Dracaena – Tips to Help Repot a Large Dracaena

Dracaena is an amazing plant to bring home. It not only looks good but it is not as demanding as most other houseplants out there. However, just like all plants, after a couple of months, you will need to repot your plant. This is for the simple fact that the soil in the pot can only sustain the nutritional needs of your plant for so long. But how do you make sure that the transplant does not end up damaging your plant? The objective of this post is to educate you on how to repot a large plant.

Repotting a houseplant is important. Most plantscaper suppliers will actually give you advice on when and how to repot your plant. Another reason why you need to repot most plants is because their roots will grow to large sizes and the small pot will no longer be able to contain them. Failing to re-pot your plant on time may cause it to wilt even after watering. There are a few tips you have to consider when repotting your houseplant.

Dealing with extremely large plants
Some plants grow into massive sizes. In this case, repotting them will not be a viable option. The solution here is to replace the top soil with new one. You need to replace the top 2 to 3 inches of the top soil with fresh soil at least once every year. This is a process known as top dressing. It helps replenish the nutrients in the pot without disturbing the roots.

Moving to a new pot
With most houseplants, especially the draceana, it is possible to move the plant to another larger pot. The best time to do this is in spring. You should avoid repotting large plants that are already blooming or budding.

A day before repotting your plant you need to water it. The soil needs to be damp so that it holds together better when moving it. You will also need to choose a container that is at least 2 inches larger, in diameter, than the current one. Interiorscaper suppliers will be happy to supply you with any pot size you need. Use a bucket to mix potting mix. You should mix the mix with water.

The next step is to turn the plant on its side. Try and slide it out of its pot. If it is stuck, try and run a knife around the edges of the pot. You can also push through the drainage holes using a pencil. Only tug gently. Cut away roots that may be growing through the drainage holes. If you still cannot remove the plant from the pot, you may have to destroy the pot. Cut with shears (plastic) or smash with a hammer (clay).

You now need to put enough of the mixed potting mix into the new container. Adding stones or pebbles at the bottom of the pot before adding the soil can help with drainage. Loosen the roots of the plant by removing the soil that comes loose. Cut off the dead roots. Set the plant in the new container and surround it with moistened potting mix. Water the plant thoroughly and keep it away from direct sunlight for at least 2 weeks.

Dracaena

Growers – How to Bring in Plants without Bugs

Growers face the trouble of bringing plants in without bugs. This is not an easy thing to do even when purchasing the plants from reputable wholesale nurseries. After placing your houseplants on the patio or porch to enjoy sunlight during summer, the last thing you don’t want is to end up bringing pests in along with the nourished plants. There are a few precautions you can take to ensure that you never bring in bugs.

The below are also tips you need to consider when purchasing houseplants from plantscaper suppliers. There have been many cases where people end up bringing infested plants in. These plants can end up damaging the rest of your plants.

Visual inspection
To avoid bringing in plants that have bugs, you need to start with a thorough visual inspection. Check under the leaves for bugs and egg sacks. You should also check for discoloration as well as holes in the leaves. If you notice a bug on the plant, hand-pick it and drown it in soapy water. If there are more than two bugs, you need to consider washing your plant thoroughly using insecticidal soap. Visual inspection is important even when picking a plant from interiorscaper suppliers.

Wash off the bugs
To wash off the bugs, you have to start by mixing insecticidal soap according to the directions given on the package. Start by washing an inconspicuous leaf and then wait for three days to see how the leaf reacts to the treatment. If there are no signs of soap burn afterwards, you can go ahead and wash the whole plant using the mixed insecticidal soap.

The soapy water should be mixed inside a spray bottle. When cleaning the plant, start from the top and spray every inch of the plant. Don’t forget to treat underneath the leaves. The insecticidal soap should also be treated on the soil surface as well as on the surface of the pot container.

If you are dealing with a larger plant, you can use a garden hose prior to bringing it indoors. Do so even if there are no visible bugs. Any plant, including draceana, which has been outdoors the whole summer, should be washed before being brought into the house. Doing this will not only eliminate the bugs but also remove debris and dust.

Winter inspection
Just because your dracaena has been indoors all summers doesn’t mean it can’t have any infestation. A routine monthly inspection for bugs is highly recommended by most interiorscaper suppliers. This is because a few pests on your plant can cause its health to decline. Prevention is the best cure and the best way of doing this is ensuring there are no pests on your plant. Inspect them once every month.

The above tips will definitely help you deal with bug problems on your plants. If you ever feel overwhelmed, never hesitate to contact an expert. There are so many professional growers out there that are more than willing to help you deal with the pest problem.

Growers

Interiorscaper Suppliers – What Causes Sticky Leaves on Houseplants?

Interiorscaper suppliers make an effort of supplying healthy plants to their customers. However, with time, you may start noticing a few changes in your plants. One of the most common problem plant owners have is that of sticky plant leaves. Houseplants may have sap on their leaves as well as on the surrounding furniture and even floors. This is usually sticky but it is not sap. This is a common problem but how do you treat it? The purpose of this post is to help you with that.

What causes the sticky leaves?
One of the answers you will get from plantscaper suppliers is that your plant is infested by scales. These are small insects which latch on the plant and suck out the moisture and excrete it as the sticky substance known as honeydew. Scales will not necessarily cause harm to the houseplant but when the infestation is extreme, they will stunt the growth of your plant. The honeydew may also start spreading everywhere in the house. Getting rid of the infestation is important.

The first thing you need to do is to identify the scale that is on your plant. Focus on the undersides of the plant leaves and on the stem. The scale insects will appear as tiny bumps which are black, tan or brown in color. They resemble tiny seashells. You should note that these insects have hard outer shells that are impervious to insecticidal soap.

To deal with scales, the first thing experts in wholesale nurseries will tell you is to suffocate them. You do this by applying horticultural oil or soap. Apply this on the plant. The second option is to dissolve the hard shell of these creatures. You do this by swabbing with dish detergent that has been mixed with water. Mix 2 tablespoons of dish detergent with a gallon of water. Apply the mixture to the plant. You should then wipe with clean water. Applying a small amount of alcohol and rubbing on the plant will also help dissolve the armor. The process has to be repeated every few weeks. If the infestation is heavy, you should seek help from professional growers.

It is important to remember that sticky leaves are not always caused by scales. At times, the location of the houseplant will cause it to get sticky leaves. For example, if you place your dracaena close to the chimney or kitchen, it will be covered by cooking oil after some time. You have to clean it as often as you can. Always know what is causing the problem before you take action.

Clean sticky plant leaves
Cleaning your plant is the key to dealing with sticky plant leaves. However, if the leaves are completely covered in scales, the best option is to remove them. You should also consider separating the affected plant from the other plants so as to prevent the spread of the infestation.

Interiorscaper suppliers

Plantscaper Suppliers – Types of Grow Lights Recommended by Plantscaper Suppliers

Plantscaper suppliers understand that not every room receives adequate light to sustain all plants. This is why the first question they will ask you is about the amount of sunlight that gets in your room. The good news, however, is that your house doesn’t have to receive a lot of sunlight. Thanks to grow lights, you will be able to give your houseplants the light they need even if yours is a windowless office.

Grow lights act like sunlight substitutes. They are used for growing indoor plants. It is important to note that there are several types of grow lights you will have to pick from. Liaising with wholesale nurseries will help you find the ideal type for your needs. Below are the main types of grow lights.

Fluorescent tubes
These are the most sought after by growers. They are inexpensive, readily available and easy to use. What is more is that they are available in a range of sizes and shapes. When it comes to home gardens, florescent grow lights are the first option for most home gardeners. These lights provide light on the blue end of the spectrum. They are cool to the touch and hence ideal for tender seedlings. The full-spectrum fluorescent grow lights are also available and they provide close to natural daylight.

LED Grow Lights
This is a relatively new technology. It offers a wide range of benefits to the indoor growers. These lights are compact, easy to use, emit low heat and are lightweight. Although they may appear dim since they don’t emit too much yellow-green light, they will offer sufficient red and blue light that maximizes plant growth. They will cause your dracaena to thrive.

Incandescent lights
These lights are usually hot and cannot be placed too close to the plants. However, this is still a light that is used by many gardeners. It offers light on the red end of the spectrum and helps supplement standard fluorescent tubes which offer blue light. All in all, because incandescent lights are old-fashioned, most growers are opting for the newer technologies like fluorescent and LED lights.

These are the main growing lights you will find. Other recommendations that interiorscaper suppliers can give you is to use metal halide lights or the high pressure sodium lights. Always weigh the pros and cons of each option before making a decision.

The choice of grow lights usually calls for careful consideration. You have to start by understanding that plants have varying light requirements. Draceana, for example, will need lower light whereas the African violets thrive in low to moderate light. Plantscaper suppliers will be very instrumental in helping you find the ideal grow light for your plants.

Last but not least, you need to note that almost all plants need a few hours of darkness. Plants need an average of 6 hours of darkness. You should hence consider investing in a timer to simplify the process.

Plantscaper suppliers

Wholesale Nurseries – Tips for Creating Gardens in a Bottle

Wholesale nurseries will help you find virtually any plant that you need. May it be an ornamental plant for your porch or a lovely houseplant; you will find the exact plant that you need. However, there is an upcoming trend of creating a garden in a bottle. The glass bottle gardens are a carefree way of growing your favorite indoor plants. They create amazing focal points, more so when planted with colorful foliage and different textures. If you are thinking about a bottle garden, there are a number of things you will have to do first.

Bottle gardens are the same as terrariums. They are more of small greenhouses that support miniature ecosystem of plants. Below are the top tips you need to use when creating your bottle garden.

Select the right bottle
The first step you need to take is that of selecting the right bottle. The bottle has to be clear so as to allow sunlight in and it also needs to be large enough to accommodate the plant you are ordering from plantscaper suppliers. If you must use a colored bottle, ask interiorscaper suppliers for advice on plants that can tolerate medium to low levels of light.

The ideal bottle should also have an opening that is big enough to fit your hand through. This makes planting and care easy. If this is not the case, you will have to use chopsticks or long-handled spoons to work on the soil and plant once it is inside the bottle. The most important thing is to make sure that the opening of the glass is big enough to fit through your desired plant.

The bottle does not necessarily have to be glass. You can also use the plastic soda bottles. With this option, you can cut opening for the plant to fit in.

Clean the bottle
Before placing your dracaena into the bottle, you need to start by washing it thoroughly. This helps eliminate toxins from the liquid that was in the bottle. Allow the bottle to dry completely so as to eliminate toxic substances which can harm the plant. What is more is that dry soil will not stick to the walls of a dry bottle.

Porous soil
You need porous soil for your bottle garden. This reduces rot and allows air to flow through. Adding pea gravel at the bottom will help improve soil drainage. The bottle top should be left open.

Find low-growing plants
When shopping for plants from wholesale nurseries, you need to make it clear to the growers that you need plants for a bottle garden. They will help you find the right low-growing plants. You don’t want a plant that will outgrow the bottle in days.

There are several plans you can use for your bottle garden. The low-growing tropical vegetation are the best. The most suitable ones include croton, prayer plant, southern maidenhair fern, club moss, polka-dot plant and Ti plants.

Wholesale nurseries

Growers – How to Grow Ornamentals as Houseplants

Growers strive to provide their clients with healthy plants that meet their unique needs. Whether you need an ornamental plant to grow outside or a lovely houseplant for your home or office, you will be able to find this from a single nursery. The purpose of this post, however, is to help you learn how you can grow the ornamentals as houseplants.

Most of the plants that grow outside as ornamentals are actually warm weather perennials which can be grown all year indoors. Provided the plants get adequate sunlight, they can be adopted as indoor plants. Alternatively, you can move them inside whenever the weather gets colder. Even so, you will have to liaise with wholesale nurseries in order for you to get a healthy plant that will not disappoint you.

To grow the outdoor ornamentals as houseplants, the first thing you need to do is to pick a plant that will thrive at room temperature. You will also want to pick out a plant that does not need too much sunlight. Most interiorscaper suppliers will be happy to give you some good recommendations. Below are some popular ornamental plants you can grow indoors.

Asparagus fern
This is a great plant that grows quickly. Its green foliage that is dotted with delicate flowers and bright red berries make it one of the most sought after ornamental plant. What is more is that it works well in a container. This means you don’t have to struggle when you want to move it inside the house during winter or to take it out during summer.

Geranium
Geraniums are beautiful ornamental plants you can get from growers. They bloom throughout winter. All that is needed is for you to place them next to a bright window. They need adequate light to survive.

Caladium
This is also known as the elephant ear. If you have a spacious room, this is a plant you should consider bringing into your house. Just like dracaena, this is a plant that grows well indoors. It will remain colorful throughout winter. It only needs indirect sunlight.

Ivy
This is an ornamental plant that thrives in the shade. It can also be planted to drape over the edge of the pot thus creating a nice cascade effect from the tall shelf or table. This is a plant you should ask your plantscaper suppliers for when shopping.

The above are unique ornamental plants that will make the perfect choice for both outdoor and indoor use. However, there are two other amazing plants you can consider but they require more care than the aforementioned ones.

Begonias
The begonias are great ornamental plants but they need more maintenance. They need high humidity and like their soil to dry out between watering. You will have to line the plant with saucer with pebbles. This keeps the pot’s runoff water from evaporating too quickly.

Hot pepper plants
This is another plant you can request from the wholesale nurseries. The pot needs direct sunlight more so from grow light. The leaves should also be monitored for aphids.

Growers

Wholesale Nurseries – Tips for Giving Potted Plants as Gifts

Wholesale nurseries are only considered by persons who want to experience the benefits of having houseplants in their rooms. But did you know that houseplants make great gifts? You can purchase a houseplant and give it as a gift to someone you care about. As a matter of fact, giving potted plants as gifts is a growing trend across the globe. This is because even though the potted plants are more expensive than cut flowers, they tend to last longer. However, for this to work well, you have to pick out a plant with care. Not all potted plants will make good gift ideas.

Ideas for potted plant gifts
When picking out houseplants to give as gifts, you have to pick a plant that will be easy to care for. The last thing you want is to strain your loved one with a plant that requires regular watering and one that is prone to pests and diseases. For the gift to be accepted, it should not strain the recipient. Spend some time with plantscaper suppliers and strive to learn as much as you can about the plants you are considering.

Another important thing you have to consider is the conditions of the recipient’s room. For example, if he resides in a windowless apartment or works in a dark office, you need to get him a plant that will survive in low light. A draceana will do just fine for most people. However, the rule of thumb is to give a gift that helps with decoration but not a challenge that adds nothing but an unwanted responsibility for the recipient.

Consulting with the interiorscaper suppliers on the best plants to buy for a friend will be of great help. The suppliers understand their plants much better than you do and they will be able to give indispensable pieces of advice that will enable you to give your loved one a gift that will remind him or her of you for years to come.

Why do plants make great gifts?
There are many reasons that make houseplants the best gift you can give to a person. To start with, this is a gift that will remain with them for years. This means that once you give your friend a dracaena, he or she will be reminded of you for many years as he cares for the plant. This is much better than a cut flower.

Second, houseplants offer a myriad of benefits to the homeowner. Plants will not only add beauty to a room but will also help with humidity control, reduce the levels of carbon dioxide and increase the levels of oxygen in the room, eliminate toxins from the air and generally create a sense of wellbeing.

Gifting with plants is a good idea. You just need to find reputable growers in your area; consult them on the care needs of the plant and match the plant to your recipient. However, before you purchase a houseplant, you need to make sure that it will be ideal for the recipient. Don’t gift it to a person who will take it for a burden.

Wholesale nurseries

Plantscaper Suppliers – Buying Houseplants for Windowless Rooms from Plantscaper Suppliers

Plantscaper suppliers offer all manner of plants. It is up to you to pick the one that suits your conditions. More often than not, when deciding on the plant to bring home, the first thing homeowners consider is the conditions in their rooms and more so access to sunlight. Houseplants need sunlight to grow. However, if your room is windowless or does not receive any sunlight, it does not mean you cannot get a plant for it.

Lack of sunlight in a room can be bad for both humans and plants. The good thing is that there are artificial solutions you can use to supplement the little sunlight your plants get. In the case of houseplants, you will find several plants in the wholesale nurseries that will survive in windowless rooms.

Picking a plant for windowless rooms
Sunlight is needed by plants for the process of photosynthesis. Sunlight is also what enables most plants to produce flowers and fruits. When shopping for windowless houseplants from growers, it is imperative that you pick specimens that have been tried and found to be true for windowless rooms. This will help green up your space without worrying about the young plant turning brown or dying.

Your office does not have to be in the lower basement or deep inside a skyscraper to experience the low light indoor conditions. Some offices and homes have lighting issues. This should not keep you from adopting your preferred plant. Interiorscaper suppliers have plants that are suitable for fully shaded or semi-shady areas. Before you pick out a plant, consider its size once it is mature. For example, in a darker room, a dracaena will get pretty tall.

Another important factor you will need to consider is the growth rate. If you are looking for a good sized plant, you have to pick one with a rapid growth rate. This will help fill your area with greenery pretty fast. Most growers will recommend the vining plants for this.

There are very many plants that you can purchase from plantscaper suppliers for the windowless room. Top on the list include:

  • Draceana
  • Snake plants
  • Peace lily
  • Cast iron plant

Invest in artificial lights
Just because your room is windowless does not mean you have to go for the plants that thrive in low light. If you are in love with a dracaena, you can still have it in your dark room. All you need to do is to invest in growing lights. There are so many artificial lights that you can use. Seek advice from the wholesale nurseries on the best lights to use.

Last but not least, since the room does not receive a lot of sunlight, the water in the pot will not evaporate as fast and the process of photosynthesis will be low. This means you may not need to water your plants as often as you would with your outdoor plants. You may have to resort to the water meter so as to prevent over or under-watering.

Plantscaper suppliers

Plantscaper Suppliers – How to Care for Potted Plants during winter

Plantscaper suppliers mostly focus on tropical plants. Most of the plants you end up buying will not be able to survive outside during winter. Most of them will die. This is why you need to learn how you can keep your tropical houseplants healthy during winter. This is the objective of this post.

During summer, you are likely accustomed to leaving your potted plants outside. This will not work when winter comes. You need to bring them inside the house during the cold season. This will protect them from adverse weather. Bringing the houseplants inside will protect them from the harmful consequences of the cold weather. However, even when you bring them inside, you have to pay attention to their unique needs. This is more so when it comes to watering and the availability of sunlight.

Make room
The first thing you need to do before you bring the dracaena inside is to make some room. You cannot place the potted plants just anywhere. You have to understand that they need a good supply of air and sunlight. Second, you cannot place the plants close to areas with wind drafts such as near the air conditioner. The plants need to be place in a room that receives adequate sunlight. Alternatively, you can install grow lights. Your interiorscaper suppliers will be happy to give you recommendations on the best grow lights to use.

Provide sufficient temperature and humidity
Just because a room receives adequate sunlight does not automatically mean that it will be perfect for your draceana. You have to bear in mind that plants need sufficient humidity and ample temperatures to grow. If you place the plant near the heating vent or close to a drafty window, it will experience stress that may cause it to die. Second, you have to increase the humidity around the plants. You can do this by grouping your plants together or by using humidifiers. Setting the plant pot on pebbles in water filled dish or tray will help with humidity control.

Don’t overwater
One thing you need to take note of is that when indoors, the water from the soil does not evaporate as rapidly as it does when the plant is outdoors. That is why you need to be very cautious when watering your plant. You have to follow the watering regulations keenly. Too much water will cause the roots to rot while too little water will cause your plant to be stressed. Before you pick out plants from the wholesale nurseries, it is wise to ask the supplier of the watering requirements.

As you may have noticed, the key to caring for houseplants during winter is to take them inside the house. Here, the temperatures are well regulated. You also need to learn more about caring for the plant else you will end up straining it. Growers will be happy to offer all the help you need to take good care of your plants.

Plantscaper suppliers

Growers – Why are the Leaves of Your Houseplants Turning Brown?

Growers make the effort of supplying their clients with health houseplants. This is because in their business, they thrive on their reputation. However, there comes a time when even after purchasing a healthy houseplant, you start to notice health issues a few days or weeks down the line. A common problem most plant owners get to deal with is that of the leaves turning brown. The first thing you need to do is not to panic. This is a problem that is more common than you might think. Second, you need to take a look at the different things that may cause this issue. The purpose of this post is to look at the primary causes of brown leaves.

Light
The most obvious cause of brown leaves on any houseplant including dracaena is the lack of sufficient sunlight. If you can remember your biology class, plants need sunlight for the process of photosynthesis. Being an indoor plant simply means that your plant will not be getting as much light as it should. The interiorscaper suppliers might have been supplementing natural sunlight with grow lights in their nurseries. If your plant is not getting adequate sunlight, its leaves will begin to turn brown.

If the brown leaves are on the side of the plant that is facing away from light, then the lack of sunlight is the cause of the brown leaves. You can either relocate the plant or make use of artificial growing lights. Plantscaper suppliers will be happy to give recommendations on the best growing lights to use.

Water
Another common cause of brown leaves is water. If your draceana is not getting sufficient water, this might be the main cause of the brown leaves. In this case, the brown leaves tend to curl at the base of the plant then move up. It is very important that you adopt healthy watering schedules and ask your supplier for advice on the best watering practices. Different plants have different watering needs. Make sure you are not under or overwatering your plant.

Humidity
The lack of humidity can also causes the leaves of the healthy plants you bought from wholesale nurseries to turn brown. This is a very common but often overlooked problem. If your houseplant is a tropical plant, it will need more humidity. Failure to give it the humidity it needs will cause the leaves to turn brown at the tips. To solve this issue, you should consider misting your houseplants with water, setting a pot in the dish of small stones and water and also grouping several plants together.

Heat
If there is too much heat around the plant, its leaves will turn brown. The leaves will curl and later on fall off prematurely. This is an issue mainly caused by too little water paired with too much sun. Placing the plant near the HVAC can also cause this problem.

These are the key issues that may be killing your plant. If none of these issues apply, you should consider liaising with growers for advice on how to care for your plant.

Growers

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