Indoor Gardens

7/29/2019 Indoor Gardens

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Indoor Gardens; Artificial Lighting, Terrariums, Hanging Baskets, Plant Selection

1978--

Cathey, Henry M.Crop Research Division

Agricultural Research ServiceandCampbell, Lowell E.Agricultural Engineering Research Division,Agricultural Research ServiceHome and Garden Bulletin 220, USDA, 1978.48 pagesIssued February 1978

Archive copy of publication, do not use for current recommendations.

The PDF file was provided courtesy of the National Agricultural Library.

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IndoorGardening Artificial Lighting,Terrariums,Hanging Baskets,and Plant Selection

UNITED STATESDEPARTMENT OFAGRICULTUREHOME ANDGARDEN BULLETINNUMBER 220 \

PREPARED BYAGRICULTURALRESEARCHSERVICE


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CONTENTSPersonal plants 3Types of indoor gardens 4Planter box 6Lighting systems 8Selecting a location 22Stocking the garden 22Plant guide 23Plant designations 24Setting the plants 24Care of the garden 33Training plants 33

Conditioned plants 34General care 37Watering 37Fertilizing 40Special gardening 40Terrariums 40Hanging baskets 43Plants for the beginner 45Other care 46Other uses 46Air layering 47

This publication supersedes Home and GardenBulletin No. 187, "Indoor Gardens With Con-trolled Lighting", issued May 1971.

W ashington, D.C. Issued Febru ary 1978For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing OfficeWashington, D.C. 20402

Stock No. 001-000-03758-7


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INDOOR GARDENINGArtificial Lighting, Terrariums,Hanging Baskets, and Plant Selection

Prepared by Henry M . Cathey, A RS Research Horticulturist1and Lowell E. Campbell, ARS Agricultural Engineer2

PERSONAL PLANTSYou can grow and display manykinds of decorative house plants iny o u r h o m e b y u s i n g a n indoorgarden. People are realizing thathouse plantsdisplayed in plantersequipped primarily with fluorescentlampsare an attractive asset and aconstantly changing decoration forany space in the home. Much of this

popularity has been due to the pro-duction, distribution, and varieties ofhouse plants that have been madeavailable to the consumer.Most house plants are grown com-mercially under a protective coveringin artificial growing media and fed' F lo r i s t and Nursery Crops Laboratory ,

Plant Genetics and Germplasm Institute, Belt-sville A gricultu ral Research Center, B eltsville,Md. 20705.Agricultural Equipment Laboratory, Envi-ronmental Qu ality Institute, Beltsville A gricul-tural Research Center, Beltsville, Md. 20705.

regular ly with fer t i l izers . Care istaken to see that plant diseases andinsect pests are controlled. A majora im of the p l a n t i n d u s t r y is tobroaden the range of plantstheirfol iage and their f l ow er i ngw hi chcan be grown successfully. They havewor ke d to develop easy-to-under-stand care instructions for handlingth e plants and to encourage theinstallation of lighting facilities suit-able for showing, acclimatizing, andgrowing them.This accomplishment is made pos-sible by cooperation between manyspecialists. Florists must work withengineers and lighting designers tobui ld the facilities for highlightingand maintaining the plants. Interiordesigners and architects must mixplants aesthetically with other fur-nishings. Growers and indoor gar-deners must select both the plantsand the watering techniques to insurethe continued success of the plants.


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TYPES OF INDOORGARDENSMost house plants require light tosurvive in indoor locations. If naturallight in the living space is unsufficient

to help maintain the plants then arti-ficial light must be used.To grow plants satisfactorily in anindoor garden one must rememberto Water the plants thoroughly, butonly often enough to prevent wilting. Fertilize the plants every 2 to 4w e e k s w h i l e t h e y are a c t i v e l y

growing. Illuminate the plants with fluo-rescent lamps 12 to 16 hours daily.F l u o r e s c e n t lamps have allowedhouse plants to thrive in indoor gar-d e n s p l a n t s that barely existedindoors before the development ofsuch light sources. These lamps havemany benefits: they give uniform illu-m i n a t i o n and e m i t a m i n i m u mamount of heat into the air, they areavailable in a variety of shapes andsizes, and they give the proper envi-ronment fo r propagation of plants byroot cuttings, air layering, or seed-lings. Whether the location has somedaylight, or little or no daylight, fluo-rescent lamps provide th e proper illu-mination. (For details see p. 8.)To d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r adequatelight exists in a location, it is neces-sary to use a light meter especiallydes igned fo r measur ing a r t i f i c ia llighting. For this, and other lightmeasurement details, see p. 18.Plans fo r 11 types of indoor gar-d e n s are s h o w n in th is bul le t in .Anyone who can use woodworkingtools should be able to construct anindoor garden by follow ing these gen-eral plans. P L A N A is for a garden about 4

feet long and 12 to 18 inches deep.This long, narrow garden is mostuseful in a dimly lighted corridor. Itwill brighten as well as decorate thecorridor. This version of the indoorgarden may also be used as a roomdivider. (See illustration on p. 5.) P L A N B is for a free-standing,r o u n d g a r d e n 14 to 18 inches indiameter and 2 feet tall. It is used forshowing the flowers and foliage ofone or several potted plants. (Seeillustrations on pp. 6, 7.) P L A N C is for a table gardenabout 3 feet tall, 2 feet long, and 1foot deep. This garden can be placedon almost any surface or hung on thewall. It will light as well as decorateand is designed for displaying smallplants such as African violets. (Seeillustrations on pp. 8, 9.) P L A N D is for a wall gardenabout 7 feet high and 4 feet wide. Thegarden can be placed on any open, wall

space and gives the appearance of awindow. It allows the attractivedisplay of hanging vines and pottedplants. (See illustrations pp. 10, 11.) P L A N E is for a free-standinglight shell 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide.This garden permits th e display ofgrowing plants in various size con-tainers and is suitable in halls, foyers,kitchens, or playrooms. (See illustra-tions on pp. 18, 19.) P L A N F is for a tall, narrowgarden 6 feet tall and 2 feet square. Ith as mo v ab le sh e lv es and p e r m i t ss t ar t i ng a n d g r o w i n g ma ny sma l lp l a n t s . ( See i l l u s t r a t i o n s o n p p .22, 23.) P L A N G is a triangular planterused for l ighting plants of differentheights and diameters. This gardenconsists of one U-shaped fluorescentl amp 22 inches tall mou nted on a tri-angular-shaped platform that is 12


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PN-5260Corridor or foyer garden (Plan A) is most useful in a diml y l ig ht ed corridor. It can also be

employed as a room divider.

i nc he s w ide . (See i l lustrat ions onpp. 24, 25.) P L A N H , an a n g u l a r t a b l eplanter, is for lighting a long plat-form, 4 feet long, mounted with tw oU - sh ap ed f l u o r e s c e n t l a m p s , a n dbacked by plexiglass mirrors eachmeasuring approximately 30 x 10 x28 inches with a folding panel. The

mirror increases th e light intensityavailable to the plants. The foldingpanel permits th e hanging of vines onth e front of the garden. (See illustra-tion p. 32.)

P L A N I, an office planter, is forl ighting a restricted area of plants.This is accomplished by placing twoU-shaped lamps on the two ends of athree-sided box 30 x 10 x 28 inches.The sides of the box are covered withtransparent plastic and the back ofth e box is covered with a mirror toreflect light. The top of the box isopen to permit larger plants to beplaced in the area. (See illustrationon p. 33.)

P L A N J is for a "window-on-the-wall" type of planter made from a


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PN-5261A free-standing, round garden (Plan B) is used

for showing th e f lowers and fol iage of oneor several plants growing in pots.

2 x 2 foot ceiling fixture, turned onits side, with an 8-inch shelf mountedon the front. The two U~shap~ed f luo-rescen t l amps are covered with atranslucent plastic panel. The fixturem ay be mounted on the wall to allowspace for growth plants in the home.(See illustrations on pp. 34, 35.) P L A N K, "a garde n center", is af r e e s t a n d i n g g a r d e n i n g a r e a c o m -

bining side lighting from U-shapedfluorescent lamps and mirrors to pro-vide un iform illumination. Ballastsand time clock are hidden underneaththe l ight ing area behind a foldingpanel. Space is also provided for gar-dening aids such as extra containers,growing media, fertilizers, and otheri t e m s . ( S e e i l l u s t r a t i o n s on pp.36, 37.)

Planter BoxOuter SurfacesThe planter box can be made ofsoft pine or fir plywood painted tomatch the walls in the room where itwill be used, or it can be made ofveneered plywood stained or oiled tomatch the furniture with which it willbe displayed. Many kinds of woodand wood finishes are available thatare suitable for planters.Also, the planter box can be cov-ered with one of the following fire-resistant surfaces: Indoor-outdoor carpet.

Plastic film that comes in manycolors and has a mirrorlike finish. C o v e r i n g s w i t h a d h e s i v ebacking. They come in woodlike andmetalike finishes and in patterns ofmod f l ow e r s , w h i c h g i ve almostunlimited design possibilities. L a m i n a t e d p l a s t i c used forkitchen-counter tops.Inner Surfaces

Inside the planter is a watertightliner. This liner is best made of gal-v an i zed sheet meta l pa inted wi thasphalt to retard rusting. For a tem-porary liner, tw o layers of poly-ethylene may be stapled inside theplanter.


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DECORATIVE KNOBTO ACCEPT CENTERSCREW IN LAMP BASE

1/2" CORK BASE

Plan B.Free-standing garden for pot plants.


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PN-5262Table garden (Plan C) can be placed on any surface or hung on a w a l l . It is ideal for displaying

small plants such as African violets.

MobilityThe planter box is mounted on ap l a t f o r m equipped with casters.

Carpet casters are available. Theentire unit can be moved easily;f loors and carpets around it can becleaned; plants in the garden can bereached easily for care and replace-ment; and the contents of the roomgarden as well as furn i turecan berearranged easily.

Lighting SystemsFluorescent Lamps

Fluorescent lamps are most widelyused for lighting indoor plants. Stan-dard 40-watt lamps produce enoughlight for plants with medium or low*light requirements. (See the table "Il-lumination In Foot-Candles At Var-ious Distances From Cool White OrWarm White Fluorescent Lamps" on

8


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1/8" HARDBOARD

WHITE PLASTICDIFFUSER

TIMER

OUTERDIAMETER20"INNERDIAMETER12y2"CIRCULARLAMP

GALVANIZEDMETAL LINER

DECORATIVEMETAL SHADE

BALLAST

1"x30"STRAP IRON

1"x4" BASEPlan C . T a b l e garden to display small plants.

25 6 -37 6 O - 78 - 2


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PN-5263W a ll garden (Plan D) makes possible an attractive display of hanging vines. Potted plants can be

placed at the base of this indoor garden.

1 0


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p. 14.) High light requirements mayindicate the use of 1500 MA3 - typefluorescents.The color of lamps used is a com-p r o m i s e between cost, eff ic iency ,esthetics, and color rendering of theplants. As an aid to both the amateurand professional interior designer thet a b l e "Color Rendering of Plants,

3Lamp current in milliamperes.

People, and Furnishings" is suppliedon p. 12.

Most plants will do well with ade-quate visible radiation from any fluo-rescent lamp except yellow and red.The power consumed is the same forall lamps of equal wattage. Incan-descent lamps are seldom satisfactoryexcept for spotlighting displays orf l owe r s . (See the table "RelativeLight and Visible Radiation of 40-Watt Fluorescent Lamps" on p. 15.)

Wall garden (Plan D) can display both hanging vines and potted plants.1 1


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Color Rendering of Plants, People, and Furnishings(For the Consulting Interior Designer.)

Lamp Fluorescent

Cool White1Warm WhiteGro Lux, Plant LightGro Lux-WSAgro-liteVita-liteDischargeMercu ry (all types)Metal HalideHigh-Pressure SodiumLow-Pressure SodiumIncandescentIncand escent-M ercu ry

AbbreviationCWwwG R OGRO-WSA GROVITA

H GM HHPSLPSIN CINC-HG

General Appearance ona Neutral Wall or SurfaceWhiteYellowishPink WhiteLight Pink- WhiteWhiteWhite

Purplish WhiteGreenish WhiteYellowishYellowYellowish WhiteYellowish White

Complexion(the actual appearance of skin)Pale PinkSallowReddishPinkPinkPink

RuddyGreyedYellowishGreyedRuddyRuddy


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Abbreviation

CWwwGRO, PLGRO-WSA G R OVITAH GM HH PSLPSIN CINC-HG

Atmosphere(the effect or general feeling of room)Neut ra l to coolwarmwa rmwarmwarmwarmcoolcool greenwarmwarmwarmwarm

FlowerColors Improved or StrengthenedBlue, Yellow, OrangeYellow, OrangeBlue, Re dBlue, Yellow, RedBlue, Yel low, Re dBlue, Yellow, RedBlue, Green, YellowBlue, Green, YellowGreen, Yellow, OrangeYellowYellow, Orange, Re dYellow, Orange, Red

ColorGreyed (undesirable)RedBlue, Green, RedGreen, YellowGreenGreenGreenRe dRedBlue, RedAll Except YellowBlueBlue

1 Deluxe Cool White or Deluxe Warm White will give better color rendition than Standard Cool White or War m White.


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ILLUMINATION IN FOOTCANDLES AT VARIOUS DISTANCESFROM COOL W H I T E OR W A R M W H IT E FLUORESCENT LAMPS1

FLUORESCENT

DistancefromLampFeet0.5123

4 0 W a t t U - L a m p 2FC12T10 F40-U F40-U 2-F40-U

Q'^I.Q O-330

ziO O^^O O'(140 150 240 300-40045 50 80 100-20020 25 40 50-100

Standard 40 Watt T1232-F40 2-F40 4-F40 6-F40

I 1

0.51234

0 0 'QO^ |0 0 0 01 |0 0 0 0 0 0500 700 900 1000260 (200) 400 (260) 600 700110 (100) 180 (150) 330 45060 (60) 100 (90)40 60 100 140

1500MAT12-T174

12

2-F48 4-F48A i i i \ i0 0 * O O O O900 1700400 740

INCANDESCENTStandard Lamp

6-F481=1 c=3 cmo o o o o o20001100

INCANDESCENTPAR-3840 W 60 W 75 W 150 W

123456

34 (17) 67 (33)8 (7) 17 (13)4 (3) 7 (7) 375167(double values with 94reflectors) 60

Values in parenthesis are footcandles one foo t on either sidedistance below lamps.Bot tom views.End views.End views.

(40) 383 (80)(40) 216 (110)(50) 138 (90)(40) 96 (70)of lamp perpendicular to

14


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RELATIVE LIGHT A ND VISIBLE RADIATIONOUTPUT OF 40-WATT LAMPS40-Watt Lamptype Fluorescent

Cool WhiteWarm WhitePlant GrowthWide Spectrum -Color RenderingIndex (CRI) 90 or above

Percent Lumens

10010032 to 6060 to 70

PercentVisible Radiation

10010070 to 8075 to 85

F l u o r e s c e n t t u b e s s h o u l d b ereplaced periodically when they aresignificantly dimmer than new lamps.For standard lamps (400-450 MA)this will be 1 or 2 years when oper-ated 15 hou rs a day. For 1500 MAlamps replacement each year is rec-ommended.Some lamps will become dimmerin less time while other lamps maylas t longer . Keep extra lamps onhand fo r rep lacement . Rememberthat a fixture for two lamps will notoperate with only one lamp. Staggerlamp replacement over a period ofs e v e r a l w e e k s t o a v o i d a b r u p tchanges in light level. For the first 4or 5 days new lamps may be up toone-fifth brighter than they will besubsequently.It is important to know the dif-ferent w ays that p lants respond to thev a r i e t y o f l a m p s that m a y b ee m p l o y e d . (See table "Lamps A ndPlant Response" on p. 16 for thisinformation.)Light Conversion

It is important to use equ al energyw h e n c o n v e r t i n g f r o m o n e l i g h tsource to another. Living spaces areli t with natural available light and

with many different kinds of lamps.Fluorescent and incandescent lampsare the types most frequently used.Each lamp has a different visiblespectrum. To convert from one lampsource to another, use the table "Ap-propriate Foot-Candles For EqualRadiant Energy" on p. 20.Lighting Fixtures

Standard fluorescent lighting fix-tures or luminaires are most easilyutilized. Strip or channel fixtures orgeneral lighting fixtures can be usedas s h o w n in the plans . Four-footlamps, or the U-lamp (slightly lessthan 2 feet overall in length) are easyto employ.Electr ical connect ions require athree-prong plug both for safety andpos i t ive opera t ion of the l amp s .U n g r o u n d e d f i x t u r e s o r l a m p swithout grounded metal ref lectorsmay not opera te reliably. Especiallynoisy fixtures may require ballastreplacement.Components, available at electrical

su p p l y stores, can be wired whenstandard fixtures are not convenient.(Always have qu alified persons installthe w iring and ma ke sure the w iringmeets the local and National Elec-15


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L A M P S A N D PLANT RESPONSELamp Plant Response

Fluorescent - Cool White (CW)and Warm White (WW). Green foliage expands parallel tothe surface of the lamp.Stems elongate slowly.Multiple side shoots develop.Flowering occurs over a long period of time.

Fluorescent - Gro Lux (GL)Plant Lights (PL).

Deep-green foliage which expands, often largerthan on plants grown under CW or WW.Stem elongates very slowly, extra thick stemsdevelop.Multiple side shoots develop.Flowering occurs late, flower stalks do notelongate.

Fluorescent - Gro Lux-WS(GL-WS), Vita-lite (VITA),Agro-li te (A GRO) and WideSpectrum lamps.

Light-green foliage w hich tends to ascendtoward th e lamp.Stems elongate rapidly, distancesbetween the leaves.Suppresses development of multipleside shoots.Flowering occurs soon, flower stalkselongated, plants mature and age rapidly.High Intensity D ischarge -Deluxe Mercury (HG) orMetal halide (MH).

Similar to CW & WW fluorescent lampscompared on equal energy.Green foliage wh ich expands.Stems elongate slowly.Multiple side shoots develop.Flowering occurs over a longperiod of time.High Inten sity Discharge -High pressure sodium

(HPS).Similar to Gro Lux and other colorimproved fluorescent compared on equal energy.Deep-green foliage which expands, oftenlarger than on plants grown under H and MH.Stems elongate very slowly, extra thickstems develop.Multiple side shoots develop.Flowering occurs late, flower stalksdo not elongate.

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LA MP S AND P LA N T RESPONSELamp Plant Response

High Intensity Discharge -Low Pressure Sodium (LPS) Extra deep-green foliage, bigger andthicker than on plants grown underother light sources. Stem elongation is slowed, verythick stems develop. M ultiple side shoots develop evenon secondary shoots. Flowering occurs,flowerstalks

do not elongate.Exceptions: S aintpaulias, lettuce, and Im patiensmust have supplemental sunlight or incandescentto insure development of chlorophyll an dreduction of stem elongation.

Incandescent (INC) andIncandescent-Mercury(INC-HG)

Paling of foliage, thinner and longerthan on plants grown under light sources. Stem elongation is excessive, eventually becomespindly an d easily breaks. Side shoot development is suppressed,

plants expand only in height. Flowering occurs rapidly, the plantsmature an d senescence takes place.Exceptions: Rosette and thick-leaved plantssuch as Sansevieria may maintain themselvesfo r many months. The new leaves whicheventually develop will elongate andwill not have the typical characteristicsof the species.

trical Code.) The components neces-sary are Lampholders. Two are requiredfor each lamp. (U-tubes require spe-cial lampholders available at elec-trical supply stores.) Ballast. This is a built-in powerregulator. Wire. Insulated, heat-resistantt y p e . Metal enclosure. This will house

the ballast and the wiring to thelampholders.

Automatic TimersPlants need light for 8 to 12 hou rsa day. Use an automatic t imer to con^trol the length of illumination. Donot depend on your memory to turnon the lamps at the proper time.A n automatic timer is available athardware and electrical stores. Thetimer can be set to turn the lamps onand off at any time. For 16 hours oflight, you can set it to turn on at 6a.m. and off at 10 p.m.

172 5 6 - 3 7 6 O - 78 - 3


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Light LevelsLight level determines the types ofplants that can be grown. Recom-m e nde d l igh t l e ve l s for plants areg ive n in foot-candles (fc). A foot-

candle is a unit of i l lumination equal

to the amount of light thrown by onestandard candle on a surface 1 footaway.P la n t s w i l l g r ow in higher lightlevels than the preferred levels to bementioned, but they will not survivebelow minimum levels of light.

PN-5264Free-standing l ight she l l (P lan E) permits the

disp lay of plants in various size containers.

In sunlight:Low designates a minimum light

level of 12 foot-can dles and a pre-ferred level of 35 to 100 foot-candles.Medium designates a minimum of35 foot-candles and a preferred levelof 100 to 250 foot-candles.High designates a minimum of 100foot-candles and a preferred level of250 foot-candles.

Very High designates a m in im umof 500 foot-candles and a preferredlevel of over 500 foot-candles.U s i n g A r t i f i c i a l L i g h t with coolwhite fluorescent lamps as the stan-dard:Low designates a minimum l ightlevel of 25 foot-candles and a pre-ferred level of 75 to 100 foot-candles.Medium designates a m in im um of75 to 100 foot-candles and a pre-ferred level of 200 to 500 foot-can-

dles.High designates a minimum of 200foot-can dles and a preferred level of500 foot-candles.Very High designates a minimum

of 1000 foot-cand les and a pre ferr edlevel of over 1000 foot-candles,Measuring Light Levels

If the natural light in the livingspace is insufficient to maintain th eplants then artificial light must beused. To determine if adequate lightexists, it is necessary to use a lightmeter .Mode l s , t yp ic a l ly , ha ve se ve r a l18


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INSIDE AND OUTSIDESURFACESCOVEREDWITHREFLECTIVE FOIL

Free-standing l ight shell (Plan E) is suitable for halls, foyers, kitchens, and playrooms.

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ranges, such as from 10 to 50 foot- determine the proper light meas-candles, 50 to 250 foot-candles, and urement.200 to 1000 foot-candles w ith an X- Photographic light meters are not10 mu ltiplying cover. fully satisfactory for measuring plantSuch meters are worked by posi- li g h ti n g bec au se the lighting con-tioning their tops parallel to the sur- versions and corrections required areface being measured for light. Then complex due to spectral variationsthe switch position is shifted from and vary with various meters. How-high to medium to low to determine ever, they can be used to determinethe int en si ty of lig ht measured in relative levels of daylight or incan-foot-candles. Several readings should descen t light,be taken and the results averaged to The p u rc h as e of a lig ht m ete r

Appropriate Foot-candles1 for Equal Radiant Energy(Visible 400-850 nm) for Selected LampsLamp fc fc fc fc

Fluorescent

Cool WhiteWarm WhiteGro-Lux, Plant LightGro-Lux-WSAgro-liteVita-lite

CWwwG R O

GRO/WSA G R O

VITA

10010547687480

20 021 094136148160

50052523534037040 0

1000105047068074 0800

Discharge

Mercury (all types) HG 108 216 540 1080Metal Halide MH 87 174 435 870High-Pressure Sodium HPS 88 176 44 0 880Low-Pressure Sodium LPS 137 274 685 1370Incandescen t INC 35 70 175 350Incandescent-Mercury INC-HG 50 100 250 500Sunlight;

Winter 53 106 265 530Summer 55 110 273 546

'The foot-candle readings given in the Plant Guide are based on Cool White fluorescent lamps.Note that when th e table lists 100 fc of Cool White fluorescent , it requires 53 fc fromsunlight, 105 fc from Warm White, 47 fc from Gro-Lux, 68 fc f rom Gro-Lux-WS to give equ al energyand equal effectiveness for lighting plants. Check with a l ighting engineer to find out whatkind of artificial lamps are used to light the space.20


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Input Power Conversion of Light Sources

Fluorescent

Cool WhiteWarm WhiteGro Lux, Plant LightGro Lux-WSAgro-liteVita-lite

DischargeMercury DeluxeMetal HalideHigh Pressure SodiumLow-Pressure SodiumIncandescentIncandescent-Mercury

Input PowerTotalWatt

464646464646

44 046047 0230100-

L ampWat t

404040404040

40040 040 0180

100-

TotalLumenspe rL amp

3,2003,25092 51,7001,9002,180

22,00034,00047,00033,000

1,740-

TotalLumenpe rWat t

707120374147

5075

100143

1718-25

VisibleRadiationPercent

202013151518

1320252507-

NonvisibleRadiat ionPercent

323235353533

62544747

83-

Conduct ion &ConvectionPercent

353539373736

16131313

10-

BallastsLossPercent

131313131313

09131515

0-

Conversionof Foot-candles toA ppr oximateWatts / Meter1

- Divide Foot-candles By:323214212325

34 (All types Hg )282743

1015

1400-850 nanometers.


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PN-5265Tall, narrow garden (Plan F) offers the flex-

ibi l ity of movable shelves and wi l l permitthe starting and growing of many smallplants.

especial ly designed for measuringartificial lighting is recommended.Other pointers to remenjber whentaking light readings with a meter; Pick a day when it is sunny. Adjust curtains to their usualdaytime posit ion. Drawn curtains ,whether sheer or opaque, greatly alterthe light level.Some plants w i l l n o t d o w el lindoors. These plants are sun lovers,and though the lamps in the indoorgarden are bright, they are still paleand weak when compared to the sun.The midday summer sun produces5,000 to 10,000 foot-candles of light,

w h i c h is very bright compared toindoor lighting.SELECTING A LOCATION

The best place to put an indoorgard en i s w here the t emp era tu reduring the day is about 75 F. andth e temperature during th e night isabout 65 F.Avoid locations near heating ducts,exhaust fans, or doo rway s to the out-side. Air from heating ducts heatsand dries the plants. Cold air anddrafts from exhaust fans and outsidedoors may chill the plants.It is a good idea to avoid placingplanters in heavy traffic areas in thehome. Not only is the planter often inthe way where traffic is heavy, butplants in the garden are likely to bedamaged by passing traffic.

Wherever it is used, an indoorgarden will light the ceiling and wallsas well as the plants. This extra lightmay be welcome; it may serve as thesecondary source of illumination fo rthe room. But it may beunwelcomeproducing glare, ratherthan brightness. Indoor light levels ofonly 1,000 foot-candles can disturbthe eyes of some people. Screeningthe lights with foliage will reduceglare. Directed glare can be avoidedth r o u g h the use of shields and bycareful location of the lights.STOCKING THE GARDEN

The degree of satisfaction that yourgarden br ings you depends, morethan anything else, on your selectionof plants for itplants that are bothattractive and adaptable to growingindoors. Your skill in arranging theplants tha t you select can add to you renjoyment of the garden.

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Plants s h o u l d not be p lan t eddirectly in the indoor garden; theyshould be potted and the pots set inthe garden. This method of handlingthe plants allows you to rearrangey o u r garden periodically.You can use seasonal plants iny o u r g a r d e n p o i n s e t t i a s atChristmas, azaleas or tulips at Valen-

t ine's D a y , l i l i e s at Easter,hydrangeas for Mother's Day, potted

annuals during summer, or pottedchrysanthemums in fall. Your gardenshould never remain static; it wouldsoon become unattractive.Plant Guide

The guide (p. 26) lists three pointsto c o n s i d e r in selecting decorativeplants for the indoor gardensize ofthe mature plant, light level needed

PLYWOOD1"x4"BASE

Tall , narrow garden (P lan F) with movable shelves is 6 feet tal l a n d 2 feet square.

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PN-5266T r i a n g u l a r planter (Plan G) is suitable for

l i g h t i n g plants of di f ferent he ights anddiameters.

for healthy plant growth, and thewater requ irement.The list of plants is not all inclu-sive. Plants are listed that are avail-able through usual supply sourcesand have been grown successfully inmany homes. Hobbyists may enjoytrying other plants.

Plant DesignationsTree designates p lants that grow asa s in g l e plant in a c o n t a i n e r ,minimum size 3 feet, maximum size

often to the ceiling.These tall plants may eventuallyhave to be air-layered (see p. 47), cutback to force growth of side shoots,or be given to someone who has morespace.

Floor plant designates plants thatgrow 2 to 6 feet tall. They are usedseparately or in a groupingoften asa room divider or a screen.Pot plant designates a wide rangeof plants of varying sizes that grow indifferent size pots, up to 8 inches indiameter.terrarium plant designates plantsthat have relatively small leaves andcan be g r o w n in a closed bottle,aquarium, or jar. They are used in agrouping, intermixing plants with dif-ferent colors and shapes of leaves.Hanging plant designates plantsthat can be trained to cascade fromh a n g i n g b a s k e t s . M a n y o f thesep lan t s can be vining types; otherp l a n t s , b e c a u s e o f the i r g rowthhabits, may be adapted to this specialuse.These pot plants can be used sepa-rately, double-potted in waterproofcontainers, or lined up in a planterbox giving the impression of plantsgrowing directly in the box.

Setting The PlantsSupport large potted plants by set-ting them on other clay pots that areupended in the bottom of the planter

box. Fill in around the upended potswith coarse gravel to a depth of 3 or4 inches. Then fill the rest of the boxa r o u n d the potted plants w i t hunmil led sphagnum moss, pea-sizegravel, or marble chips. Small pottedplants can be plunged directly intothe sphagnum, pea gravel, or marble.A l th o u g h the fluorescent lampsused in the garden are not as hot asincandescen t lamps, they generateenough hea t to harm p lan t s tha tcome in contact with them. There-fore, keep all plants at least 6 inchesaway from the lamps.24


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RIGIDACRYLIC-TUBE

RUBBERBUMPERRECESSED iSCREW ~~^&

24'

TIMER

METAL PLATE

Plan G. T r i ang u l ar planter consists of one U-shaped fluorescent lamp mounted on a tr iangularplatform.

25


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D E C O R A T I V E PLANTS FO R TH E I N D O O R G A R D E N

N a me Mature Size Light Level Water Requi rementAbutilon species (Flowering - maple)Acalypha hispida (Chenille plant)Achimines (Magic f lower)Adiantum species (Maide nhair fern)Aechmea fasciata (Bromeliad)Aeschynanthus javanicus (Lipstick plant)Aglaonema commutatum (Chinese evergreen)

pot, hang ing plantpot plantpot, hanging plantpot, hanging, terra rium plantpo t plantpot hanging plant, terrariumpo t plant

highhighhighmediummediummediumlow

moistmoistmoistdr y -we tmoistmoistmoist

- in groundwhen dormant

Aglaonema "Pseudo-bract eatum" (Goldenaglaonema)Aglaonema roebelinii (Peuter plant)Aloe variegataAlternanthera beutzickianaAnanas comosus (Pineapple)Aphelandra squarrosa (Zebra plant)Araucaria excelsa (Norfolk island pine)Ardisia crispa (Coral ardisia)Asparagus sprengeri (Asparagus fern)Aspidistra elatior (Cast-iron plant)Asplenium nidus (Bird's nest fern)Aucuba japonica (Japanese laurel)Begonia rexBegonias, other than metallica and rexBeloperone gu t tat a (Shrimp plant)Bougainvillea glabra (Bougainvillea)Brassaia actinophylla (Schefflera)Bromeliads (many species)Browallia spedosa (Browallia)

po t plantpo t plantpo t plantpot, hanging, terrarium plantpo t plantpot, terrarium planttree, floor, po t plantpot plantpo t plantfloor, pot plantpo t plantpo t plantpot, hanging p lan tpo t plantpot, hanging plantpot, hanging planttree, f loor, po t p lan tpot plant, hangingpot, hang ing plant

lowlowvery highhigh to mediumhighhighhighmediummediumlowmediummediumhighvery highhighvery highmediummediumhigh to medium

moistmoistdr ymoistmoistmoistmoistmoistmoistmoistwetdr ymoistmoistdr ydr ydr ymoistmoist


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Caladiwn (Fancy-leaved caladium)Calathea species (Calathea)Campanula isophlla (Star-of-Bethlehem)Capsicum annum (Christmas pepper)Chamaedorea elegens (Neanthe bella palm)Chamaedorea erumpens (Bamboo palm)Chamaeropsis humilis (European fan palm)Chlorophytum (Spider plant)Chrysanthemum morifolium (Chrysanthemum)Cissus antarctica (Kangaroo vine)Cissus rhombifolia (Grape ivy)Citrus mitis (Calamondin)Clerodendrum thomsonae (Bleeding-heart vine)Clivia (Kaffir-lily)CodiaeumC o f f e a arabica (Arabian coffee tree)ColeusColumnea species (Columnea)Cordyline terminalis (Hawaiian ti plant)CrassulaCrossandra infundibuliformisCrypta nthus species (Dwarf bromeliad)Cyclamen species (persicum or other species)Cyperus alternifoliusCyrtomium falcatum (Japanese holly fern)Davallis fejeensis (Figi rabbit's-foot fern)Dieffenbachia amoena (Dumb cane)Dieffenbachia "Exotica" (Dumb cane)Dizygotheca elegantissima (Spider aralia)Dracaena derememis (Green dracaena)Dracaena deremensis "Warneckei"

(White striped dracaena)

pot plantpo t plantpot, hanging plantpot, hanging plantfloor, po t planttree, floor, po t planttree, floor plantpot, hanging, terrarium plantpo t plantpot, hanging, terrarium plantpo t plantpo t plantpot, hanging plantpot plantpo t planttree plantpot, hanging plantpot, hanging, terrarium planttree, floor, po t plantpo t plantpot plantpot, terrarium plantpo t plantUmbrel la plantpo t plantpot, hanging plantfloor, pot plantpot, terrarium plantfloor, pot plantfloor, po t plantpot plant

highmediumhighhighlowlowhighmediumvery highhighmediumhighhigh to mediummediumvery highmediumvery highmediummediumvery highmediummediumhighmediummedium to lowlowmediummediumhighmediummedium

moist-dry (dormant)moistmoistmoistmoistmoistmoistmoistmoistmoistdr ydr ymoistdr ydr ymoistwetmoistmoistdr ymoistdr ymoist-dry (dormant)we tmoistmoistdrydr ymoistwetdr y


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DE CORA TIVE P L A N T S FOR THE I N D O O R G A R D E NNameDracaena fragrans massangeana (Corn plant)Dracaena godseffiana (Gold-dust dracaena)Dracaena marginata (Dragon tree)Epiphyllwn hybrids (Orchid cactus)Episcia (Flame-violet)Eriobotyra japonica (Japanese loquat)Euphorbia mill (splenders) (Crown-of-thorns)Euphorbia pulcherrima (Poinsettia)Exacum a f f i n eFatsia japonica (Japanese aralia)Ficus benjamina exotica (Weeping Java fig)Ficus elastica "Decora" (Rubber plant)Ficus lyrata (Fiddle leaf fig)Ficus philippinensis (Philippine fig)Ficus repens var. pumila (Creeping fig)Ficus retusa nitida (India laurel)Fittonia verschaffeltiiFuchsiaGardenia jasminoides (Gardenis)Gynura aurantiaca (Velvet plant)Gynura Sarmentosa (Velvet plant)Haemanthus coccineus (Blood lily)Haworthia species (Haworth ia)Helxine soleirolii (Baby's-tears)Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Rose-of-China)Howeia forsteriana (Kentia palm)Hoya carnosa (Wax plant)

Mature Sizefloor, pot plantpo t plant, terrarium planttree, floor plantpot, hanging plantpot, hanging, terrarium planttreepot plantpo t plantpot, hanging plantfloor, po t planttreetree, floor, pot planttree, floor planttree, f loor plantpot, hanging planttreepot, terrarium plantpot, hanging plantpot plantpot, hanging, terrarium plantpot, hanging, terrarium plantpo t plantpot, terrarium plantpot, terrarium plantpo t planttree, floor p lan tpot, hanging plant

Light Levellowmediummediumhighmediumhighhighvery highmediummediummediummediummediummediummedium to lowmediummediumvery highvery highmediummediumvery highmediummediumvery highlowmedium

Water Requirementwe twe twe tmoist-in growthdry-over wintermoistmoistdr ydrymoistmoistmois tmoistmois tmoistmoistmoistmoistmoistmoistmoistmoistmoist-during growthdry-when dormantdr ymoistmoistmoistdr y


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ImpatiensJacobinia obtusior (Plume flower)Kalanchoe speciesLantana camara (Trailing lantana)Lantana m ontevidensis (Trailing lantana )Ligustrum lucidum (Wax leaf privet)Maranta leuconeura (Prayer plant)Mimosa pudica (Sensitive plant)Monstera deliciosa (Ceriman or MexicanBreadfruit)Naomarica northiana (Apostle plant)Neoregelia spectabilis (Fingernail plant)Nephrolepsis exalata bostoniensis(Boston fern)Nerium oleander (Oleander)Nertera depressa granadensis (Bead plant)Orchids (many species)Pandanus veitchii (Screw-pine)Passiflora species (Passion-flower)Pathenocissus benryana (Ampelopsis)Pelargonium species (Geranium)Pellionia daveauana (Trailing watermelon-begonia)Peperomia caperata (Emerald ripple)Petunia hybrida (Cascade type)Philodendron hybrids (Self-heading

philodendron)Philodendron oxycardium Commonphiiodendron)Phoenix roebelenii (Dwarf date palm)Pilea micorphylla (Artillery plant)Pittosporum tobira (Mock orange)Plectranthus australis (Swedish-ivy)

pot, hanging, terrarium plant very highpot plant mediumpot, hanging plant highpot, hanging plant highpot, hanging plant hightree, floor plant mediumpot, hanging, terrarium plant mediumpot, hanging plant highpot plant lowpot plant mediumpot plant mediumpot, hanging, terrarium plant med iumfloor, pot plant highpot, terrarium plant highpot, hanging plant very highfloor, pot plant mediumpot, hanging plant very highpot, hanging plant mediu mpot, hanging plant very highpot, hanging, terrarium plant mediu mpot, hanging, terrarium plant lowpot, hanging plant very highfloor, pot plant mediumpot, hanging plant lowfloor, pot plant mediumpot, hanging plant mediumfloor, pot plant highpot, hanging terrarium plant medium

moistmoistdr ydr ydr ydr ymoistmoistmoistw etmoistmoistdr ymoistmois t /drydr ymoistmoistdr ymoistdr ymoistmoistdr ywetmoistdr ymoist


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DECORATIVE PLANTS F O R T HE I N D O O R G A R D E NN am ePleomele reflexa (Green pleomele)Podocarpus macrophylla Maki (Podocarpus)Polyscias guilfoylei (Parsley aralia)Priumla malacoides (Fairy primrose)Primula obconica (German primrose)Punica granatum var. nanaRhapis excelsa (Lady palm)Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri (Easter cactus)Rohdea japonica (Japanese rohdea)Rosa chinensis var. minima (Miniature rose)Saintpaulia species (African violets)Salvia splendens (Scarlet sage)Saxifraga stolonifera var. tricolor

(Variegated strawberry-geranium)Schlumbergea bridgesii (Christmas cactus)Selaginella lepidophylla(Resurrection plant)Senecio cruentus (Cineraria)Senecio mikanioides (German ivy)Setcreasea purpurea (Purple heart)Sinningia species (Gloxinia)Solatium pseudo-capsicum (Jerusalem cherry)Spathiphyllum "Mauna Loa" (White flag)Streptocarpus species (Cape-primrose)Sygonium podophyllum (Nephthytis )

Mature Sizefloor planttree, f loor, pot plantfloor, pot plantpo t p lan tpot plantpo t planttree, floor plantpot, hanging plantpot plantpo t plantpot , hanging plantpot plantpot, hanging, terrarium plantpot , hanging plant

pot, te r ran ium plantpot plantpot , hanging, ter rar ium plantpot, hanging, terrarium plantpot , hanging plantpot, hanging plantpo t plantpot plantpot, hanging, terrarium plant

Light Levelmediumhighmediumhighhighhighmediumhighmediumvery highvery highvery highvery highhigh

medium to lowhighmediummediumvery highhighmediumhighlow

Water Requirementw etmois tmoistmoistmois tmois tw etmoist-in growthdry-over wintermoistw etmoistmoistdr ymoist-in growthdry-over wintermoistmois tmois tdr yw etdr ydr ymoistmoist


32/49

Tagetes species (Marigold)Tolmiea memziezii (Piggy-back plant)Tradescantia species (Wandering Jew)Vinca major var. variegata (Periwinkle)Zantedeschia species (Calla-lily)Zebrina species (Wandering Jew)Zygocactus truncatus (Thanksgiving cactus)

po t plant very highpot, hanging plant highpot, hanging, t e rrarium plant mediumpot, hanging plan t highpo t plant highpot , hanging, ter rar ium plant mediumpot, hanging plant high

moistmoistdr ymoistwet-in growthdry-when dor man tmoistmoist-in growthdry-over winter


33/49

PN-5267Angula r table p lanter (Plan H) permits the lighting of a long platfo rm displayin g m an y plants.

Plan H.Angular table planter mounts two U-shaped fluorescent lamps and is backed by plexi-glass mirrors.32


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CARE OF THE GAR DENAfter you have selected plan ts thatgrow well indoors, your success ingrowing them depends primarily onth e care you give them. Y ou shouldwater the plants thoroug hly but infre-quently, fertilize them periodically,and illuminate them adequately andregularly.

TRAINING PLANTSK n o w i n g w h a t c o n s t i t u t e s anadjusted or conditioned plant enables

you to exert maximum control over

it s growth. Your plant has no nat iveability to live in the surroundings youhave picked for i twhether home,office, or public area. It needs to betrained to adjust to its alien environ-ment .To a id in this a d j u s t m e n t , , y oumust Slow dow n plant growth. Permit leaves to get accustomedto dark, dry conditions in the areawhere th e plant is to be placed. Permit the plant to accumulatem i n e r a l ions and carbohydrates tohelp maintain itself during periods of

stress.

O f f i c e planter (Plan I) is designed to l ig ht a restricted area of plants. PN-5268

33


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PN-5269Window-on-the-wal l planter (Plan J) allows th e display of large, growth plants in the home.

These p rocedu res w ill assure a con-di t ioned p lan t ; they require muchpatience, but they are well worth theeffect.Conditioned Plants

A conditioned plant has the fol-lowing characteristics All the fo l iage is dark green,thick, and plush looking. The foliage is green all the wayto the soil line. Growth is slowed and, con-sequently, few or no new leaves areshowing. The little growth that doesshow is dark green. The stem at thetop of the plant is thick in diameter. The net of roots is well estab-lished and fills most of the pot, cov-ering the whole surface of the soilball.There are certain things you can do

at the beginning that will make forwell-adjusted or conditioned plants.H e r e are some points to keep inmindChoosing plants.The plant youpick depends on your taste, spacea v a i l a b l e , a n d use. Every plantshould be potted individually. It isa lmos t imposs ib le to t rain plantswhen they are potted together.Washing and cleaning plants.Allplants except those with hairy-sur-faced leaves (Afr ican violets andbegonias) should be washed in warmsoapy water of bath temperature ,about 90 to 100 F. Wash all leaves,stems, and bu ds. Clean bo th sides ofleaves. Be sure to support each indi-v i d u a l leaf wi th your hand whi ledoing this. Rinse with water, shake,and allow to dry overnight in the sinkor on a newspaper. This procedurer e m o v e s dirt , i n s e c t e g g s , a n d

34


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insecticides. Repeat at frequent inter-vals to bring out the natural shine ofthe foliage.Locating training area.Pick aspo t wi th br igh t l igh t , but avoidplaces w here direct su nlight shines on

th e leaves. Keep plants away fromdrafts, heating ducts, or open doors.Place them on a waterproof area; thismay be a w ooden fram e covered withpolyethylene which is then coveredwith a layer of coarse gravel or sand.

Or use colorful inexpensive plastictrays, tubs, pans, and basins. Takecare not to scar the underside of thesecontainers it ruins the water-proofing.Buying fertilizer.Since p lan t sneed at least 12 elements fo r growth,buy a complete fertilizer. The labelshou ld l i s t the major ingredients :nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus,and a mixture of trace elements.Some gardeners prefer a liquid fer-

PLASTICDIFFUSER

Plan J .Window-on- the-wal ! planter is made from a cei l ing f ixture turned on its side. Its f luo-rescent lamps are covered with a translucent plastic panel.

35


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PN-5270The Garden Center (Plan K ) provides extra

space for such gardening aids as growingm e d i a , c o n t a i n e r s , a n d f e r t i l i z e r in itsbottom fold ing panel.

tilizer that is easy to mix and whoseconcentration can be adjusted. Theelements in a good fertilizer areimmediately available to the plant.L o w bu t more frequent applica-t ions of fertilizer help sustain growthbetter than high rates. Do not overf e r t i l i ze because it promotes sof tgrowth. (See "General Care" sectionon p. 37.)Water requirements.After youhave provided the plant with light, aw aterpro of area, and fertilizer, you

must determine how much water thecon tainer, soil, and root sy stem w illhold. It is essentia l to know howmany ounces or cups of water theplant medium will require.The soil and roots are a mass filledwith pore spaces; it is best to add thewater until the area is filled andeverything is moist. Leave no excesswater standing. Mark on a label thea m o u n t used.To be absolu te ly cer ta in of theplant's w ater requ iremen ts use thefollowing method. Buy a large plastic

or metal funnel and m ark the 1, 2,and 3-cup lines inside. Plunge thefunnel into the soil and fill with ameasured am oun t of water. Leave thefunnel in place overnight. Continueto add wate r un t i l no a d d i t i o n a lw a t e r e n t e r s the growing medium.The soil medium will hold water bygravity, but will not hold any excess.N o t e the a m o u n t e a c h c o n t a i n e rneeds. From then on you can auto-m a t i c a l l y c a l c u l a t e the c o r r e c ta m o u n t of water . (See "GeneralCare" section on p. 37.)Training tips. W h e n p l a n t srequire water they begin to changefrom dark to light green and becomeflaccid. Start to train your plant bywatering it every third day to satur-ation as desc r ibed unde r "Water-requirements." Then begin to delaythe t ime that you would normallywater it.Watering periods are best noted ona calendar, keeping in mind th e mois-ture requirements in the table on p.26. With this procedure, you permitthe medium to become a little dryerand slow down top growth, whilemaintaining an active root system.It takes at least 3 mo nths for mo stplants to adjust their growth. Not allp l a n t s can be managed th i s way .Some, like violets, must be wateredalmo st daily and never permitted todry.

Adjusting light levels.At first,keep the plant away from th e windowin a darker part of the room. After 3to 6 months, move it to the desiredlocatio n to light levels as listed on thetable on p. 26.

Keeping plants in shape.Checkyour plants every 3 months to keepthem in shape. Maintain a definitewater and fertilizer schedule for bestgrowth. Also keep a regular schedule36


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for pruning, removing dead leaves,and for staking.Planning for replacements.Remember to plan for replacements.In time, all plants become root boundin pots and overgrown in size. Them e d i u m becomes filled with rootsa n d d e p l e t e d o f organ ic mat te r .When there's no more room for theplants it is time to try new plants andnew combinations.

GENERAL CAREWatering

Of all steps in the care of an indoorgarden, watering is most important.If plants do not get enough water,they dry out and die. If they get toomuch water, they drown or rot. Theproper procedure is to water thor-oughly, but only often enough to pre-

plan K . T h e Garden Center is a free-standing gardening area which uti l izes both lamps an d mir-rors to provide uniform illumination.

37


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OPTIONALFAN

BLACK2-40 WATT BALLAST120 VOLT 60 HZ

120 V A C WHITE TIMECLOCK

WHITE

BALLAST

BLUEBLUE

U-TUBES ORSTD. 40 W

Wiring diagra m is for two 40-watt standard or U-tubes. Wiring should conform to national elec-tric and local codes.

vent wilting. Specific water require-ments are given in the plant guide onp. 26.A s soon as you put plants in thegarden, begin adjusting them to theirnew indoor environment. Water thesoil, clay pot, and surrounding m ediato saturation. But do not flood theplanter box.A l l o w th e whole ga r de n to dryuntil the plants are near wilting. Y oucan detect wilting early by watchingthe leaves; they change from green togray-green and begin to droop.W h e n the plants begin to wilt ,water them thoroughly again.

While plants are adjusting to thei ndoor s , som e of the oldest leavesm a y y e l l o w . I f so , r e m o v e t h e m .Wash the r e m a i n i n g l e a v e s w i t hwarm soapy water, rinse with clearw a t e r , and s take the plants. Theyshould now be ready for a long life inthe indoor garden.

Set up a schedule for watering. Ifyou are combining plants with dif-ferent water requirements, label eachtype w i th sm a l l p l a s t i c tags. Forexample, green tags could be used fo rp l a n t s n e e d i n g f r e q u e n t w a t e r i n g(wet), yellow tags for less frequentwatering (moist), and so on.38


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SPHAGNUM MOSS

Pots in the planter box are raised to a uniformlevel . Space between them is filled withun mi l ied spaghnum moss.

Dry plants need watering every 10to 14 days. These plants tend to havecoarse roots and are well adapted todark and dry conditions. They can bet r a i n e d t o w i t h s t a n d p r o l o n g e dper iods o f s lowed g rowth whichdelays rate of leaf formation, pre-vents death of old leaves, and helpsretain the size of the plant. More fre-quent watering will cause new leavesto grow at a rapid rate, and usuallyan old leaf will die for every new leafformed. Less frequent watering willcause many leaves to die.Moist plants need w atering every 4to 7 days. These plants ten d to have afine root system that will die immedi-ately if the soil dries out. More fre-quent or less frequent watering willcause same results as for "dry" plants.Wet pla nts need w ater ing everyother day. They must have a rela-tively uniform amount of water in thegrowing media at all times. Even onep e r i o d o f d r y i n g u s u a l l y m e a n sdamage to the leaves and the possi-bility that the plant will die even-tually. Do not let potted plants standin saucers holding water.W et m o s s on the surface of thep l a n t e r tends to raise the relative

humidity of the air around th e plantsas moisture evaporates from it. Thish igh humid i ty is beneficial to theplants.Do not bother syringing the plantsto raise the humid i ty . Syr ing ingseldom is effect ive; the h u m i d i t yremains high only for a few minutes.And there is danger of spilling wateron furnishings in the room.When you are watering, do not getw a t e r on the lamps , f ix tures , orplanter.More information on watering:

Germinating seeds and seedlingsmay need daily watering. Seedlingshave very fine, sensitive root systemsthat dry out easily, particularly underthe heat of artificial light. Check soildaily to prevent drying and damage. Water temperature is unim-portant for most plants because waterquickly reaches temperature of sur-rounding area. However, the leavesof African violets may lose greencolor (chlorophyll) if water tem-perature is even 15 warmer or colderthan l ea f t e m p e r a t u r e . A v o i dsplashing water on the foliage. Plantst ake up water through roots, notthrough stems or leaves.

Plastic funnel used as aid in watering.

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You can use dr ink ing waterdi rec t ly f rom the fauce t for mostplants, but some plants (such as fernsand African violets) are sensitive tothe chlorine in the water. For these,allow water to stand overnight beforeusing; chlorine escapes into the atmo-sphere while the water is standing. If wate r is unacceptable to aperson wh en judged by taste, color,and smell it will not be acceptable toplants. Do not reuse water drained fromplants. This water does not have theoxygen that plants need and it mayc o n t a i n d i s e a s e o r g a n i s m s a n dunused salts that will damage plantroots.

FertilizingWater and fertilize plants at thesame time to insure proper uptake ofnutrients and distribution throughout

the growing media. Usually addingfertilizer every third or fourth time(every 2 to 4 weeks) you water is suf-ficient to maintain good growth.Use a water-soluble fertilizer at thestrength recommended on the label.Fertilize only when plants are activelygrowing.Even when you use soluble fertil-izers , you may notice an accumu-lation of fertilizer on the surface ofthe soil; it will be a white, crusty

deposit. This deposit should beremoved, along with a little of thesurface soil, and replaced with newsoil.SPECIAL GARDENINGTerrariums

Select plants which are compatibleas to growing media, light, and mois-ture needs. Clean all fol iage and

scrub surfaces with vegetable brushto remove dust, disease, and insectd e b r i s . H e a l t h y p l a n t s m u s t b echosen if the terrarium is to thrive.The container chosen for the ter-rarium must be both clear and water-proof. One can use candy jars, aquar-iums, condiment or beverage jars, orbottles of any size. Wash the con-ta iner and remove a ll labels andtraces of the previous contents. Allowthem to dry completely before begin-ning the terrarium. Remember thatall things that go into the construc-tion of a terrarium should be dry.Leave all items out to dry at leastovernight; this will make assembly ofthe terrarium much easier and permitquick cleanup at the end.The following items will be neces-sary to create a terrarium: (1) a con-tainer, (2) coarse sphagnum moss forbottom layer, (3) pasteurized pottingmix, (4) cuttings and rooted plants,(5) a long stick of pencil diameter tohandle plants, and (6) a wash bottle.When all material has been assem-bled, do the following

Put a thin layer of moss on thebottom of the bottle. Firm with astick to make a slanting base. Thedepth of the layer depends on bottlesize; 1/2 to 3/4-inch is usually deepenough for most bottles. Put at least 1/2 to 3/4-inch ofpotting mix over the coarse moss.Use stick to level and firm up thestructure of the potting mix. Select plants and try to blendtheir shape, foliage color, and height.Carefully remove most of the pottingmix from the plants. Trim all roots 2to 3 inches and remove all diseased ordamaged foliage or branches. G r o u p the plants outside thebottle first to decide on arrangement.

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PN-5274Containers of ma ny d i f fe re nt shapes and sizes can be used for terrariums.

Use stick to guide each plant into thebottle. Fan out the roots on the pottingmix and shift dry potting m ix overthem; firm them into place with the

stick. Tap and shake the bottle tofo rce th e g r o w i n g m e d i a to sh i f tdown between the foliage. Starting atthe back of the terrarium, add oneplant at a time, firming all plants andmedia into place with the stick. Move the foliage and branchesaround to face in one direction withthe stick. Working slowly, use stick

to sl id e pieces of ground moss orpainted gravel into place to cover thebottom of the bottle. Make sure allsurfaces are still dryi t should beeasy to move, place, and clean upinside of the terrarium.

Water the terrarium by using awash bottle or a thin plastic tube.Allow water to flow down the insideo f the bott le, gen t ly and s lo wlymoisten coarse moss, pott ing mix,and covering. Do not sprink le foliageor add so much water that you cansee water standing in the bottom. Ifthe terrarium is put together prop-erly, you should be able to tilt th e ter-rarium to allow the excess water todrain out.

When the terrarium is finished,place it in a cool, lightly shaded area.Leave top off the bottle and allow allsurfacesfoliage, media, bott le tothoroughly air dry. To clean sides ofthe bottle use paper towelling on thes t ick . Look for damaged or dyingleaves and remove them.

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PN-5273Terrarium plants should be carefully watered using a wash bottle or a thin plastic tube. Neverwater to the point where it wil l stand at the bottom.

Leave the bottle open for severaldays to correct the relative humidity.Place top on bottle but do not seal.Sealed bottles will cause plants to rot;a slight exchange of oxyge n andcarbon dioxide is necessary for theterrarium to survive.Display the terrarium by placing itanywhere in the naturally lighted areaof the home. Do not place it where itwill be subjected to direct sunlight ornear a heating or cooling duct. Torender the bottle scar proof paste apiece of fe l t on the bot tom wi thrubber cement.Terrariums require little care. Ifeverything has been done properlythe n a balanced environment will

have been created and water loss willbe minimal. Signs that the terrariumneeds water are foliage that crinklesat the edges and bottom moss thatturns from dark to light brown. Asbefore, use wash bottle or fine tubingto flow water down the sides of thebottle; remember to add water untilall surfaces are moistened but allowno excess water to stand in thebottom of the bottle. Turn the bottleups ide down to p e r m i t a ll excesswater to drain away.Do not fertilize the plants at first.Fertilizing promo tes excessive grow thwhich wi l l r ap id ly f i l l th e bottle.A f t e r 6 to 9 m o n t h s add r e gu la rho us e-p lan t type fertilizer using at

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least one-quarter of the concentrationr eco mmen d ed f o r o r d i n a r y h o u seplants.E v e n t u a l l y , plants will overgrowthe space alloted them. When thisoccurs, chemically prune th e tips ofthe plants by touching the growingpoint with a swab dipped in rubbingalcohol. Only th e tips will die afterthis treatment and side branches willdevelop.One should expect no more than auseful life of 1 year for plants in a ter-rar ium. Poor plants should be dis-carded a f t e r t h i s per iod and ther e m a i n i n g p l a n t s u s e d a g ain inanother terrar ium .Plan t s t ha t make good na tu ra lgroupings in terrariums are cacti andsucculents, native understory plants,and small-leave hou se plants. D o notm ix types because they h ave differentmedia, water , and light level require-ments. Easy-to-handle plants are: Be-gonia, Bi rds -nes t f e rn , Boxwood ,Calathea, Chamaedorea palm, Chlo-rophytum (Spider plant), Euonymus(Creeper), Fittonia, Gynura (Velvetplant), Hedera (English ivy), Hemi-graphis, Maidenhair fern, Maranta(Prayer p l an t ) , Peperomias , Pilea( A l u m i n u m p l a n t ) , Scindapsus(Devil's ivy), Tradescantia, and Ze-brina.

Hanging BasketsThe highest levels of light found inmost rooms occur near or at the topof the w indo w s . H ang ing baske tspermit indoor gardeners to utilize thislight to grow the wide range of plants

listed in the plant guide on p. 26.To grow plants in hanging basketstake the following steps.Container.Use any type of con-tainer that will hold at least 2 quarts

of growing media by volume. Con-tainers with less volume tend to dryout rapidly. Containers can be metalf r a m e d and l ined wi th moss . Usebleach bottles that are available com-mercially, gallon-sized milk con-tainers, or redwood containers.Be sure to provide drainage holesin the container. Use a nail to driveholes that are three-eighths of an inchin diameter, spaced 3 inches apartnear the bottom of the container. Tiea cord or hemp bag around the con-t a i n e r to m a k e it into a hang ingbasket.

Hanging baskets are also availablewith self-adhering saucers. Thus, onecan grow and water plants anywherewhile preventing water drippings onfurnishings.Growing media.Bagged growingmedia is available in most variety andgarden stores. These usually containfertilizers in slow-release form.To m a k e y o u r own general-pur-pose mix use the following formula:To 2 parts of sandy loam soil add 1part coarse sphagnum peat moss and

1 part coarse aggregate (vermiculite,perlite, or washed cinders). To eachbushel of mix add 4 ounces of pul-verized dolomitic limestone, 4 ouncesof 20 percent superphosphate, and 2ounces of 5-10-5 fertilizer. Mix thor-oughly and add just enough water tocrumble the media in large masses;do not add so much water the mediabecomes soggy.

Drainage.Line the bottom 2inches of the container with coarseaggregate. Shield the drainage holeswith coffee filters to hold the growingm e d i a in place unt i l the new rootsys tem mesh es into a solid mass.Pack the aggregate loosely to leavea i r pocke t s that wil l permi t easydrainage of water out of the con-

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PN-5272Containers for indoor g ar d e n i ng are as varied

as the plants that may be grown in them.

tainer. Cover the top of the aggregatewith a half-inch layer of aggregatethat has been finely crushed; this willp r e v e n t the grow ing media f romplugging up the drainage holes.Fertilizer.Fill container to within1 inch of the top with water-moist-ened growing media. Mix in 1 table-spoon of a coated, slow-release 14-14-14 fertilizer per 6-inch container. Thevolume of a 6-inch container is equalto 2 quarts of mix. This concen-tration of fertilizer should last forabout 3 mon ths; plan to add a secondtablespoo n on the surface about 2-1 /2 months after planting. Continue tof e r t i l i z e a t r e g u l a r i n t e r v a l sthroughout the life of the plant.

Planting.Hold the potted planton its side with one hand protectingth e plant. Tap the plant gently untilth e soi l bal l a nd plant fa l l s out .R e m o v e the n e t w o r k of roots onbottom of soil ball. Dig a hole inwhich the soil ball fits perfectly. Thegrowing media of the soil ball and of

the new container should be on thesame level. Firm th e soil ball andgrowing media to insure a good flowof water and the knitting of the rootsystem.Location.Plants, like petunias,that require at least 6 hours daily ofdirect sunlight should be placed inareas where they will be shaded forpart of the day. They can be placednear a porch, in a window, or close tothe entrance of your home. (Petuniasgrown in too much shade developlong, poorly-branched shoots withfew i f any f lowers ; pe tun ias a readapted to bright, sunny situationswhere they develop s tout , highly-branched shoots with abundant flow-ering and fruiting.)Watering. When you water theplant, continue to add water until allareas of the growing media are thor-

oughly moistened and excess waterbegins to dr ip f rom the drainageholes. This volume of water will beadequate if sufficient air space abovethe growing m edia and the top of thecontainer has been provided. Notehow much w ater has been added andapply the same volume next time.Acclimatization.To p r o m o t eabundant flowering and to prolongthe flowering time, th e plant must beacclimatized or "trained to survive"in its location. This is accomplishedby w atering frequency and controlledfer t i l izer levels. Examine the plantw h e n f resh ly plan ted and do notwater until the leaves change fromdark to pale green, and have a wiltingappearance.When watering the growing mediakeep water off the leaves. Do notwate r aga in un t i l the plant showssigns of wilting; this treatment slowsgrowth and will help the plant su rvivesudden changes in the environment.

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Grooming.To preserve theappearance of the plant pick off yel-l o w i n g o r d a m a g e d l e a v e s a n df l o w e r s . A s t h e p l an t deve l ops ,r e m o v e some branches to preventcrowding and to promote the devel-opment of new flowering shoots. Toexpose all sides of the plant to theenvironment, turn th e container atweekly intervals. This will help thesymmetrical development of the plantand will balance out the effects of thedifferent exposures.

Plants For The BeginnerThe Peperomia obtusifolia (or pep-eromia plant) is a good plant for abeginner to experiment with, and isavailable in either a solid green or invarious green and white com-binations.This plant requires minimum careand can be trained to go into a cab-inet, a dark corner in a hallway, orinto a hanging waterproof basket.However, it will die rapidly if over-watered and overfertilized. It mu st betrained. The peperomia is from trop-

ical South and Central America. Itsfleshy leaves are about 4 inches longand 2-1/2 inches wide. It branchesrapidly and its stems fall over the sur-face of the container.Another plant that is interesting toexperiment with is the Spathiphyllum"Mauna Loa" This plant, originallyf ro m Columbia , h as long, green,l a n c e - s h a p e d f o l i a g e that f o r m ss p a t h e s ( l a r g e , l e a f - l i k e partsenclosing a flow er cluster) tha t are 2-1/2 inches long. T h e spadix (thef leshy spike of tiny flowers oftenenclosed in a spa the ) is greenish-yellow to white. The plant is aestheticto look at and throws interest ingshadows around it giving the impres-sion of wide-open spaces. The plantmust be kept moist at all times to sur-vive.The Ficus retusa nitida, small-leafrubber t ree f rom th e Ind i an an dMalayan tropics, can be easily han-dled by the novice. It can be trainedto any form by pruning. It has dark-green foliage 2 to 4 inches long, andis available on the market as a 6-foottree in poodle, screen, or fan forms.

A Dozen Recom mended Plants For B eginnersName of plant Light level water requirement

Aechmea fasdata (Bromeliad)Aglaonema roebelinii (Pewter plant)Brassaia actinophylla (Schefflera)Chamaedorea elegans (Neanthe bella palm)Diejjenbachia amoena (Dumb cane)Dracaena fragrans (Corn plant)Fatsiajaponica (Japanese aralia)Ficus elastica 'Decora' (Rubber plant)Hoya carnosa (Wax plant)Maranta leuconeura (Prayer plant)Nephrolepis exalta bostoniensis (Boston fern)Podo carpus macrophyllus 'Maki' (Podocarpus)

mediumlowmediumlowmediumlowmediummediummediummediummediumhigh

moistmoistdrymoistdrywetmoistmoistdrymoistmoistmoist

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Unless t ra ined, it rapidly loses itsleaves. It should be watered aboutonce a week.Other Care

About once a week, turn each ofthe pots in the planter. This encour-ages even development of the plantsand keeps them from rooting into thesphagnum moss through the drainhole of the pot.It plants get old, sick, or oversize,t ake them out of the planter andreplace them with new, healthy, mod-erate-size plants.If you are having insect problemsin your indoor garden fol low theinstructions in Home and GardenBulletin No. 67, "Insects and RelatedPests of House Plants." Single copiesof this publicationprepared by theAgricultural Research Servicecan

While you're awayMany house plants die while theowner is away from home on a vaca-tion or business trip. If you cannotget someone to care fo r your plants,cover the plants with a polyethylene

sheet and tie it to the pot or box toprevent loss of moisture. Reduce thelighting to 8 hours a day.If you have time before leaving,you can train the plants to get alongwith a little water. If not, just givethem a good drink, using the funnelmethod, before you leave.Plants usually can get along satis-

factorily by themselves for about 2weeks. If you must be away for morethan 2 weeks, you can expect to losesome of y o u r plants, particularlyflowering plants.

Trade nam es are used in this publica-tion solely to provide specific infor-mat ion . Ment ion of a trade namedoes not constitute a guarantee of theproduct by the U.S. Department ofAgriculture nor does i t imply anendorsement by the Department overcomparable p roduct s tha t are notnamed.be obtained free from your CountyExtension Agent or by writing to theOffice of Governmental and PublicA f f a i r s , U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o fA g r i c u l t u r e , W a s h i n g t o n , D .C .2 0 2 5 0 . S e n d y o u r r e q u e s t o n apostcard. Be sure to include yo ur ZIPCode.

OTHER USESIn addition to using your indoor

garden fo r g row i ng conven t i ona lhouse plants, you can use it for dis-p lay ing plant col lect ions such asmosses , iv ies , orchids , or b o n s a i(dwarf plants). If you use the gardenfor orchids, surround it with a clearplastic-sheet material to hold in mois-ture and keep the humidity high.Or you may want to display pottedplants from the florist^plants thatyou in tend to discard a f t e r the i rflowers pass. Because many of theirneeds are met by the garden, thesepotted plants last considerably longerthere then they would on a table orwindow sill. Actually, the plants maycontinue to grow in the garden.If you intend to use your gardenexclus ively for display of f lo r i s tplants, you might have a metal panmade to fit over the floor of theplanter. The pan should be 3 or 4inches deep and painted to match theplanter.

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Fill the pan wi th pea gravel ormarble chips and set the plants in thegravel-filled pan. When you water theplants, let some of the water draininto the pan; evaporation from thegravel or marble chips will increasethe humidity of the air around theplants.

AIR LAYERINGIf you wish to propagate plants,you can try air layering fo r plantsthat have stiff or woody stems andeventually grow too tall to be attrac-tive.Do it this way. Attach the stemsecurely to a stake. Make an upwardcut into the stem, separating the barkby inserting a small stick. Cover thecu t area with a ball of moist, but notsoggy, sphagnum moss. Then coverthe moss with polyethylene film andtape it at each end to reduce waterloss.Continue to grow the m other plantin the usual way. When you can seethe roots in the moss, cut the rootedtop off the mother plant and pot therooting.Allow the mother plant to continuegrowing; new lateral branches often

INCHESSteps in air layering.

develop down the stem. You can airlayer the same mother plant manytimes as new lateral shoots develop.MORE INFORMATION

Single copies of this publicationand Hom e and Garden Bulletin No.82, "Selecting and Growing HousePlants," may be obtained free fromyour County Extension Agent or bywriting to the Office of Governmentaland Public Affairs, U.S. Departmentof Agricul ture , Washington, D.C.2 0 2 5 0 . Send your request on apostcard. Please include your ZIPcode and your return address.

47U. S. G O V E R N M E N T P R I N T I N G OFFICE : 1978 O - 256- 376


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