| Plant Care |
| Azalea |
|
Azaleas require direct sunlight to remain healthy. A nighttime temperature of 60°F will prolong the period of bloom. Keep the soil constantly moist, but not soggy. If the leaves should turn yellow, the soil is not acid enough. Use any commercial acid fertilizer and follow the application instructions. Do not use softened water. When repotting, use a potting soil high in sphagnum peat moss. Azaleas can be planted, pot and all, in a shady spot in the garden during the summer months. Examine them frequently and keep them well watered during dry periods. Azaleas need a cool, rest period before they are forced into bloom. Place the plants in a room with filtered light and a temperature between 40-50°F. During this rest period, flower buds will develop. Then place in a well-lighted, warm (65°F) room around January 1 to bring them into bloom. Unless you have the proper growing conditions for the azalea, you should not attempt to carry the plants over in the house. |
|
|
| Begonia |
|
Give
all begonias the bright sunlight of an eastern or southern window. For
begonias grown for their foliage, such as rex begonias, the light should
not be direct, but rather filtered with a transparent curtain or shaded by
a tree outside the window. Flowering begonias, however, need several hours
of direct sunlight each day. Provide
a stable temperature for begonias. Begonias are sensitive to rapid
fluctuations in temperature and therefore must be kept away from drafts.
As long as the temperature is constant and above 60 degrees Fahrenheit
begonias can thrive. Keep
begonias in small pots. Begonias have small root systems and do not need
repotting frequently. However, every spring pull the root ball out of the
pot and check to see if the roots have completely wrapped around the
bottom of the pot. If they have, upgrade the begonia plant
to the next size pot. |
|
|
| Bromeliad |
|
Bromeliads
are extremely tolerant of low-moisture conditions and will survive
prolonged periods of drought. Most of the problems encountered with
bromeliads are usually associated with rot caused by overwatering. Growing
these plants in light, porous potting mixes that drain rapidly should help
prevent this problem. Bromeliads
tolerate a wide range of light intensities, including low light, for long
periods without ill effects. The plants, however, will look better when
they receive proper light. In a home environment, however, bromeliads do
best at 70-75°F during the day and between 60 and 65°F at night. Research on the flowering process has shown that bromeliads can be induced to flower by exposing them to ethylene gas (a product of burning wood and leaves and ripening fruit and vegetables). After exposure to ethylene gas, the flowers appear, depending on the genus involved, within 6 to 14 weeks. A simple method that a home gardener can use to start bromeliads' flowering is to place a healthy, mature plant with all the water drained from its cup inside a tightly closed, clear plastic bag for a week to 10 days with a ripe apple. During senescence (aging process), the apple releases ethylene gas that, in turn, induces the bromeliad to flower.
|
|
|
| Croton |
|
Give
crotons several hours of bright, direct sunlight per day. The more light
the plant receives, the
more colorful the leaves will be. Grown in inadequate light, the leaves
will be mostly green with yellow veins. Leaves may also fall off in low
light. Place
plant on a tray of pebbles to give it the little humidity boost it needs.
Water will be absorbed by the pebbles and create humidity as it
evaporates. Keep the potting mix moist, but be careful not to allow water
to stand on top of soil. Reduce watering in the winter, allowing the top
of the soil to dry out between waterings. Prune
branches in early spring if plant outgrows its space or if a bushier plant
is desired. Plant will branch where pruning takes place. Croton plants may
get tall and spindly without pruning. Take care to watch for spider webbing on leaves. Red spider mites commonly infest croton plants. They are hard to see with the naked eye, but will leave webs. Remove infested leaves and apply pesticide to plant. Left alone, red spider mites will kill an entire plant, so action must be taken. |
|
|
| Kalanchoe |
|
Kalanchoes tolerate most
light levels and they prefer temperatures between 50-70 degrees F. Never
allow the plant to stand in water or dry out completely. Usually a once a
week watering is sufficient. Water carefully near the bottom of the
plant--do not water the leaves-- only the soil. After all the flowers have
died, remove the stems and cut back to the second or third leaf below the
flowers on the side stems. |
|
|
| Peace Lily |
|
It
is not really difficult to provide proper peace lily care. In providing
peace lily care it is important to recognize the tropical background of
the plant. To provide sufficient peace lily care, you will need to keep
your peace lily plant moist; however, you should not water it more than
once or twice per week. For appropriate peace lily care, you also need to keep your plant out of direct sunlight. It is also important to keep your plant at room temperature for ideal peace lily care. On occasion you may find it necessary to spray the leaves of your plant with a bit of water. Doing so will prevent the leaves of your peace lily from turning brown. In most cases you can keep your peace lily indoors as well as outdoors. Leaving your peace lily outside in extreme temperatures could make it vulnerable to frost. For excellent peace lily care, try to provide bright filtered light rather than direct sunlight. Keep in mind that while most houseplants require fertilizer, this is not the case with the peace lily. For continued peace lily care, your plant will generally not require any fertilizer. |
| dr drdelphinium links | _______________________________________________________________ |

Voted Best Flowers in Dallas since 2000. Dallas family owned and operated.
|