Bringing the ‘Green’ Back Indoors

     After your plants enjoyed summering outdoors, September is the time to carefully acclimate your plants/trees back into the indoor living space… with less light, less humidity, and no balmy breezes!  Not only can indoor plants/trees transform your home, but they also can boost your mood, increase creativity, and lessen stress.

     Before moving your outdoor plants inside, it’s best to prepare them first… before night temperatures drop below 50 degrees. Follow these steps to ensure that your plants will be healthy and pest-free.

CHECKLIST.. 

Pest Inspection & Treatment

-Inspect: Check plants for pests such as aphids, spider mites, and scale.

-Wash leaves: Spray plants with a spray of water from the outside hose to knock off insects and dirt.

-Apply treatments: Once dry, spray the plant with an Insecticidal Soap or diluted Neem oil to eliminate remaining pests.

-Soak soil: To kill any larvae or eggs lurking in the potting soil, soak the soil with a mixture of 1 part of 3% hydrogen peroxide to 3 parts of water.

Clean and Prune

-Prune any dead, dying, or leggy foliage, to get rid of any pests.

-Wipe pots: Wash the outside of the pots and the saucers to keep from bringing in dirt, slugs, or spiders.

Adjustment period

The indoor light is less intense than outdoor sunlight. Be careful when moving plants inside too quickly, this can cause leaves to drop.

-Gradual transition: Begin by placing your plants in a shaded, sheltered outdoor area like a covered porch or under a tree, for a week or two before moving them entirely indoors.

-Isolate plants: After bringing plants inside, keep these plants isolated from your existing indoor houseplants for about a week to ensure that no pests remain.

If you are looking to add plants or trees to your home, here are a few of our favorites: 

FIDDLE LEAF FIG (Ficus lyrata): Large and glossy, violin-shaped leaves grow on slender trunks. Or, enjoy them as smaller, more compact plants with a bushy shape.

Light: This jungle native thrives in bright, filtered light.

Water: Consistent moisture.

Height: 6-10 ft. indoors; 40-50 ft. in its native West African rainforest.

WEEPING FIG (Ficus benjamina): Loved for their smaller, rich green leaves with pointy tips. This graceful tree has a single trunk that is sometimes braided with three stems. It is very particular about its placement. Also, it doesn’t like to be moved so pick the best spot and leave it there.

Light: Plenty of bright, indirect light.

Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not wet.

Height: 3-10 ft. and can be pruned to fit your indoor spot; 40 to 60 ft. outdoors in tropical climates.

Best spot: Place in a bright room with a large window with no direct sunlight is best.

RUBBER PLANT (Ficus elastica): Large glossy leaves are dramatic in a dark green and black-green hue. The dark leaves contrast beautifully against lighter wall colors and lend an exotic atmosphere to a home or office. Remember to wipe the accumulated dust from the leaves every month for the plant’s health and appearance.

Light: As a native to India, it thrives in medium to bright, indirect light but can tolerate bright, direct sun, too.

Water: Every 1-2 weeks depending on the light levels. Allow potting mix to dry out before watering again. Generally, the plant will droop as a signal that it needs more water. Too much water encourages root rot. Any humidity level is fine.

Height: Indoors, Rubber Trees typically reach 6-10 ft. tall; In its native Southeast Asia, it can grow from 100-130 ft. tall.

Best spot: Place in a bright room with light, humidity, good air circulation and no drafts.

Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans massangeana or lindenni): Popular Corn Plants are attractive as larger plants/trees in homes and offices because they are easy to care for and maintain and exotic in appearance. The large and glossy leaves can be green on the margins and yellow in the center or the opposite and emerge from a rosette of foliage.

Light: As a native of Africa, it thrives in a mix of sun and shade but not much direct sunlight. It grows quicker in bright light but it grows well enough in low light conditions to be a practical houseplant.

Water: Keep soil slightly damp to the touch. In winter months, keep soil slightly dry. Don’t overwater. 

Height: Trees can grow 4-6 ft. tall or more indoors; 15-50 ft. in tropical climates.

Best spot: Place in a bright room with light and no direct sun for too long.

PONYTAIL PALM or ELEPHANT FOOT (Beaucarnea recurvata): The Ponytail Palm tree is very popular because of its unique beauty and its forgiving nature. This ‘palm’ is actually a succulent with long, curly leaves that grow from the top of a bulb-like trunk. Since it is an undemanding plant, it’s an ideal houseplant for all levels of indoor gardeners.

Light: Needs bright light but still is fine with only bright light for half the time. If placed outdoors in the warmer weather, it will tolerate any amount of low indoor light conditions during the winter months.

Water: Since the water is stored in its trunk, there is no need for frequent watering. Simply, allow the soil to dry out significantly before watering again.

Height: If grown indoors in a container, it matures from 6 to 8 ft. tall. When outdoors in tropical climates, it can grow up to 30 ft. tall.

Best spot: Place in a bright room with good air circulation and plenty of space to show it off.

LADY PALM, BROADLEAF LADY PALM, or BAMBOO PALM (Rhapsis excelsa): This tropical, upright beauty has rich, dark green, fan-shaped leaves with blunt tips and wide segmented canes. It has adapted to a wide range of environments and because of this factor, it has become a popular houseplant around the world. These palms are natural air cleaners and the Lady Palm can even take cooler temperatures.

Light: Bright, indirect light near a window or skylight is best. Very adaptable to low light areas. Turn your palm a quarter turn from time to time so that each side receives the stronger light and stays symmetrical.

Water: Thoroughly water by soaking or drenching the entire root ball. Keep consistently moist. If soil stays too moist, this can encourage root rot. Plant in a well draining soil mix.

Height: Can mature from 5-7 ft. tall indoors. In ideal warm climates or in its natural habitat, the Palms can can slowly reach from 6 to 12 ft. tall.

Best spot: Look for a Lady Palm tree that fits your indoor space and where you intend to keep it. The Palm will only grow to fit that space.

MAJESTY PALM (Ravenea rivularis): This is a graceful, low maintenance palm for your indoor space. Although it grows slowly, it will become larger and more elegant with time and good care.

Light: Thrives in lots of light. Happy near a sunny window with 6-8 hours of sunlight per day.

Water: Never let the soil dry out completely. In its native habitat, this plant thrives on the banks of rivers and streams. Make sure you provide drainage holes in containers as the roots could become soggy and rot in standing water.

Height: Indoors or in containers, they are slow growers and typically grow to 6-10 ft. tall. Outdoors they could range from 10-20 ft. tall. Or, in its native Madagascar riverbank habitat, 80-100 ft. tall isn’t exaggerating.

Best spot: Keep this plant/tree near a large window in the corner of your bathroom where it receives ample light and humidity. Use Majesty Palms to purify the air in an office, living room or bedroom– wherever you have the space. Use a humidifier if the room lacks humidity.

MADAGASCAR DRAGON TREE or RED-EDGE DRACEANA (Dracaena marginata): One of the most popular indoor plants in tree form is the Dragon Tree. Its upright habit make it a good ‘decorator’ accent plant when placed against a blank wall or will provide privacy in front of a window. The narrow, green leaves are variegated with red or pink colors… adding a grassy texture to the tip of a slim stem/trunk. It’s often grown in both compact, bushy forms and those with a trunk like a tree.

Light: This tree/shrub can grow in many parts of the house because it’s able to handle high or low light.

Water: Medium water needs. Water plant when the top inch of soil starts to dry,  although you don’t have to worry if you  miss a watering or  two. A good misting will help now and then. 

Height: Indoors as a houseplant, it typically matures to 6 ft., although it can grow from 8-10 ft. under ideal conditions. Outdoors, in tropical climates, it will grow from 15-20 ft. tall.

Best spot: Place in a bright room (although it tolerates lower light levels). The red or pink coloring in the leaves will lose some of its color in low light.