anthurium andraeanum Anthurium plant is among the best-known tropical flowers. Popular in tropical flower arrangements, Anthurium bouquets are often used in weddings on Hawaii and other Pacific islands.Give any brightly lit room a perennial vacay vibe with this spectacular houseplant. Discover how to please this exotic blooming plant indoors and you'll enjoy it for years.   <div class="ImageBlock ImageBlockCenter"><img class="ss-lazy" src="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/anthurium-andreanum.jpg" width="650" height="433" alt="anthurium plant, anthurium care, anthurium flowers, anthurium andraeanum" title="Anthurium Andreanum Plant" data-pin-media="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/anthurium-andreanum.jpg">Spectacular red spathes make Anthurium andreanum a popular houseplant. Photo © Phanida Phansurin</div> <h3>Get to Know Anthurium Plant</h3> Anthurium andreanum, also known as tail flower, is especially colorful from spring through fall. Anthurium flowers are long-lasting, and newer cultivars will bloom almost year-round.The glossy red, heart-shaped flowers are actually spathes that last for several weeks, each with a white or yellow spadix covered densely with its tiny, true flowers. Some varieties have spathe colors that are pink, orange-red or white.Long, dark-green leathery leaves grow up to 8-in (20 cm) long, held on upright stems. Anthurium leaves are poisonous. They contain calcium oxalate crystals that cause severe burning in the mouth. Keep the plant away from pets who may play with or chew on its foliage. It's also a good idea to wear gloves when handling this plant to avoid skin irritation. <h3>A. Andreanum Varieties</h3> Exciting new cultivars are introduced all the time, each more captivating than the last. <ul><li>Anthurium andreanum 'Album' is a cultivar sporting white spathes</li><li>A.a. 'Pink Champion' features pink spathes</li><li>A.a. 'Giganteum' has salmon-red spathes that are larger than the species</li></ul> <h3>Anthurium Andreanum is a Keeper</h3> Anthurium andreanum is a perennial that will live for several years with good care. What's more, you can divide older plants for an ongoing collection (see "Propagation" below). <div class="ImageBlock ImageBlockCenter"><img class="ss-lazy" src="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/anthurium-houseplant.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="anthurium plant, anthurium care, anthurium flowers, anthurium andraeanum" title="Anthurium Houseplants" data-pin-media="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/anthurium-houseplant.jpg"></div> <h3>Caring for Anthurium Plants as Houseplants</h3> Raise the humidity. Because of the need for humidity, Anthurium growing can be challenging in the home. However, newer cultivars are less fussy than the species. If the relative humidity drops below 50%, use a humidity tray or room humidifier to increase the moisture in the air. Grouping plants also helps to maintain the humidity around them. Brown leaf tips may be a sign of dry air.To repot...or not. The best time to repot your Anthurium plant is when new growth begins in spring. Move into a pot that's only 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) bigger -- and only when necessary. Set the plant high so that the crown sits above the soil line. If roots show up at the surface between repottings, cover them with potting mix. Use a pot with drainage holes to prevent soggy soil; good drainage is essential.Keep it clean. Anthurium leaves are naturally glossy. Wipe them gently with a damp cloth to keep them dust-free. Avoid dripping water on the leaves because it may cause brown spots, a fungus that needs to be treated with a fungicide. Yellow leaves are typically a symptom over-watering, but may be caused by cold drafts. This South American native wants warmth, year-round. Something bugging your plant? <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/spider-mites.html">Spider mites</a> may invade Anthurium in the winter, if the air is dry. Watch for webbing between the leaves and stems, usually the first tell-tale sign of an invasion. Treat any infestation immediately. <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/fungus-gnats.html">Fungus gnats</a> are attracted to wet, peaty potting mixes; they're easier to get rid of. <div class="ImageBlock ImageBlockCenter"><img class="ss-lazy" src="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/anthurium-white-pink.jpg" width="650" height="433" alt="anthurium plant, anthurium care, anthurium andraeanum" title="Pink Anthurium Houseplant" data-pin-media="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/anthurium-white-pink.jpg">Gorgeous white Anthurium sports pink border and spadix. Photo © Yana Demenko</div> <h2>Anthurium Plant Care Tips</h2> Origin: ColombiaHeight: Up to 18 in (45 cm); compact cultivars reach only 12 in (30 cm). Tall flower stems may need staking. Light: Bright light will make these beauties bloom. Give your plant as much sunlight as you can year-round (at least 4 hours of bright indirect light each day). Keep Anthurium out of direct sun, which may cause dry, brown patches on its leaves. A curtain-filtered sunny window is ideal.Water: Keep soil evenly moist spring through fall, slightly drier in winter. Yellow leaves are often caused by over-watering. Use a pot with drainage holes, water thoroughly, then empty drainage tray. Don't allow soil to get soggy, which can kill this plant.Humidity: This South American rain forest native craves high humidity year-round. Try to maintain 50% relative humidity or higher. Don't use a plant mister because drops of water may cause leaf blight that look like brown spots. The best way to increase humidity for your tropical houseplants is with a <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/humidity.html">cool-mist room humidifier</a>. Temperature: (65-80°F/18-27°C) Anthurium plant prefers steady warm temps, just like we do. Protect it from cold blasts from doorways, windows and A/C vents.  Soil: Peat moss based potting mix with added perlite for good drainage; African violet potting mix is ideal. Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks in spring and summer with a high-phosphorus water-soluble fertilizer. Propagation: Divide crowded clumps when repotting. When a plant grows a new crown near the main plant, gently pull it away and plant it separately in a small container, keeping the crown of the plant above the soil line. New plants should bloom in about a year. <ol itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/BreadcrumbList"> <li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ListItem"> <a itemprop="item" href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/index.html"> Home</a> <meta itemprop="position" content="1"> </li> › <li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ListItem"> <a itemprop="item" href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/house-plants-encyclopedia-a-z.html"> Houseplants A-Z</a> <meta itemprop="position" content="2"> </li> </ol>       Wed, 17 Apr 2024 09:25:27 -0700 en-us text/html https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/anthurium-plant.html Apr 15, Goldfish Plant Care Tips: How to Grow Columnea Gloriosa Indoors https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/goldfish-plant.html 5344346d51e5afe539131633f629c2d7     Goldfish plant gets its common name from the long, tubular orange or orange-red flowers that look like everyone's first pet -- goldfish.Put this exotic trailing plant in a hanging basket or on a pedestal table to show off its spectacular foliage and blooms.   <div class="ImageBlock ImageBlockCenter"><img class="ss-lazy" src="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/goldfish-plant-potted.jpg" width="480" height="350" alt="goldfish plant, columnea gloriosa" title="Goldfish Plant" data-pin-media="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/goldfish-plant-potted.jpg">This eye-catching tropical houseplant is just plain fun to have around.</div> <h3>Get to Know Your Goldfish Plant</h3> Columnea gloriosa is a perennial and will last for several years with good care. How big does it get? Long stems can reach up to 3 ft (90 cm) and are densely covered with thick, waxy, dark-green leaves.Small, tubular flowers may be orange, red, or yellow, depending on the variety. You can expect your plant to bloom abundantly in spring and summer.More than 150 species and hybrids of Columnea exist. Most are trailing or at least leaning, making goldfish plants ideal for displaying in hanging baskets.Many named hybrids are available, offering a colorful variety of leaves and flowers. 'Firebird' and 'Aladdin's Lamp' have red flowers and dark-green leaves. Yellow blooms edged in red make 'California Gold' a stunning house plant. 'Chanticleer' is a prolific bloomer with a compact growing habit. <div class="ImageBlock ImageBlockCenter"><img class="ss-lazy" src="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/goldfish-plant.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Goldfish Plant" title="Goldfish Plant Flower" data-pin-media="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/goldfish-plant.jpg">Close-Up of the Goldfish Plant Flower. Photo © Graham Rieger</div> <h3>Year-Round Care for Your Goldfish Plant</h3> Get the most blooms. You can expect dozens of blooms on mature plants in spring and summer. Some plants may also bloom at other times during the year. You'll get the most blooms by providing plenty of bright, indirect light. Keep the soil slightly dry in the winter to help promote heavy flowering in spring. Just be careful not to allow the soil to dry out completely.Pinch your plant. Pinch off the growing tips often to encourage branching. You'll be rewarded with a much nicer-looking plant that is compact and bushy. It's a good idea to keep the stems at 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) to prevent goldfish plant from getting leggy. If you want, you can propagate the stem tip cuttings for more plants. (See "Propagation" tips below.)To repot...or not? This one likes to be slightly root-bound, and blooms best this way. Repot in spring when it has outgrown its pot. Columnea likes loose potting medium, so don't pack it down. Use a container with drainage holes to prevent soggy soil. If you want to use a decorative planter without drainage holes, use it as a cachepot. Just slip a plain nursery pot inside the cachepot. I put pebbles in the bottom of cachepots to keep the inner pot above any drainage water.Something bugging your houseplant? <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/spider-mites.html">Spider mites</a> and <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/aphids.html">aphids</a> are possible indoor pests. Isolate an infested plant and treat it right away. You don't want these pests to move on to your other houseplants.Dropped leaves? This tropical native doesn't like the cold at all, which can cause leaf drop. Also keep up the humidity around it -- dry air can cause leaves to fall off. Brown leaves? Don't put this tropical native outdoors for the summer. Keep it indoors year-round. Goldfish plants don't like high heat or direct sunlight, which can cause its leaves to turn brown. <h2>Goldfish Plant Care Tips</h2> Origin: Central and South AmericaHeight: Stems may grow up to 3 ft (90 cm) long if not pinched back. Light: Goldfish plant needs plenty of bright, indirect light to bloom. Keep this tropical native out of hot, direct sunlight, which will turn the leaves brown. Water: Spring through fall, water thoroughly and allow the top 2 inches (5 cm) to dry out between waterings. Water less often in winter, but don't dry it out completely. Always use tepid water to for your indoor plants, because cold water is a shock to them.Humidity: Moderate to high (50% relative humidity or higher). Use a <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/humidity.html">cool-mist room humidifier</a> or a humidity tray to maintain moist air. Or mist foliage every day -- use room-temperature water because cold water will cause brown spots on the foliage. It's a good idea to use a humidity monitor near your plant rather than guess; indoor air can become extremely dry, especially during the winter months.Temperature: Warm room temperatures (65-80°F/18-27°C) year-round. Goldfish plant will tolerate a minimum of 60°F/16°C in winter. Exposure to cold will cause its leaves to fall off. Don't expose the plant to cold drafts from windows, doors or AC vents. Soil: Peat moss-based mix, such as African violet potting mix. Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks spring and summer with a high-phosphorus liquid or water-soluble fertilizer (such as 15-30-15) diluted by half. Water before fertilizing to prevent burning the plant's roots. Propagation: Take 4 in (10 cm) stem tip cuttings (without flowers) in spring or summer. For best results, dip cut end in <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/rooting-powder.html">rooting hormone powder</a>, then insert in lightly moist potting mix. Keep your goldfish plant cuttings consistently warm (70°F/21°C) using a seedling heat mat.   <ol itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/BreadcrumbList"> <li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ListItem"> <a itemprop="item" href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/index.html"> Home</a> <meta itemprop="position" content="1"> </li> › <li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ListItem"> <a itemprop="item" href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/house-plants-encyclopedia-a-z.html"> Houseplants A-Z</a> <meta itemprop="position" content="2"> </li> </ol>       Mon, 15 Apr 2024 07:38:14 -0700 en-us text/html https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/goldfish-plant.html Apr 15, Inch Plant Care: Grow Trailing Tradescantia Zebrina as a Houseplant https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/inch-plant-care.html 81d235b8b0fd74f830a5f3b30d0bec50     Botanical Name: Tradescantia zebrina   Light, humidity and water are the keys to Inch Plant care. Give this tropical native what it wants and it will reward you with colorful, glistening foliage, making it a stunning houseplant all year round. Its long, fleshy stems are densely covered with lance-shaped leaves that are about 2 in (5 cm) long. Each green and purple leaf is marked with 2 broad silvery bands, and is dark purplish underneath.Small, 3-petaled flowers may appear in spring, but they're not showy compared to the colorful foliage.Best known as a hanging plant, the Inch Plant is easy-care and fast-growing. To show it off, display your trailing houseplant in a <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/indoor-plant-hangers.html">plant hanger</a>, decorative <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/plant-sconces.html">plant sconce</a> or on a <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/indoor-plant-stands.html">plant stand</a>. <div class="ImageBlock ImageBlockCenter"><img class="ss-lazy" src="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/inch-plant.jpg" width="650" height="867" alt="inch plant care, tradescantia zebrina" title="Inch Plant" data-pin-media="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/inch-plant.jpg">Coloful foliage makes Inch Plant an ever-popular trailing houseplant. Photo: <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/tammarazzi-5018125/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3401913">Tammarazzi</a></div> <h3>Inch Plant Care, Solutions and Special Helps</h3> Pinch and prune. Pinch stems back to keep Inch Plant from getting too leggy. The best time to prune is in spring and summer, during this plant's most vigorous season of growth. You can easily propagate the stem cuttings for more plants. Older stems will naturally lose some of their leaves and can be cut off at the soil level. Watch for pests. <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/aphids.html">Aphids</a> are small, greenish insects that are attracted to new growth, which this plant has in abundance. Look for them on the stems of new shoots. Also watch for webbing between stems and on the undersides of leaves, a tell-tale sign of <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/spider-mites.html">spider mites</a>. They're not common, but spider mites may infest houseplants during the winter months when indoor air is dry. Use a cool-mist room humidifier near your plant to deter them -- and your tropical houseplant will love the humidity!Repot in spring, only when Inch Plant outgrows its pot. Move to one just 1-2 inches larger because a pot that's too big will hold too much water. The easiest way to prevent soggy soil is to use a container with drainage holes. If you want to cover up a plain pot, slip it into a cachepot -- a decorative planter without drainage holes. I put small rocks in the bottom of cachepots to keep the inner pot above the drainage water.Brown leaf tips are caused by dry air or dry potting mix. Inch plant care includes regular watering and keeping the humidity high.Is Tradescantia poisonous? Yes, this popular houseplant is toxic to cats, dogs and people. Unfortunately, those long, trailing stems are attractive to cats -- another good reason to pot it in a hanging basket, out of reach. Handling this plant may also irritate skin for some people, so it's a good idea to wear gloves while pruning and repotting Inch Plant. <h3>Buying Tips</h3> Several species in the Spiderwort family share the common name Inch Plant. Choose the one you like, they are all easy to grow. And all are vigorous growers, too. If you buy a small plant, you won't wait long for those lush, trailing stems to spill over the sides of a container.Tradescantia albiflora is one of the most common. Both 'Variegata' and 'Quicksilver' cultivars have green leaves variegated with creamy white. Tradescantia nanouk sports stunning green and pink stripes, with dark pink undersides.Tradescantia zebrina (shown here) has gorgeous green-and-purple foliage, glistening with bands of silver. 'Quadricolor' has striped leaves in green, silver, purple and pink. <div class="ImageBlock ImageBlockCenter"><img class="ss-lazy" src="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/inch-plant-leaves.jpg" width="480" height="388" alt="inch plant, tradescantia zebrina" title="Inch Plant Leaves" data-pin-media="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/inch-plant-leaves.jpg">Shimmering green and purple leaves make Inch Plant irresistible.</div> <h2>Inch Plant Care Tips</h2> Origin: Mexico and South AmericaHeight: Stems can trail to 2 ft (60 cm) or more. Light: Bright, indirect light. Long spaces between leaves are caused by too little light. Pinch off leggy stems and move your plant to a brighter spot. Leaves will also lose their variegation if they don't get enough light. Water: Keep soil lightly moist in the growing season, slightly drier in winter. Use a pot with drainage holes; water thoroughly till water comes out the bottom, then empty drainage tray. With Inch Plant care should be taken not to allow soggy soil -- a sure-fire way to kill it. Stems that look wilted may be a sign of root rot. Cut off any withered stems and allow potting mix to dry out a bit before watering again.Humidity: Try to maintain 45% relative humidity or higher for Inch Plant care. Indoor air can become extremely dry during the winter months without our noticing it. It's a good idea to use a humidity monitor near your houseplant, rather than guess. If leaf tips turn brown, the air is too dry. Increase moisture by using a <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/humidity.html">cool-mist room humidifier</a>.Temperature: Average room temperatures 65-75°F/18-24°C suit this tropical year-round. It will tolerate a winter minimum of 55°F/13°C. Soil: Peat moss based potting mix with added perlite works best because it is a looser mix for faster drainage. African violet potting mix is ideal. Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks during spring and summer with a balanced (10-10-10 NPK) water-soluble fertilizer diluted by half. Tradescantia is not a heavy feeder. Too much fertilizer can cause the leaves to lose their variegation.Propagation: Easy to propagate from stem tip cuttings. Take 3 in (7.5 cm) cuttings in spring or summer and place in moist soil. Cuttings will root in about 3 weeks. <ol itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/BreadcrumbList"> <li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ListItem"> <a itemprop="item" href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/index.html"> Home</a> <meta itemprop="position" content="1"> </li> › <li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ListItem"> <a itemprop="item" href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/house-plants-encyclopedia-a-z.html"> Houseplants A-Z</a> <meta itemprop="position" content="2"> </li> </ol> <h3>More to Explore</h3> <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/moses-in-the-cradle.html">Moses in the Cradle</a> and <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/tradescantia-pallida.html">Purple Heart Plant</a> are beautiful relatives of this plant family.       Mon, 15 Apr 2024 07:25:06 -0700 en-us text/html https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/inch-plant-care.html Apr 13, Hydrangea Care: Guide for Growing Hydrangeas Indoors https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/hydrangea-care.html 679caecafd3b610be9c3f5c4933f393f     Botanical Name: Hydrangea macrophylla Good hydrangea care includes cool air, bright light and moist soil. Give them what they want and you'll be rewarded with a long blooming season of spectacular beauty.Put a potted hydrangea on a dining table, in a sunroom or anywhere you want to add instant garden ambiance.    <h3>Hydrangea Varieties to Grow as Houseplants</h3> Dozens of species exist. The best for growing indoors is Hydrangea macrophylla -- the mophead hydrangea, which offers hundreds of varieties. This is a plant that really knows how to show off. Big, round clusters of small flowers cover mophead hydrangeas all summer in blue, violet-blue, white, pink or red. New cultivars are introduced with bi-colored blooms, and in more vibrant colors than we've ever seen.Hydrangea 'Endless Summer' produces an abundance of pale-blue blooms. It's one of the hardiest -- good to know if you live in a cold climate and plan to move your plant outdoors.More popular varieties include violet-blue 'Nikko Blue', deep-blue 'All Summer Beauty' and snowy white 'Libelle'. <div class="ImageBlock ImageBlockCenter"><img class="ss-lazy" src="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/hydrangeas-purple-white.jpg" width="650" height="442" alt="hydrangea care, growing hydrangeas, how to grow hydrangeas" title="Purple and White Mophead Hydrangeas" data-pin-media="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/hydrangeas-purple-white.jpg">New varieties make the prospect of growing hydrangeas indoors quite tempting.</div> <h3>Hydrangea Care and Maintenance</h3> Keep the soil moist. Dry soil can be the death of this plant. Leaves that turn yellow and fall off are a sign of dry soil. Flowering plants are thirsty, so it's a good idea to check the soil every day while in bloom.Hydrangea pruning. Mophead hydrangeas don't need to be pruned back unless you want to control their size. Cutting off about 1/3 of the oldest stems will give you a fuller plant. When to prune hydrangeas: After blossoms fade. Hydrangea shrubs are perennials. Woody stems are densely covered with big, oval leaves that are deep green. <div class readability="12"><h4>Pruning Hydrangea Care Tip</h4> When pruning hydrangea, care should be taken not to tear the stems, which can damage the plant. Use clean, sharp  pruners to cut the stem at a 45° angle, 1/4-inch after a leaf axle. </div> Overwintering your plant. Hydrangea shrubs are perennials. If you intend to keep your plant, repot after flowering is over and cut the woody stems back by half. Water sparingly in winter. Keep the plant cool during the winter, then move it to warmer conditions in late winter to help bring it into bloom.If you meet the needs for hydrangea care, you can count on it to bloom year after year. <div class="ImageBlock ImageBlockCenter"><img class="ss-lazy" src="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/hydrangeamophead-blue.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="hydrangea care, growing hydrangeas, mophead hydrangea, blue hydrangea" title="Blue Mophead Hydrangea" data-pin-media="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/hydrangeamophead-blue.jpg"></div> <h3>How to Keep Blue Hydrangeas Blue</h3> Blue hydrangeas need acidic soil (pH 5.5 and lower) or they will change flower color from blue to pink. Alkaline soils (higher than pH 7) are fine for pink varieties. To keep the blue color, add sulphur while the plant is blooming. Neutral pH (between pH 5.5 and pH 7) can make the flowers purple or a mix of pink and blue. It's important to know that not all cultivars can change to blue, so buy the color you want and try to maintain it. It's much easier to maintain a color than to change it completely by experimenting with soil acidity. Besides, some varieties won't change no matter what you do. <h3>How to Preserve Your Mophead Hydrangeas</h3> Drying Hydrangeas. Hydrangea color will be best preserved by allowing the flower stem to dry on the plant. Cut them off when the flowers have a papery feel, with a stem length suitable for a vase, centerpiece, or whatever flower arrangement you choose.  Strip off all leaves, and then find a dark, dry room where the flowers can finish drying. Hang the stems upside down while drying to prevent them from bending. Keep the flower stems separate as they dry so that none of the flowers get squashed. Mopheads are among the most beautiful dried hydrangeas, turning soft shades of blue, green, violet or rose. <h2>Indoor Hydrangea Care Tips</h2> <div class="ImageBlock ImageBlockCenter"><img class="ss-lazy" src="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/hydrangeas-pink-basket.jpg" width="650" height="433" alt="hydrangea care, growing hydrangeas indoors, how to grow hydrangeas indoors" title="Pink Hydrangeas in Basket Growing on Windowsill" data-pin-media="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/hydrangeas-pink-basket.jpg">Give mophead hydrangeas plenty of bright light to bloom. Photo © Chernetskaya</div> Origin: JapanHeight: 2 ft (60 cm) indoorsLight: Provide at least 4 hours of bright, indirect light every day.Water: Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy while plant is growing and flowering. Pots are usually packed tightly with roots, so water often. Use lime-free water because lime will make the soil alkaline. Water sparingly in winter, when hydrangea is resting.Humidity: Average room (around 40-45% relative humidity). If your indoor air is dry, use one of these easy ways to <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/humidity.html">increase humidity</a> for your houseplants.Temperature: Keep your hydrangea plant as cool as possible to prolong the flowering time. Preferably below 60°F/16°C.Soil: Peat-based acidic lime-free soil for blue varieties. Alkaline soil for pink.Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) diluted by half. Or, use a slow-release fertilizer once in spring and again in summer. Go easy -- too much fertilizer may scorch its leaves.Propagation: Take 4 inch (10 cm) stem tip cuttings in spring or early summer and root them in moist potting mix. <ol itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/BreadcrumbList"> <li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"> <a itemprop="item" href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/index.html"> Home</a> <meta itemprop="position" content="1"> </li> › <li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ListItem"> <a itemprop="item" href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/house-plants-encyclopedia-a-z.html"> Houseplants A-Z</a> <meta itemprop="position" content="2"> </li> </ol>       Sat, 13 Apr 2024 08:42:15 -0700 en-us text/html https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/hydrangea-care.html Apr 5, Flaming Katy: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Indoor Plant Care https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/flaming-katy.html 8ba6c78d92850ff4bccf763de1550460     Botanical Name: Kalanchoe blossfeldianaFlaming Katy is one of the few succulents grown just for its blooms. Bright clusters of tiny red, orange, yellow, white, purple or pink flowers last several weeks. Flowers may be single or double.   <div class="ImageBlock ImageBlockCenter"><img class="ss-lazy" src="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/kalanchoe-plant-window.jpg" width="600" height="440" alt="kalanchoe blossfeldiana, kalanchoe plant, flaming katy" title="Pink Kalanchoe Plant Flowering Near Window" data-pin-media="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/kalanchoe-plant-window.jpg">Give Kalanchoe plant lots of sunshine to make it bloom. Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/Tinix-8740341/?utm_source=link- attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content= 3467124">Tinix</a></div> <h3>Get to Know Flaming Katy Houseplant</h3> Kalanchoe blossfeldiana has glossy, green leaves with scalloped edges that can become red-tinged when exposed to full sun. Although the thick leaves seem sturdy, they are actually quite brittle. Handle flaming katy with care because the leaf tips easily break off.When you're buying a Kalanchoe plant, choose one with bright, fresh-looking leaves and plenty of unopened buds -- sure signs of a healthy plant.How big does flaming katy get? Mature plants will reach a height of 8-15 inches (20-38 cm). <div class="CalloutBox" readability="7.5483870967742"><h4>Did you know...</h4> Kalanchoe is part of the Crassulaceae family of plants and is made up of more than 100 species. Many make good houseplants, including <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/panda-plant.html">Panda Plant</a> and <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/mother-of-thousands.html">Mother of Thousands</a>. </div> Kalanchoe care is easy -- providing you can give Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plenty of sunlight and the right amount of water. Resist the temptation to overwater flaming katy. Like other succulent plants, it stores water in its thick, fleshy leaves and can suffer from root rot if it is overwatered.  <h3>Caring for Kalanchoe Plant - Problems and Solutions</h3> Deadhead spent blooms. You'll get the most flowers by deadheading during the flowering season. Cut off flower stems after the blooms have faded to encourage more blooms. Cut them at the base of the plant to keep the plant looking its best.Wondering whether to repot...or not? It's not necessary. Never repot a plant while it's blooming because it stresses the plant and may cause its flowers and flower buds to fall off. If you want to cover up a plain nursery pot, just slip it into a cachepot -- a decorative pot without drainage holes. It's a good idea to put small rocks in the bottom of the cachepot to keep the inner pot above drainage water.Wilted leaves? You overwatered. If you've been watering regularly and the leaves are soft and limp, the plant is likely suffering from root rot. Slip the plant out of the pot and take a peek at its roots. Are they soft and mushy? If so, you can toss out the plant -- it likely won't recover. If flaming katy is wilting for no apparent reason, it may be infested with root mealybugs. (See "Something bugging your plant?" below).Yellow, wrinkled leaves are caused by dry soil. Cut off any affected leaves. Water thoroughly to ensure all roots are moistened, then empty drainage tray.Something bugging your plant? Few pests bother flaming katy. <a href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/mealybugs.html">Mealybugs</a> are the most common invaders. Watch for white, fuzzy patches near the leaf axils and under the leaves. Root mealybugs could be the cause of a wilted plant. Ease the plant out of its pot and inspect the roots for these pests. Treat any infestation as soon as you see them to prevent pests from invading your other indoor plants. If it's badly infested, get rid of it. It's easier to replace your plant. <div class="ImageBlock ImageBlockCenter"><img class="ss-lazy" src="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/pinkkalanchoe.jpg" width="600" height="470" alt="kalanchoe flower, kalanchoe care, kalanchoe blossfeldiana, kalanchoe plant, flaming katy" title="Kalanchoe Plant" data-pin-media="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/pinkkalanchoe.jpg">Flower Power! Hybrids can produce several clusters of up to 50 small, long-lasting flowers.</div> Although this compact, little house plant is easy to grow, getting it to re-bloom can be a challenge. <h3>How to Get Flaming Katy to Bloom Again</h3> <ul><li>Long, sunny days followed by shorter hours of daylight are needed to set flower buds.</li><li>If you move the plant outside for the summer, keep it in the shade. Morning sun is fine.</li><li>Beginning in early October, keep the plant in a dark room for 14 hours each night for 2 weeks, and give it moderate light during the day.</li><li>Water it minimally and don't fertilize during this time. Shriveled, yellow leaves are a sign that it's too dry.</li><li>Flower buds will appear in about 6-8 weeks. Then you can resume with normal care. Flowering may be erratic, but the foliage will still be attractive.</li></ul> <div class="ImageBlock ImageBlockCenter"><img class="ss-lazy" src="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/kalanchoe-plant.jpg" width="540" height="580" alt="flaming katy, kalanchoe plant, kalanchoe blossfeldiana" title="Kalanchoe Plant in White Pot" data-pin-media="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/images/kalanchoe-plant.jpg">Photo AYImages/istockphoto</div> <h2>Flaming Katy Plant Care Tips</h2> Light: Bright light to full sun. Water: Keep the soil mix barely moist. Take care not to overwater Kalanchoe, which will cause leaves to wilt and may lead to root rot. Use a pot with drainage holes; water thoroughly, then allow the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil to dry out before watering. Don't allow the soil to dry out completely, however. Dry soil will cause the leaves to shrivel and turn yellow. Water sparingly after it stops flowering.Humidity: Average room (around 40% relative humidity).Temperature: Average room temperatures 65-80°F/18-27°CSoil: 2 parts all-purpose potting mix and 1 part horticultural sand or perlite.Fertilizer: Feed monthly from late spring to early fall with balanced water-soluble fertilizer.Propagation: Take stem cuttings in late spring. <ol itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/BreadcrumbList"> <li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ListItem"> <a itemprop="item" href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/index.html"> Home</a> <meta itemprop="position" content="1"> </li> › <li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ListItem"> <a itemprop="item" href="https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/house-plants-encyclopedia-a-z.html"> Houseplants A-Z</a> <meta itemprop="position" content="2"> </li> </ol>       Fri, 05 Apr 2024 08:34:26 -0700 en-us text/html https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/flaming-katy.html