The document provides information on caring for houseplants, including croton and topiary plants. It discusses watering needs, temperature requirements, lighting, humidity, fertilizers, soil mixtures, containers, potting, and general care. Proper care involves keeping the soil moist, providing adequate light and temperature, increasing humidity as needed, using appropriate fertilizers and soil mixtures, and repotting when the plant becomes root bound.

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. Topiary A plant that has been shaped into an artificial form

4. Caring for houseplants Water Most plants are killed by over-watering Scratch the surface of the pot, the soil should be moist ½” down 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 Bright or direct sun – South facing window Filtered light or partial shade – North facing window Low light – away from windows

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 plants in it use a humidifier place plants in the part of the house with the highest humidity

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

13. Soluble fertilizer liquid or solid dissolved in water before applying Compost tea Fish emulsions Miracle Gro

14. Soil Mixture varies with each plant African Violet Mix - sandy Orchid Mix – chunky: lots of bark Cactus mixes have sand organic matter helps to improve water holding capacity perlite helps to keep the mix loose and easily drained

15. Containers drainage should be available – hole in the bottom use well drained soil mix put saucer under pot to protect furniture from water

16. Potting plants select appropriate container and soil mix provide drainage - put rocks or put shards in the bottom of container add potting mix to cover rocks place plant in to check soil level should be 1/2 inch below top of pot fill remainder of container with media

17. Repotting repot plants when they become root bound If roots are growing around the root ball Roots appear at the top of soil Roots push the plant out of the pot

18. Repotting Separate roots to allow re-growth If plant is blooming, wait until after flowering is completed Select pot or container of the next larger size than the original or Trim roots to make plant fit in old container

19. General Care: Leaves Clean occasionally with a fine spray of water Wipe top and underside of leaves Helps to remove dust and insects do not use leaf shine products clogs the stomata makes it hard for plants to breathe