ROOM PLANT CARE IN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER
Houseplant care
When a spider mite appears on the plants, spraying with Fitoverm will help, "Aktellikom" or garlic infusion: 25-30 gr grind, pour over 100 ml boiling water in a closed dark glass container for 5 days, then 6 dilute g infusion 1 l of water. Treat the scabbard with "Aktellik", "Karbofos" or wipe with a cotton pad, soaked in garlic infusion. Carry out processing outside the living room..
Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, planted for distillation, keep cool (+5-9 city.) dark place. Moisten the substrate regularly. Remove rotten bulbs.
Water indoor flowers in moderation., avoiding waterlogging, draining the water from the sump through 10-20 minutes, since excess moisture leads to root rot, fungal leaf diseases. If the plant wilts on a wet substrate, no need to water it. After all, this condition can be from hypothermia of the root system.. Spray the crown generously with warm water several times, put in a greenhouse, transfer to a warm place, so that the lump gets warm and the roots restore work.
If a cactus with improper watering 8 cold weather rotted the base of the stem, remove the plant from the pot and trim the rotten areas to healthy tissue. Powder the sections with charcoal or ash and air dry for several days. Then plant in clean dry sand. Water gently and dry once every 7-10 days, until the roots appear. Leave until the end of winter in a bright place at a temperature +15-18 city., and in the spring, plant in a substrate for cacti.
Keep your plants clean: dust from pubescent leaves, as well as from cacti and other succulents, remove with a dry brush; wipe off large sheets of paper with a soft cloth; for small-leaved species, take a shower once a week, covering the substrate with a film.
Arrange the plants like this, so they get maximum light. Airing the room, eliminate the possibility of a cold draft, leading to leaf fall. Ficuses are especially vulnerable.
© Author: Ludmila ULEISKAYA. Cand- biol. Science, r. Yalta
Relevant now
As soon as the Decembrist had buds, put it in warm, well lit place, without sudden changes in temperature and drafts. During budding and flowering, the soil must not be overdried and waterlogged., rotate and rearrange the pot, breaking orientation with respect to light. To increase the humidity of the air, you can spray the plant, trying not to hit the buds. Water it with settled water at room temperature.
Light up Elatior begonia, providing 10-12 hours (no more) daylight hours, and the plant will soon bloom.
Light up ficuses. On the floor and windowsills, lift them up on small stands, to protect from hypothermia of the roots and leaf fall.
Aroid (anthurium, spathiphyllum, zamiokulkas, syngonium, scindapsus, monstera, philodendron, aglaonema, dieffenbachia) provide warmth and additional lighting, protect from drafts and hypothermia of the roots. В хороших условиях можно продолжать размножать эти растения.
SURPRISES OF NOVEMBER
Winter for indoor plants comes in November. It lasts three months, until early February. This period is the shortest days. How to care for flowers at this time? Let's contact our specialists. Their advice will help you and your pets!
ATTENTION – EXOTAM
Subtropical species (oleander, laurel, myrtle, rosemary, choleonema, ha-melacium), for which winter rest is obligatory, put in cool (+5-15 city.) place - on a frost-free balcony, bright terrace. The lack of coolness leads to the depletion of this group of growing – – of, even an enhanced backlight won't help. Reduce watering, keeping the soil slightly damp. The water temperature should be the same, like indoors, where the plant hibernates, so as not to cause too early exit from sleep. Cancel all dressings until spring.
CAREFULLY!
Symptoms of hypothermia appear already at a low, positive temperature (+5 city.). In case of failure- strong ingress of frosty air on ficuses, yucca, dracaena on the leaves, closer to the edges, small dry white dots form, with longer exposure - extensive dark necrotic spots.
Tropical species (date Robelena, hoveya, karyota, hamedorea) arrange artificial lighting, increasing the length of daylight hours to 12 hours. Watering mode - about the same as in summer and autumn, focusing on the condition of the soil. Reduce top dressing by 2 times compared to the summer period.
Some of the inhabitants of the tropics (citrus, bugenvillea, rose flower) it is better to lower the temperature a little, because even additional light cannot compensate for the lack of natural bright lighting. In this case, reduce watering, and cancel top dressings.
PROTECT ROOTS!
The reason for the wilting of plants on window sills during the ho-season with still wet soil is hypothermia of the roots., which cease to be normal
Crown, staying warm, continues to evaporate moisture, which leads to the loss of round and leaf fall. Outward signs are similar to overflow, and the wilted plant is watered abundantly, what to decay of roots and death of the plant.
FOR SIGNS OF WILTING
do not water the plant, if the lump is moist enough. Spray the crown generously with warm water several times, keep in a greenhouse or under a hood, transfer to a warm place, to warm the pot and restore the work of the roots.
THESE ROOM PLANTS FREQUENTLY FREEZE IN NOV-DECEMBER
| Plants | Short cooling | Long-term exposure to cold | Features of the |
| Phalenopsis | The flowers wither and wither | Leaves are watery and dark green, поникают. The plant dies | If there are still living buds on the stem in the substrate, children will grow out of them |
| Ficus Benjamin | Closer to the edge of the leaves are small (1 -2 mm) whitish dry spots | The leaves are rolling, жухнут. Abundant leaf fall | Even after a complete leaf fall, there is a chance, what through 1 -2 the kidneys will wake up in a month |
| Ficus rubber | Closer to the edge of the leaves are small (1 -2 mm) whitish dry spots | Leaves are covered with extensive black spots and subsequently fall off | When the trunk dries up and all the leaves are lost, the plant dies |
| Dracena, in vain, palm trees | On the edge of the leaves are small (1 -2 mm) whitish dry spots | Leaves droop, become watery or black | If the stems are intact, after a while, growth may resume on the tops. |
| Anthurium | The underside of the leaves takes on a rusty appearance. | Leaves are withered, the plant dies | The first signs appear already at a low positive temperature (+10 city.) |
| Spathiphyllum, philodendron, monstera,syngonium, scindapsus | Large black spots on the leaves | Leaves turn completely black, hang, отмирают. The stems turn black. The plant dies | Very sensitive to cold |
| Violet, gloxinia, column, eschinantus | Large light yellow spots on the leaves | Leaves are withered | If all leaves are lost, the plant does not recover. |
| Begonias | Large black spots on the leaves | Leaves and stems turn black, the plant dies | Very sensitive to cold |
| Hibiscus chinese | Leaves droop, black spots appear | Full leaf fall | It recovers poorly after the loss of leaves |
| Code | The leaves are dropping, become soft | Leaves turn black, опадают, the plant dies | Difficult to resuscitate |
| Kalanchoe in Blossfeld | On the leaves, there are extensive dark weeping spots, flowers wither | The plant dies | Very sensitive to cold |
| Cactus | On the stems, some small light (полупрозрачные) or dark spots | The stem turns dark, becomes soft, watery and rotting, cannot be saved | With minor damage, a gradual increase in temperature will help. |
WINTER SHOPPING ROOM FLOWERS
Buying indoor plants in winter, take care of their packaging.
Wrap your purchase in several layers of newspaper, then - into the insulation (take with you), on top - package. Small specimens can be carried in the bosom.
Do not keep packed plants outside. 10 minutes, do not leave in a cold car.
Can't stand flowers (including large) without packaging in frosty air, even for a few seconds - this is enough for frostbite.
SIGNS OF EXPOSURE TO COLD usually appear within 1-2 days. Hypothermia almost always leads to abundant or complete leaf fall.. Leaves damaged by frosty air do not regenerate.
ATTENTION!
Plants can be frostbitten near a window open for ventilation., on cool windowsills, in a planter on a cold wall or next to a humidifier, giving off cool steam.
The foliage damaged by frosty air should be removed immediately., before decay.
You can only help the plants after a short exposure to cold., when only a few leaves are affected, and the roots and stems are intact. Spray the crown with "Epin" (2 drops on a glass of water; 1 times in 10-15 days).
HOUSE PLANTS IN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER
Arrange the plants like this, so they get maximum light. Airing the room, eliminate the possibility of a cold draft.
Saintpaulia, ornamental begonias, illuminate ficuses with lamps for 3-4 hours in the evening.
No backlight, but at temperature + 10-15 city, and reduced watering can rest some succulents (including kalanchoe), zefirantes. If there is no insulated loggia, balcony, put these plants on the window behind a thick curtain, shading from direct rays.
Coming out of rest to Schlumberger, hemanthus, place the poinsettia on the windowsill of the south window and spray it with soft water from a spray bottle for several days, and then start watering. Decembrist if necessary (long time no transplant) can be transferred to a larger pot. But if there were buds, then do it after flowering.
Do not put plants close to batteries. For cordylins, citrus crops, palm trees organize additional air humidification, pouring pebbles or expanded clay into the pallet and pouring some water; spray the leaves regularly, turn on a humidifier or indoor fountain.
The success of the winter maintenance of many ferns (pterisa sword-shaped, pellet, maidenhair, Ligo-dium Japanese, etc.) depends on regular watering and spraying. Sufficiently high humidity is required (from 60%). To do this, flowerpots with plants are placed in pots., water is poured inside, so that expanded clay or decorative pebbles at the bottom are slightly covered. You can use "smart pots" with automatic watering regulation.
On window sills, move the plants away from the glass as far as possible., not to be touched by the leaves (how to protect green pets from hypothermia, read on page. 10-11).
If on the surface of the substrate, which has not been changed for a long time, a crust has formed (fertilizer salts and limescale due to hard water), carefully remove the top layer with a fork and add fresh soil.
HOME FLOWERS IN NOVEMBER – CARE TABLE
For home flowers, winter starts from November. Our mission is to help them get through this difficult time.. the main thing, that plants are healthy and adapted to changing conditions. How to organize it? Take note of the tips of our authors.
| Keep cool | Fig, Garnet, lagerstroemia - +1- 5 city, (can be in the dark), olive - +5-15 city., bougainvillea - +5- 10 city., evergreen begonia -+12-15 city. , chrysanthemum - +3- 8 city, (can be in the dark, rooted cuttings - +18 city.), cicas – + 12-17 city., pelargonium, abutilon - +12-15 city. | At a temperature +15-18 city, all plants need light |
| Provide a period of rest | Oleander, laurel, myrtle, rosemary, coleonemes, Hamelacium | Put in a light cool (+5- 15 city.) a place. Keep the soil slightly moist, pouring water at the same temperature, like indoors, where does the plant winter |
| Illuminate | Tropical species (date Robelena, hoveya, karyota, hamedorea) | Daylight hours - not less 12 hours. Поливайте, focusing on the condition of the soil. Reduce feeding to 2 times compared to the summer season |
| feed | Plants blooming at this time (цикламены, eternal, camellias, etc.) | Reduce fertilizer doses 2 times from those recommended in the instructions |
| Increase air humidity | For fittonia, arrowroot, croton, maidenhair and other plants, intolerant of hot, dry microclimates | Use humidifiers, fountains (Read about ways to deal with dry air in the last issue of DC) |
| Check for pests | For prevention, give the plants a warm shower about once a month. | Species with broad hard leaves (монстера, palm trees) convenient to irrigate, installed in the bathroom. In specimens with a sessile (without cherries) foliage (eg, phalaenopsis) after sprinkling, be sure to remove water from the axils of the leaves with a napkin. Flowers with delicate pubescent plates (senpolii, epis- tions) can be washed too, just not getting into the center of the outlet: tilt the pot and rinse each leaf separately |
| root | Pelargonium | Cut cuttings with 2-3 internodes (оставить 3-4 list), air dry for three to four hours and plant in peat tablets or light soil (1/2 mixtures - baking powder: perlite, vermiculite, etc.). Keep at temperature +15-20 city., preferably backlit. You can use Root- wine". No greenhouse needed. From young bushes, shoots take root faster |
DO NOT LET HOME FLOWERS FREEZE
One of the problems for plants in autumn-winter is hypothermia of the roots.. They stop working properly, and the leaves begin to wither, like it needs watering. How to make a "diagnosis" and prevent the death of pets?
AMBULANCE
If the root system is cold, and the crown stays warm, it continues to evaporate moisture intensively. This leads to loss of turgor and leaf fall.. Outward signs are similar to dryness, therefore, a drooping plant begins to be watered abundantly, what causes roots to rot.
Advice. In no case do not take the watering can, when the leaves wither, and the substrate is wet. Spray the crown generously with warm water several times, place the flower in a greenhouse or under a cap, transfer to a warm place, so that the pot warms up and the work of the root system is restored.
| Polyethylene foam (isolated) | Cut from a piece about 1 cm circles slightly larger than the diameter of the bottom of the pot and put under each flowerpot. If you cover the entire window sill, condensate from the glass will flow under the material and it will always be damp there |
| Polyfoam and its analogues | 2 piece (about 5 cm): put one on the windowsill, stepping over the edge 5 cm, another (pot height width, not to block the light) install between containers and glass. Sawing material with a metal saw. You can wrap the strips with cling film, so that they do not crumble and it is convenient to care for them |
| Foam rubber | Available with self-adhesive and non-adhesive backing. Pieces, strips are inserted between the window sashes, frame and slope, around the balcony door |
| Paraffin | Rastaplivayut, drawn into a syringe without a needle and poured into small slots in the frame. No need to remove in spring |
| Polycarbonate | Sheets (thickness 5 mm) can be laid on the windowsill and placed with a screen between glass and pots. Just be aware: you can't see anything through it |
| Penofol | Reflective thermal insulation, one side of which is foil, and the other is white foam. Usually use material thickness 3 mm and cut with a margin on all sides 10 cm. Glue the shiny side to the window sill with double-sided tape |
| Newspapers | Lay in a thicker layer, bending the edges to the frame and closing the gaps. Or folded into a tube and inserted between the flaps of loosely fitting frames |
| Cardboard | From above it is covered with plastic wrap so, so that one edge slightly covers the glass |
| food trays | Made from expanded polystyrene. In the cold period, they can also be used as pallets for watering. |
| wooden coasters | Cut out for each pot or several strips along the length of the window sill are laid on 2-3 transverse bars |
CARE OF FLOWERS IN COLD TIME
So that indoor flowers safely endure the winter, I provide them with special care.. The main thing here is to know the characteristics of each plant..
If the leaves fall, in no case do not increase the amount of watering and fertilizing, trying to interfere with the natural process. for example, in gloxinia, I cut off the drying and dying foliage and put the pots under the bath until spring. And when the sprouts appear, put on the windowsill, I start watering and fertilizing the plants..
There are types (euharis, crinum and others), which can "fall asleep" with improper care or adverse conditions. I keep them warm, I light up, and they thank me with lush winter blooms.
Such plants, like clivia, balsam, ciperus. tradescantia, can do without a dormant period. But in winter I still limit their watering., because there is not enough light. Moisturize in the morning with distilled water at room temperature, soaking the whole earthy ball, surplus from the pallet in minutes 30 clean up.
Blooming saintpaulias, Decembrists water more often, but do not allow stagnant water. Periodically feed fertilizer - an hour after watering, not to burn the roots. Besides, Decembrist do not turn and rearrange, otherwise it may drop buds.
I use water at room temperature to water the collection., since too cold is not absorbed by the roots, and warm can wake the plants ahead of time. I periodically water with rain or melt water - they do not contain calcium, also softer, than tap water.
Regularly after watering, carefully loosen the soil with a wooden stick., for better air flow to the roots.
I open the windows for a while to ventilate the room, avoiding drafts.
I do not put plants next to the batteries. Periodically spray the crowns with water, and about species with velvety leaves, like Saintpaulia, arrange bowls of water.
In severe frosts, I remove especially delicate flowers from the windowsills and put them closer to the middle of the room..
Timely remove wilted flowers, dead and yellowed leaves.
leathery ficus leaves, eucharis, palm trees, clips, I regularly clean wax ivy from dust with a damp cloth on both sides, and the velvety rosettes of Saintpaulia - with a brush, soaked in warm water.
© Author:Svetlana MARTYNOVA, r. Eagle.
© Author: Natalia SEMENOVA, biologist, collector
