Kalanchoe Flaming Katy Originates from Asia, Africa, and Madagascar. Prefers a warm climate. There are different types of flowering Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana The double-flowered, called Calandiva was discovered by a Swedish grower in 1998. Pinch off flowers as they fade. This will keep the size of the plant manageable and promote new growth. Place in a west- or east-facing window from spring to autumn, in a south-facing window in winter. Keep moist, but remove remaining water from saucer. Over-watering will promote root rot and soft leaves, underwatering will cause the plants to wilt. Flowers last for 6-8 weeks. Repot every year after spring rest period. Fertilize once a month. Place in a bright and sunny area. 15ºC. Water moderately.
Phalaenopsis Moth Orchid Originates from the rainforests of Asia. The Greek phalaina stands for moth and opsis for look like. Grows on trees in the nature (epiphyte). Comes in transparent pots as the roots need light during growing. They do not need to be kept in transparent pots in the home. Requires a light and well drained substrate (bark) in which the roots can breathe. Do not worry if a few roots grow outside the pot, natural characteristic of Orchids. Keep away from ripe fruit as the ethylene gas produced by fruit will cause flower and bud drop. Turn the pot occasionally and move plants from the window on frosty nights. Avoid cold draught and sudden changes. Moist air is essential, mist leaves occasionally. Water by immersing it into a water-bath. Never allow the pot to stand in water as it cuts off the oxygen to the roots. New watering technique: add 3 ice cubes on top of the soil once a week. Make sure that the ice cubes do not touch the leaves. Flowering time: 6-14 weeks. After flowering cut the old flower stalk above the second node. Re-flowering is encouraged by keeping the plant at lower s for a while. Less watering required. Phalaenopsis appreciate being pot-bound. Fertilize once a month. 18ºC. Water moderately.
Guzmania Scarlet Star Originate from the tropical rainforests of South America where Bromeliads dwell among Orchids in the trees or on the forest floor. In nature it may take several years to reach the flowering stage, but the bloom lasts for several months. The flower-heads come in many colors. The leaves form a vase or rosette to naturally capture and store (rain)water. Prefers a warm climate. Slow growing plant. Water into the vase or rosette and keep it filled with water, preferably rain water or tepid water. Water the soil only when it dries out. Mist leaves in summer. Bromeliads have tiny root systems which means that over-potting and overwatering can be fatal. Once the flower-head fades the rosette of leaves starts to die and is replaced by the offsets at the base. Repotting: rarely, if ever, necessary. 15ºC. Water moderately.
Anthurium Flamingo plant Originates from the rain forests of Colombia. Prefers a warm, humid climate. Means tail flower; from the Greek anthos -flower and oura tail. Flowers come in different colors, sizes and shapes with a colored tail in the center. Keep in a bright area in winter, but protect it from the sun in summer. Mist regularly with rainwater. Keep moist, but remove remaining water from saucer. Remove dead flowers frequently to keep plant blooming longer. Remove yellow leaves. If the plant has shiny leaves and gives new flowers, you treat it well! Re-pot in spring every 2 years. Fertilize once a month. 18ºC Water moderately.
Spathiphyllum Peace Lily Originates from Colombia and Venezuela. Shade-loving plants in their native habitats. Spathiphyllum means peace and prosperity in Latin. Excellent plant for darker spots such as the hallway or bathroom. Prefers light to moderate shade. Some varieties can withstand more light. During the summer, water and mist frequently. They thrive with higher humidity. In winter, reduce watering, but never allow the soil to dry out. Over- and under watering can cause brown leaves. Re-potting in spring every year. Fertilize once a month. Place in a shady area. 15ºC. Water often.
Gardenia jasminoides Scented Gardenia Originally native to Asia and Africa. Fragrant white flowers and glossy leaves. The flowers were formerly used as buttonhole flower. Natural gas fumes will harm the plant, so growing gardenias near a gas stove or fireplace isn't a good idea. Sensitive to draught Keep it out of direct sun, but allow it to get some bright light. Mist leaves regularly, but not the flowers. Keep evenly moist. Use soft tepid water. Do not allow to stand in water; it can cause buds to drop. Remove old, brown flowers to encourage flowering. Repotting in late winter every 3-4 years will help the plant to grow well. Fertilize once a month. 12ºC. Water moderately.
Gymnocalycium Grafted cactus Originates from South America. The name Gymnocalycium refers to the Greek gymnos - means naked, and calyx - means bud. Two types of cacti have been grafted together: The bright colored stems lack chlorophyll which is essential for any kind of plant to grow. They are grafted on to a green cactus as a base. Lack of chlorophyll results in colors like red, pink, orange, yellow Easy care plant. Attention: prickly! Choose the sunniest spot available, especially in winter. Increase watering in spring, use tepid water. Decrease watering late summer and after mid autumn keep soil almost dry just enough water to prevent shriveling. Water in the morning or evening to prevent burning. Re-potting every 2-3 years in spring into a pot which is only slightly larger. Fertilize once a year. Place in a bright and sunny area. 12ºC. Water sparingly.
Cactaceae Cactus Originates from Mexico. Prefers a warm climate. Stores water and can easily survive dry periods. Most cacti are covered with sharp spines. About half of the varieties can be expected to flower indoors, usually in spring, by the time they are 3-4 years old. Easy care plant. Attention: prickly! Choose the sunniest spot available, especially in winter. Increase watering in spring, use tepid water. Decrease watering late summer and after mid autumn keep soil almost dry just enough water to prevent shriveling. Water in the morning or evening to prevent burning. Re-potting every 2-3 years in spring into a pot which is only slightly larger. Fertilize once a year. Place in a bright sunny area. 12ºC. Water sparingly.
Dracaena marginata Dragon tree Originates from West Africa. Prefers a warm climate with high air humidity. Dracaena is a Greek word for 'drakaina which means female dragon. The more colorful the leaves, the more light the plant needs. Easy care plant. Tolerates low light conditions. Mist regularly with water. Leaves with brown tips and yellow edges: most likely reason is dry air, draughts or under watering. Brown, old leaves should be cut off. Leaves do accumulate dust, wipe leaves regularly. Do not lift the plant by the stem. Repot in spring every 2 years will help the growing process. Fertilize every second month. 12ºC. Water sparingly.
Dracaena marginata Dragon tree Originates from West Africa. Prefers a warm climate with high air humidity. Dracaena is a Greek word for 'drakaina which means female dragon. The tall snake-like trunk can branch with age and grow up to 2-3m. The darker the leaves, the less light the plant needs. Easy care plant. Tolerates low light conditions. Mist regularly with water. Leaves with brown tips and yellow edges: most likely reason is dry air, draughts or under watering. Leaves do accumulate dust, wipe leaves regularly. Do not lift the plant by the stem. Repot in spring every 2 years will help the growing process. Fertilize every second month. 12ºC. Water sparingly.
Dracaena massangeana Corn plant Originates from Costa Rica. Prefers a warm climate. Sensitive to draught and low s, Easy care plant. Ideal bedroom plant. Low light intensity can cause pale yellow leaf color. Direct sun will burn the leaves. Mist regularly with water. Keep moist, but remove remaining water from saucer. Use filtered or tepid water Leaves with brown edges: the reason is too low humidity. Leaves do accumulate dust, wipe leaves regularly. Do not lift the plant by the stem. Re-potting every 3 years. Fertilize every second month. 15ºC. Water moderately.
Zamioculcas zamiifolia Aroid Palm Indoor plant. Originates from East Africa. Prefers a warm room. Unique characteristic of Zamioculcas: can be multiplied from a single leaf. Can be placed in darker spots. Easy care plant. Ideal office plant. Keep out of direct sunlight as it burns the leaves. Requires minimal watering. Can be neglected. Over watering can lead to yellow leaves. If repotted, plant will grow in height. Fertilize every second month. 15ºC. Water sparingly.
Yucca Elephantipes Spineless Yucca Originally native to Central- and South America. There the Yucca is planted to counteract the erosion in the coffee fields. Woody trunk that bears a crown of long, leathery, spineless leaves. Easy care plant. Only the head is growing, not the stem. Ideal office plant. Grows well in a well-lit spot at average. Turn it from time to time it will lean towards the light. Can stand dry air. Water liberally from spring to autumn, sparingly in winter. Let yellowing leaves below the crown dry out. Do not lift the plant by the stem. Repot in spring every 2 years. Fertilize every second month. 0ºC. Water sparingly.
Ficus microcarpa Ginseng Originates from South East Asia. Ficus is Latin for fig. The trunk/root looks like the root of the Eastern herb ginseng. Ficus microcarpa is no real bonsai, even if it has the bonsai look. Two types of ficus are grafted together: Ficus retusa as the bottom part and Ficus Microcarpa, the small leaves at the top. A grafted Ficus has a much shorter growing time than a true bonsai. Grafting is an ancient technique that is used to improve a plant. It takes at least 4-6 years to reach the typical appearance of the root of a big Ficus. Mist daily to maintain humidity. Water thoroughly every two to three days, in hot air/summer more often. Keep moist, but remove remaining water from saucer. Reasons for sudden loss of leaves: draught, too little light or change of environment. Ficus can lose their leaves in winter but put on new growth either at once or in spring. Do not overwater in this dormant phase. Trim the plant to keep bonsai shape. Repotting every 2-3 years in spring. Fertilize every second month. sunlight 12ºC Water moderately
Himalaya mix Originates from several countries in Africa and America. Different varieties of foliage plants. The plants with green, large and shiny leaves are usually tolerant to different conditions. Variegated types need more care. Fleshy-leaved varieties need less frequent watering. Easy care plants. Allow soil to dry out between watering. Avoid draughts. Turn pots occasionally to ensure even growth. All plants need a rest in winter, which means less water, less fertilizer and less heat than in the active growing period. Only repot when the plant is thoroughly pot-bound. Fertilize every second month 12ºC. Water moderately..
Succulent Originally native to dry areas all over the world. Name comes from the Greek word succus which means juice. Prefers a warm climate. In the thick, fleshy leaves a supply of water can be stored. They are very well able to survive dry periods. Easy care plant. Ideal office plant. A windowsill is the right spot as some sunshine is vital. Water thoroughly when the soil begins to dry out, in winter every 1-2 months. Holiday care: with a little extra watering, the plants can easily survive 2 to 3 weeks. Sudden loss of leaves: very cold water from the tap or under watering in summer. Only repot when essential to a slightly larger pot in spring. Fertilize once a year. Place in a bright and sunny area. 12ºC. Water sparingly.
Hedera helix Ivy Originates from the European forests. The name Hedera is derived from the Greek word haerere, which means: adhere to/ cling to. The more variegated/colored the leaves, the more light the it needs. Although commonly grown as a hanging plant indoors, its aerial roots can easily be trained to climb a moss stick or trellis. Fast growing. Keep soil moist in summer by regular watering, in winter water sparingly. Mist leaves frequently in summer especially if the room is warm and dry. Mist leaves in the winter if the room is centrally heated. The branches can easily be trimmed. Removal of tips will encourage bushiness. If all leaves turn green: too little light. The leaves can cause skin irritation if sensitive. It's a good idea to wear gloves while handling this plant. Protect from draught. Repotting in spring every 2 years. Fertilize every second month. Place in a shady area. 0 ºC. Water moderately.
Nephrolepis Boston fern Originates from Asia and New Zealand. From the Greek word nephros meaning kidney and lepis meaning scale. These terms refer to the kidney-shaped leaves. Despite popular opinion, indoor ferns are not shade lovers. Natural gas fumes will harm the plant, so growing ferns near a gas stove or fireplace isn't a good idea. Indirect light, an east- or northfacing window is ideal. Keep moist, but remove remaining water from saucer. Mist leaves frequently the best to use tepid water. Excessive leaf drop is usually caused by too much or too little water or draught. Repot in the spring when the plant is thoroughly pot-bound. Fertilize every second month. Allow fern to 'rest' during winter; no fertilizing needed. 12ºC. Water moderately.