| In the food business they call it "sniff and
poke"—keeping a careful watch on the goods. That’s what’s needed at
home to keep plants healthy. Physiological problems affecting indoor plants can radically
change the plant’s appearance and eventually destroy a beautiful indoor garden. Their
disease-like symptoms, although noninfectious, can be prevented by ensuring a plant’s
culture and sanitation is kept in check. Catch problems
early
Consistent effort and some basic rules will ensure problems are identified early:
- inspect plants often by touching and examining them, to be aware of changes in color or
growth
- keep plants clean and well-trimmed so that any problems will be minimized and located
early
- regulate proper amounts of water
- keep plants in areas of appropriate sunlight exposure
- adjust temperature and humidity conditions to make plants their healthiest
- pay attention to your plant and its habits to gain a good sense of its general health
and detect problems early
| Problem |
Description |
Symptoms |
Treatment |
| Salt Accumulation |
Visible, white build-up on soil surface or around the inside
edges of plant container. |
Browning of the plant leaves, a diminished rate of plant
growth and, if left untreated, eventual plant death. |
To treat or prevent salt accumulation, water plants
adequately and choose containers with ample drainage holes underneath. |
| Edema |
Commonly afflicts plants that are over-watered, or grown in
an overly-humid environment. |
Raised welts upon the leaves of the plants, which often fall
off after a period of time, leaving holes among the leaves. |
Refrain from watering plants excessively. Remove plants from
humid rooms, such as bathrooms. Keep water away from plant foliage. |
| Fluoride Toxicity |
Distinguished from (chloride) salt accumulation by lack of
white, crusty deposits. Plants sensitive to this particular type of problem are
Aspidistra, Calathea, Spider Plant, Bamboo Palms, Cordyline Corn Plant and Prayer Plant. |
Indicated by a browning of leaf tips and edges. |
Most directly treated by watering plants with distilled
water. Avoid using fertilizers with high fluoride levels, such as perlite and German peat
moss. Ensure that soil pH falls within a 6.0 to 6.5 range. |
|
| Pasquesi Home and Gardens is
Chicagoland's premier resource for gardeners wanting to create a perfect atmosphere. We
have a vast selection of plants, many of them rare and unusual. Our qualified,
professional staff is ever-willing to share their knowledge with customers needing advice.
Pasquesi Home and Gardens is a complete
resource for gardening, home and pet supplies. There are hundreds of beautiful accents for
the home and out-of-doors, and Pasquesi Home and Gardens has an unrivaled collection of
containers for indoors and outdoors in many different styles, materials and shapes. Both
stores carry a wide range of quality garden tools and outdoor furniture. |
