This document provides care instructions for houseplants. It discusses watering plants to keep the soil moist but not saturated, keeping temperatures between 70-80 F, providing bright indirect light, and maintaining high humidity. It also covers fertilizing, soil mixtures, potting, and general cleaning and care.

1. Houseplants Plant: Croton Term: Topiary

2. Croton Genus: Codieaum Requires Bright Light Water: Keep soil moist at all times Humidity: High Temperature: 70-80 Problems/Pests: Over all a fussy plant Propagate by cuttings

3. Caring for houseplants Water Most plants are killed by over-watering Scratch the surface of the pot, the soil should be moist ½” down

4. Watering Yellow leaves - too much water

5. Methods of Watering drench and let dry completely drench and let dry slightly keep media constantly moist

6. Temperature recommended temperature 50-85 F daytime night - drop 10-15 below daytime temp locate plants away from air-conditioners and drafts

7. Lighting: natural or artificial measured in foot candles or klux direct sun partial shade or weak sun - less than 50% natural sun light indirect or filtered light - no direct sun light

8. The Light Spectrum Plants only use radiation energy in the visible spectrum. Chlorophyll does not absorb in the green spectrum Why?

9. Artificial Lighting Incandescent bulbs don’t provide usable light to plants Florescent bulbs provide light about 2’ from bulb Grow lights provide more light in the correct wavelengths

10. Humidity % of moisture in the air varies with seasons low in the winter

11. Increase humidity by: spraying with fine mist fill water tight tray with water and pea gravel, set containers in it

12. Increase humidity by: use a humidifier place plants in the part of the house with the highest humidity

13. Fertilizers slow release small beads applied to the soil nutrients are steadily released plant absorbs nutrients as needed avoids over feeding

14. Soluble fertilizer liquid or solid dissolved in water before applying

15. Soil Mixture varies with each plant organic matter helps to improve water holding capacity perlite helps to keep the mix loose and easily drained

16. Containers drainage should be available use well drained soil mix put saucer under pot to protect furniture from water

17. Potting plants select appropriate container and soil mix provide drainage - put rocks or put shards in the bottom of container

18. Potting plants add potting mix to cover rocks place plant in to check soil level should be 1/2 inch below top of pot

19. Potting plants fill remainder of container with media

20. Repotting repot plants when they become root bound if roots are growing around the root ball roots appear at the top of soil

21. Repotting separate roots to allow re-growth If plant is blooming, wait until after flowering is completed

22. Repotting select pot or container of the next larger size than the original or Trim roots to make plant fit in old container

23. General Care leaves clean occasionally with a fine spray of water wipe top and underside of leaves

24. Leaves helps to remove dust and insects do not use leaf shine products clogs the stomata makes it hard for plants to breathe