User Manual

14
Buying New Plants:
Buying new plants is always fun, but make sure to look for healthy looking
plants with medium to dark green foliage. Avoid plants with unnatural
yellow or brown leaves.
Look for pest, especially small white mites, on the undersides of the leaves.
Remove the plant from the pot and examine the root system. Healthy roots
generally are visible along the outside of the soil and have an earthy smell.
Brown or black roots, especially if they have a foul smell, are signs of a
problem.
Acclimatization:
Acclimatization is the adaptation of a plant to a new environment.
Changing the environment the plant is accustomed to will stress the plant
and may cause damage, prevent growth, or even kill the plant. The greater
the difference between the previous environment and the new environment,
the greater the stress the plant endures.
When buying a new plant, learn as much as possible about the extent of
acclimatization preformed. Acclimatization is generally done in the
greenhouse or the nursery. Plants are grown for a period of time under low-
light levels and with fewer nutrients. Because this slows down plant growth,
acclimatized plants are not ready for the market as early as nonacclimatized
plants. The retailer should be able to provide this information. Bringing a
non-acclimatized plant home is okay, just maximize the amount of indoor
light you can provide it for at least 3 to 4 weeks, then move it to the final
location. Remember that the most important factors of indoor plant growth
are adequate light, fertilizer, and water at reduced rates.
Pruning:
Pinching and pruning your plant is a great way to encourage dense growth
while maintaining an optimal size and shape for its space. Many plants
require some form of pruning to encourage dense growth. When you
shorten stems, it stimulates latent side buds and will encourage bushy,
dense growth.
Light trimming and reshaping can be done any time of the year, but heavy
pruning should be done during fall or spring. Although not all houseplants
need pruning, most will benefit from some attention, even if it's simply
removing dead leaves or diseased or damaged stems. Regular pruning will
maintain and refine the shape of the plant. Plants concentrate growing on
the top and outer parts; pruning these growth areas regularly will
encourage growth closer to the inner parts of the plant.
When the plant has outgrown its container, root pruning is advisable. Pull
roots away from the root mass and cut back about 1 inch. Make sure the
new container is clean and sterilized before planting.