Keeping Indoor Plants Healthy

Keep these 6 essential growth factors in mind in order to keep your indoor plants growing and healthy.

Light:

The ultimate source of energy for all plant growth. Radiant energy is composed of various wavelengths ranging from ultra-violet (10 mu) to electric (100,000 mu -millimicrons).

Plant and human requirements are identical. Visible (390 – 760 mu) Violet, Blue, Blue-Green, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red

Light Intensity

Measured in Foot Candles (f.c.) Bright day in July 10,000 f.c. Dull day in Dec. 250 – 500

Light Quality

Refers to wavelength composition of light. (Incandescent = richer in blue, poorer in infra-red) (Fluorescent = higher green-yellow providing better visibility to human eye.)

Light Duration

Refers to number of hours that plant is exposed to illumination Preference: Eight hour per day – bright light Tolerance: Twelve hours per day – filtered light Minimum: Sixteen hours per day – no direct light

Low light plants:

Preference 100 – 500 f.c.
Tolerance 50 – 100 f.c.
Minimum 15 – 24 f.c.

Medium light plants

Preference 1,000 – 5,000 f.c.
Tolerance 500 – 1,000 f.c.
Minimum 25 – 50 f.c.

High light plants

Preference 5,000 – 8,000 f.c.
Tolerance 100 – 2,000 f.c.
Minimum 50 – 100 f.c.

Temperature

• 65 – 75 degrees F. Plants respond to the same temperature range as humans

Moisture

• Water is over 90% of plant! Keep moist. Allow to dry. Do not overwater!

Humidity

• Best between 50-70%. Mist during summer or when room heated with forced air.

Nutrition

• Keep to a minimum! Regulate with light. High light – fertilize lightly. Low light – do not fertilize.

Atmosphere

• Keep smoke away! Smoke and air pollution clogs breathing stomata in leaves.