House plants: Your first plant from the florist.
POPULAR PLANTS FOR INDOOR BONSAI are about any pines, can be used for reference books are available
for the bonsai art form. Many good this art form. Many good reference bougainvillea, Buddhist pine, dwarf
pomegranate, elfin herb, English ivy, fig (dwarf varieties), jasmine, natal plum, serissa.
GOOD HERBS FOR INDOORS are Basil, sage, Bay, chives, dill, lemon verbena, marjoram, mint, parsley,
rosemary, scented leaf geranium, tarragon, thyme.
Bromeliads are plants with a reservoir to hold water. They absorb much less from the soil, and should be
watered at the base of the flower inside the cup formed by the latest leaves, at the very center of the plant.
They usually bloom at their full mature size, which can take years. If they don’t bloom, place them in a plastic
bag with ripe apple for a few days. The ethylene gas given off by the apple initiates the flower bud. Bromeliads
purchased with blooms will die after blooming, discard the plant.
ORCHID CARE: Orchids are a very special class of plant, and each variety takes a different kind of care. A
separate sheet of care instructions is available with each orchid type that we sell. There are also many
excellent websites from orchid clubs with all kinds of information. See our page of orchids.
THE JADE PLANT (crassula ovata), success and good fortune, new homes. Keep on the dry side, well drained
sandy soil. High light.
According to oriental tradition, like other plants with heart-shaped or round leaves, the succulent called jade
plant generates prosperity and luck. It is also known as the wealth plant because its leaves resemble pieces of
the valuable gemstone. It makes a perfect housewarming gift.
Other “lucky “plants include the lucky bamboo (really a Dracaena stem), and the money tree plant, whose dried
seed pods resemble coins.
In general, it is tradition that a new home or office space be immediately gifted with a houseplant of any kind.
Formaldehyde Carpeting, pressed wood, fiberboard, foam insulation, paper products
Hydrocarbons Vinyl furniture, detergents, fabric softeners
Nitrogen dioxide Malfunctioning furnaces, water heaters, leaking chimneys
Benzene Glue, spot remover, paint, varnish, paint stripper
Methylene chloride Paint stripper, aerosols
Trichloroethylene Ink, paint, lacquer, varnish, adhesive
Best air pollution absorbers:
Formaldehyde Bamboo palm, ‘Janet Craig’ Dracaena, snake plant, peace lily
Benzene Florist’s mum, peace lily, ‘warneckei’ Dracaena, Madagascar dragontree
Trichloroethylene Madagascar dragontree, peace lily, Bamboo palm, ‘Janet Craig’ Dracaena
The best of the best, in approximate order of efficiency
For cleaning the air of pollutants:
1. Boston fern 2. Florist’s mum
3. Pygmy date palm 4. ‘Janet Craig’ Dracaena
5. ‘Kimberly queen’ fern 6. Bamboo palm
7. Rubber plant 8. English ivy
9. Weeping fig 10. Peace lily
11. areca palm 12. Corn plant
HELPING SHORT DAY PLANTS BLOOM
(POINSETTIA) (PHOTOTROPISM)
Phototropism is the natural tendency of plants to grow towards a light source. Indoor plants will usually bend
toward a window. Rotate plants periodically to avoid excessive growth on the side nearest the light.
Several popular short-day house plants exist, but the best known are holiday cacti and poinsettia. In the
average home, which is illuminated at night, these plants may never bloom. Even a streetlight or garden lamp
shining down on them is enough to prevent flowering. You can help them to bloom in time for the holidays by
taking a few easy steps.
If your climate is frost free, simply put short day plants outdoors in the fall, in a spot where they wont receive
any light other than daylight. Make sure they are protected from street lamps and even car headlights.
Indoors, starting around October 1, put short day plants in a dark closet or cover them with a cardboard box in
the evening, then expose them to bright light again in the morning. They need a full 14 hours of uninterrupted
darkness.
A FEW GUIDELINES ABOUT LIGHT
Intense: 0-2’ from a south window, 0-1’ from a west window
Bright: 0-0.5’ from a north, 0-4’ from an east, 2-6’ from a south, and 0.5-4’ from a west window
Medium: 0.5-4’ from a north, 4-6’ from an east, 6-8’ from a south, and 4-6’ from a west window
Low: 4-6’ from a north, 6-8’ from an east, 8-10’ from a south, and 6-8’ from a west window
A sheer curtain lessens the light intensity and heat in a south or west window, making the conditions
appropriate for medium to bright light plant.
Flowering plants usually need bright to intense light, but some fare well in medium light.
A south window provides direct light farther into the room in winter than in the summer, but heat build up is
greater in the summer.
The intensity of direct light varies according to the season. When the sun is higher in the sky (in the summer in
the northern hemisphere), the light is hotter and more intense, but reaches less distance into the room. In
winter, the sun is lower in the sky, providing direct light father into the room but with less intensity.
Low light plants usually do well in east, northeast, or north windows, where they get mostly indirect light.
A west window is usually hotter than a south window because of the concentrated quality of the sunlight in the
late afternoon.
An east window strikes a nice compromise between heat and intensity. It receives full sun in the morning hours
when the temperature is still cool. Most flowering plants thrive under such conditions.
Decorator’s secret! Do you really want a high light plant in a low light location? Most plants do okay with only
two weeks exposure, so: Buy two identical plants and keep one in a high light location and the other in the
dimly lit location where you want it. Switch the plants every two weeks.
East windows get high exposure (intensity) during the morning, and it wanes throughout the day. West windows
get low exposure (intensity) during the morning and it waxes throughout the evening. South windows start dim,
wax to high, then wane to dim. North windows are always dim exposure. (All notes are written for northern
hemisphere)
Plants that tolerate low light (dim reading level):
Chinese evergreen, cast iron plant, ponytail palm, bamboo palm, dieffenbachia, Dracaena, English ivy,
philodendron, lady palm, snake plant, peace lily. Many Florist plants bought in full bloom can be maintained in
dim light for a while.
Plants that need medium light (good light but little direct sun):
Maidenhair fern, lipstick plant, Anthurium, Norfolk pine, birds nest fern, begonia, caladium, spider plant,
columnea, sago palm, fig, nerve plant, wax plant, jewel orchid, prayer plant, swiss cheese plant, blushing
bromeliad, oxalis, screwpine, slipper orchid, peperomia, moth orchid, Swedish ivy, Buddhist pine, aralia, table
fern, chine doll, easter cactus, mistletoe cactus, African violet, schefflera, Christmas cactus, moss fern, babys
tears, air plant.
Plants that need bright light:
Chenille plant, orchid pansy, vase plant, aloe, pineapple, bamboo, browalia, yesterday-today-tomorrow,
ornamental pepper, areca palm, florist mum, citrus, croton, coffee plant, jade, siam tulip, umbrella plant, venus
flytrap, orchid cactus, evergreen euonymous, poinsettia, Persian violet, Japanese aralia, fuschia, gardenia,
velevet plant, amaryllis, florist hydrangea, polka dot plant, impatiens, bloodleaf, shrimp plant, mandevilla,
banana, oleander, apostle plant, false holly, tropical pitcher plant, pregnant onion, lollipop plant, avocado,
staghorn fern, elephant bush, primrose, azalea, cineria, gloxina, Jerusalem cherry, coleus, cape primrose,
spiderwort, yucca, calla lily.
Plants that need intense light (four or more hours):
Agve, paris daisy, silver torch, euphorbia, heliotrope, jasmine, Kalanchoe, lantana, bircathcer tree, cape
leadwort, dwarf pomengranate, miniature rose, air plant, adenium, aeonium, dyckia.
WATERING TIPS
Plants benefit from a bath once or twice a year. Spray them gently with tepid water until soaked. Gently shake
to remove excess moisture and allow to drip dry.
Submerge a plant that has become too dry for watering efficiently. Soak for 30 minutes, then drain.
If you have any other options, don’t use tap water, it is high in chlorine and low in plant nutrients such as
dissolved metals and minerals. Use collected rainwater, bottled spring water, or aquarium water, or collected
stream water. If you use tap water, be sure to fertilize monthly using an inexpensive dissolvable fertilizer
according to package directions.
Let a crowded plant wick up moisture through the holes in t he bottom of the pot by placing pot inside a dish
and watering the dish.
When you are away, get a capillary mat. Or a cheaper solution might be to tie up a clear plastic bag around
your plant, remove from direct sunlight, and thoroughly water before sealing the bag. The air will circulate, and
the plant will live on all available water. Remove any dead or dying leaves or branches, and all blooms before
using this method. Also, you make a wick system with a nylon stocking. Get one end of the stocking into the
roots through a drainage hole in the pot, the other end of the stocking goes into a bowl of water, placed higher
than the plant root ball. The water travels along the nylon and keeps the soil moist. More than one plant can be
connected to the bowl.
PLANTS HARMFUL TO PEOPLE AND PETS
(toxic if ingested or sap gets on skin)
African milkbush, amaryllis, Anthurium, caladium, chenille plant, Chinese evergreen, clivia, crinum lily, croton,
crown of thorns, dumb cane, English ivy, euphorbia (except poinsettia, it is not poisonous), fern palm, ficus,
heliotrope, Jerusalem cherry, lantana, mandevilla, natal plum, oleander, ornamental pepper, peace lily,
philodendron, pothos, pregnant onion, sago palm, swiss cheese plant.
PLANTS TO MATCH MICROCLIMATES
Steamy bathroom (with good light): flamingo flower, cape primrose, coleus, croton, ferns, hibiscus
Cool foyer: cactus, citrus, Japanese fatsia, spider plant, umbrella plant
Dark corner in cool living room: cast-iron plant, Chinese evergreen, dracaena (some), snake plant,
philodendron, pothos
Cool sunroom (in winter): asparagus fern, cactus, Christmas cactus, clivia, English ivy, artillery plant, Swedish
ivy
Warm sunroom (in summer): bromeliads, cactus, crown of thorns, grape ivy, wax plant, jade plant, panda plant,
nerve plant, ponytail palm, ficus
SEASONAL CHORES
January Give plants a shower, adjust for short days
February Check for new insect outbreaks
March Prune for spring growth. Check carefully for pest outbreaks and control as needed.
Fertilize.
April Repot if necessary. Fertilize.
May Fertilize. Plant items to be harvested for drying later.
June Fertilize, move plants outdoors if desired.
July Fertilize.
August Inspect plants for insects. Prune where needed. Fertilize lightly. Harvest all drieds.
September Bring in plants; take cuttings of annuals for growing on window sill. Fertilize lightly. Dry out
bulbs to be forced later.
October Check carefully for pests and control as needed. Treat poinsettias for blooming.
November Check humidity levels after you turn on the furnace.
December Relocate plants as necessary to compensate for shorter days.
RESOURCES
An excellent book is:
Complete guide to houseplants, Meredith 2004. ISBN 0897215028
A very informative website is:
www.aboutflowers.com
POPULAR PLANTS FOR INDOOR BONSAI are about any pines, can be used for reference books are available
for the bonsai art form. Many good this art form. Many good reference bougainvillea, Buddhist pine, dwarf
pomegranate, elfin herb, English ivy, fig (dwarf varieties), jasmine, natal plum, serissa.
GOOD HERBS FOR INDOORS are Basil, sage, Bay, chives, dill, lemon verbena, marjoram, mint, parsley,
rosemary, scented leaf geranium, tarragon, thyme.
Bromeliads are plants with a reservoir to hold water. They absorb much less from the soil, and should be
watered at the base of the flower inside the cup formed by the latest leaves, at the very center of the plant.
They usually bloom at their full mature size, which can take years. If they don’t bloom, place them in a plastic
bag with ripe apple for a few days. The ethylene gas given off by the apple initiates the flower bud. Bromeliads
purchased with blooms will die after blooming, discard the plant.
ORCHID CARE: Orchids are a very special class of plant, and each variety takes a different kind of care. A
separate sheet of care instructions is available with each orchid type that we sell. There are also many
excellent websites from orchid clubs with all kinds of information. See our page of orchids.
THE JADE PLANT (crassula ovata), success and good fortune, new homes. Keep on the dry side, well drained
sandy soil. High light.
According to oriental tradition, like other plants with heart-shaped or round leaves, the succulent called jade
plant generates prosperity and luck. It is also known as the wealth plant because its leaves resemble pieces of
the valuable gemstone. It makes a perfect housewarming gift.
Other “lucky “plants include the lucky bamboo (really a Dracaena stem), and the money tree plant, whose dried
seed pods resemble coins.
In general, it is tradition that a new home or office space be immediately gifted with a houseplant of any kind.
Formaldehyde Carpeting, pressed wood, fiberboard, foam insulation, paper products
Hydrocarbons Vinyl furniture, detergents, fabric softeners
Nitrogen dioxide Malfunctioning furnaces, water heaters, leaking chimneys
Benzene Glue, spot remover, paint, varnish, paint stripper
Methylene chloride Paint stripper, aerosols
Trichloroethylene Ink, paint, lacquer, varnish, adhesive
Best air pollution absorbers:
Formaldehyde Bamboo palm, ‘Janet Craig’ Dracaena, snake plant, peace lily
Benzene Florist’s mum, peace lily, ‘warneckei’ Dracaena, Madagascar dragontree
Trichloroethylene Madagascar dragontree, peace lily, Bamboo palm, ‘Janet Craig’ Dracaena
The best of the best, in approximate order of efficiency
For cleaning the air of pollutants:
1. Boston fern 2. Florist’s mum
3. Pygmy date palm 4. ‘Janet Craig’ Dracaena
5. ‘Kimberly queen’ fern 6. Bamboo palm
7. Rubber plant 8. English ivy
9. Weeping fig 10. Peace lily
11. areca palm 12. Corn plant
HELPING SHORT DAY PLANTS BLOOM
(POINSETTIA) (PHOTOTROPISM)
Phototropism is the natural tendency of plants to grow towards a light source. Indoor plants will usually bend
toward a window. Rotate plants periodically to avoid excessive growth on the side nearest the light.
Several popular short-day house plants exist, but the best known are holiday cacti and poinsettia. In the
average home, which is illuminated at night, these plants may never bloom. Even a streetlight or garden lamp
shining down on them is enough to prevent flowering. You can help them to bloom in time for the holidays by
taking a few easy steps.
If your climate is frost free, simply put short day plants outdoors in the fall, in a spot where they wont receive
any light other than daylight. Make sure they are protected from street lamps and even car headlights.
Indoors, starting around October 1, put short day plants in a dark closet or cover them with a cardboard box in
the evening, then expose them to bright light again in the morning. They need a full 14 hours of uninterrupted
darkness.
A FEW GUIDELINES ABOUT LIGHT
Intense: 0-2’ from a south window, 0-1’ from a west window
Bright: 0-0.5’ from a north, 0-4’ from an east, 2-6’ from a south, and 0.5-4’ from a west window
Medium: 0.5-4’ from a north, 4-6’ from an east, 6-8’ from a south, and 4-6’ from a west window
Low: 4-6’ from a north, 6-8’ from an east, 8-10’ from a south, and 6-8’ from a west window
A sheer curtain lessens the light intensity and heat in a south or west window, making the conditions
appropriate for medium to bright light plant.
Flowering plants usually need bright to intense light, but some fare well in medium light.
A south window provides direct light farther into the room in winter than in the summer, but heat build up is
greater in the summer.
The intensity of direct light varies according to the season. When the sun is higher in the sky (in the summer in
the northern hemisphere), the light is hotter and more intense, but reaches less distance into the room. In
winter, the sun is lower in the sky, providing direct light father into the room but with less intensity.
Low light plants usually do well in east, northeast, or north windows, where they get mostly indirect light.
A west window is usually hotter than a south window because of the concentrated quality of the sunlight in the
late afternoon.
An east window strikes a nice compromise between heat and intensity. It receives full sun in the morning hours
when the temperature is still cool. Most flowering plants thrive under such conditions.
Decorator’s secret! Do you really want a high light plant in a low light location? Most plants do okay with only
two weeks exposure, so: Buy two identical plants and keep one in a high light location and the other in the
dimly lit location where you want it. Switch the plants every two weeks.
East windows get high exposure (intensity) during the morning, and it wanes throughout the day. West windows
get low exposure (intensity) during the morning and it waxes throughout the evening. South windows start dim,
wax to high, then wane to dim. North windows are always dim exposure. (All notes are written for northern
hemisphere)
Plants that tolerate low light (dim reading level):
Chinese evergreen, cast iron plant, ponytail palm, bamboo palm, dieffenbachia, Dracaena, English ivy,
philodendron, lady palm, snake plant, peace lily. Many Florist plants bought in full bloom can be maintained in
dim light for a while.
Plants that need medium light (good light but little direct sun):
Maidenhair fern, lipstick plant, Anthurium, Norfolk pine, birds nest fern, begonia, caladium, spider plant,
columnea, sago palm, fig, nerve plant, wax plant, jewel orchid, prayer plant, swiss cheese plant, blushing
bromeliad, oxalis, screwpine, slipper orchid, peperomia, moth orchid, Swedish ivy, Buddhist pine, aralia, table
fern, chine doll, easter cactus, mistletoe cactus, African violet, schefflera, Christmas cactus, moss fern, babys
tears, air plant.
Plants that need bright light:
Chenille plant, orchid pansy, vase plant, aloe, pineapple, bamboo, browalia, yesterday-today-tomorrow,
ornamental pepper, areca palm, florist mum, citrus, croton, coffee plant, jade, siam tulip, umbrella plant, venus
flytrap, orchid cactus, evergreen euonymous, poinsettia, Persian violet, Japanese aralia, fuschia, gardenia,
velevet plant, amaryllis, florist hydrangea, polka dot plant, impatiens, bloodleaf, shrimp plant, mandevilla,
banana, oleander, apostle plant, false holly, tropical pitcher plant, pregnant onion, lollipop plant, avocado,
staghorn fern, elephant bush, primrose, azalea, cineria, gloxina, Jerusalem cherry, coleus, cape primrose,
spiderwort, yucca, calla lily.
Plants that need intense light (four or more hours):
Agve, paris daisy, silver torch, euphorbia, heliotrope, jasmine, Kalanchoe, lantana, bircathcer tree, cape
leadwort, dwarf pomengranate, miniature rose, air plant, adenium, aeonium, dyckia.
WATERING TIPS
Plants benefit from a bath once or twice a year. Spray them gently with tepid water until soaked. Gently shake
to remove excess moisture and allow to drip dry.
Submerge a plant that has become too dry for watering efficiently. Soak for 30 minutes, then drain.
If you have any other options, don’t use tap water, it is high in chlorine and low in plant nutrients such as
dissolved metals and minerals. Use collected rainwater, bottled spring water, or aquarium water, or collected
stream water. If you use tap water, be sure to fertilize monthly using an inexpensive dissolvable fertilizer
according to package directions.
Let a crowded plant wick up moisture through the holes in t he bottom of the pot by placing pot inside a dish
and watering the dish.
When you are away, get a capillary mat. Or a cheaper solution might be to tie up a clear plastic bag around
your plant, remove from direct sunlight, and thoroughly water before sealing the bag. The air will circulate, and
the plant will live on all available water. Remove any dead or dying leaves or branches, and all blooms before
using this method. Also, you make a wick system with a nylon stocking. Get one end of the stocking into the
roots through a drainage hole in the pot, the other end of the stocking goes into a bowl of water, placed higher
than the plant root ball. The water travels along the nylon and keeps the soil moist. More than one plant can be
connected to the bowl.
PLANTS HARMFUL TO PEOPLE AND PETS
(toxic if ingested or sap gets on skin)
African milkbush, amaryllis, Anthurium, caladium, chenille plant, Chinese evergreen, clivia, crinum lily, croton,
crown of thorns, dumb cane, English ivy, euphorbia (except poinsettia, it is not poisonous), fern palm, ficus,
heliotrope, Jerusalem cherry, lantana, mandevilla, natal plum, oleander, ornamental pepper, peace lily,
philodendron, pothos, pregnant onion, sago palm, swiss cheese plant.
PLANTS TO MATCH MICROCLIMATES
Steamy bathroom (with good light): flamingo flower, cape primrose, coleus, croton, ferns, hibiscus
Cool foyer: cactus, citrus, Japanese fatsia, spider plant, umbrella plant
Dark corner in cool living room: cast-iron plant, Chinese evergreen, dracaena (some), snake plant,
philodendron, pothos
Cool sunroom (in winter): asparagus fern, cactus, Christmas cactus, clivia, English ivy, artillery plant, Swedish
ivy
Warm sunroom (in summer): bromeliads, cactus, crown of thorns, grape ivy, wax plant, jade plant, panda plant,
nerve plant, ponytail palm, ficus
SEASONAL CHORES
January Give plants a shower, adjust for short days
February Check for new insect outbreaks
March Prune for spring growth. Check carefully for pest outbreaks and control as needed.
Fertilize.
April Repot if necessary. Fertilize.
May Fertilize. Plant items to be harvested for drying later.
June Fertilize, move plants outdoors if desired.
July Fertilize.
August Inspect plants for insects. Prune where needed. Fertilize lightly. Harvest all drieds.
September Bring in plants; take cuttings of annuals for growing on window sill. Fertilize lightly. Dry out
bulbs to be forced later.
October Check carefully for pests and control as needed. Treat poinsettias for blooming.
November Check humidity levels after you turn on the furnace.
December Relocate plants as necessary to compensate for shorter days.
RESOURCES
An excellent book is:
Complete guide to houseplants, Meredith 2004. ISBN 0897215028
A very informative website is:
www.aboutflowers.com
house plants and green living plants
House plants and green living plants: Whether green, colored, or blooming; plants cheer up anyone's spirit naturally. They give
off oxygen, and naturally make everyone feel better. Most all our plants require very little care, and care instructions are always
sent with every potted design order for that specific plant. We don't send plants in plastic pots. All of guaranteed to be
appreciated. If the recipient does not like their gift, they may bring it in within two weeks for exchange to another product.
Order a Green Plant
house plants
Order a Green Plant
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