Are Your Tropical Plants Stressed ?

No, I'm not kidding. Your indoor tropical plants are very susceptible to environmental stress.
In all cases, an overall objective, when caring for your plants, should be to to keep their environment on a nice, consistent schedule. We tend live tropical plants in offices and homes. When we start, we tell the client that their plants need 8 consecutive hours of light per day for 5 consecutive days per week. Turn the lights on in the morning when you get into work and turn them off when you leave at the end of the day.
Other important environmental factors - humidity levels should be constant between 30 and 50% relative humidity. Temperature should be constant between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Watering - follow the directions as provided by your plant provider (where you bought your plant). If in doubt - contact me at plantsforall@ody.ca
Aim for this kind of environmental consistency and your plants will be happier.
However, far too often lights are turned off when staff go to meetings, lunch, break, etc. Far too often humidity levels drop drastically when heaters are turned way up. Every winter we come across cases where humidity levels have dropped below 15% rh. That is desert conditions. Temperatures are often pushed to 75, 78 or even 80+ degrees. Plants will cook being in those hot and dry environments 24/7. Smarten up - what creates a healthy environment for your plants also creates a healthy environment for your people. These pics show the symptoms of  a single plant under environmental stress. Watch for these signs and make the changes for a happier, healthier environment for your plants and for you.

Plant Information Sheets  - I have created a new Plant Information Sheet for the Dracaena demeriensis Warneckii Ulises, at a customer's request. You can get a copy of this pdf  free by going to our website. Should you have any indoor tropical plants that you would like a Plant Information Sheet, please request it through that same website contact us link   

Linda Speaks Correction

I have told you that Linda will be speaking next at the Salvation Army Heart & Home meeting on Tuesday, November 12, 2013.    I was wrong.
 The right date is this Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at 9:30 am.

Her main talk will be about Norfolk Island Pines - giving & using them at Christmas time and how to care for them. Her discussion will include using mini-lights in your plants. She will also be answering your general plant care questions.

Everyone is welcome and admission is free. This meeting will be held at the Guelph Salvation Army Citadel on Gordon Street. For more information you can contact Linda at Plants For All via phone at 519-767-2161 or email her.

Both Linda and Brian are available to speak at your group functions on a wide range of topics about indoor tropical plants. Email us at plantsforall@ody.ca or call Plants For All at 519-767-2161 to get things started.



Have a great day!
Brian Osmond
Plants For All

Post 2013 Orchid Show

The 2013 Orchid Show, produced by the Central Ontario Orchid Society, was held the last weekend of September at the Cambridge Hespeler Arena.  Linda and I attended on the Sunday afternoon and enjoyed the beauty of orchid flowers grown and presented by dedicated orchid experts.
I do not have the time nor interest to devote to take on orchid care as a serious hobby; but I am thankful for those who do and make the effort to present their best for my enjoyment. Every year when I attend this show, I learn something new and that was the case again this time.

Each year I make a point to buy a different variety of orchid from the growers/vendors. I want to learn. This year my fancy was piqued by the Vanda variety. I bought a Vanda 'Robert's Delight' Blue/Black. This first picture shows the orchid I bought. The orchid roots are entwined into a plastic support pot. Back at my shop, I mounted the pot to a wicker tray, as shown in the second photo. This will allow me to support the plant without attaching wires to the plant itself. I secured a wire to the top of the wicker tray and I will suspend the plant amongst some hanging tropical plants in my shop showroom. The Vanda orchid will need daily misting, complete root soak every three days or so, bright light and ambient temperatures that are comfortable to me. It will be fed with a low nitrogen plant food.

With all of these conditions met and a whole lot of luck, I will be rewarded with large blue/black blooms as shown in the third picture.
You can follow along with my success (or failures) as I'll post progress periodically on this blog. Send along your comments and suggestions. If you are in the area, feel welcomed to drop into my shop and see the progress for yourself (Plants For All, 66 Dawson Road, Guelph, Ontario).

Something New (to me) - We also bought an orchid that is primarily grown for it's foliage. Sarcoglottis sceptrodes (Jewel Orchid).  While it does flower, the attention is given to the patterns on its leaves. This orchid is potted into a soil-like potting medium.  I'll post more on this interesting plant complete with pictures at a later time.

When Linda Speaks - Linda gave a talk Tuesday of this week at the Guelph Salvation Army Heart and Home and Home meeting. A good crowd attended and a lot of information was shared. Linda took lots of samples with plants and products and a good time was had by all.  Linda will be speaking again on November 12 to this same group about Norfolk Island Pines, just ahead of Christmas. You may want to plan to attend.
FYI - Linda and I are both available for a limited number of speaking engagements to interested groups.

I have posted lots of beautiful orchid pictures that I took at this year's COOS orchid show. Check them out at our web site.
I will appreciate your comments and any feedback.

Happy growing
Brian Osmond

Incoming Bugs & Quick Orchid Notes

Brrr..... it's pretty cool in this part of Ontario, especially for very early fall.  By now, you should be moving the tropical plants that you put outside for the summer, back indoors. At least start to condition them for re-entry into the not-so-great indoors.
     It is very likely that your plants residing in their outdoors summer location have picked up a few residents of their own. Check your plants for bugs and treat them as necessary.
     Last week, we had a customer bring into our shop an overgrown Boston fern and an overgrown Spider plant. Both were in need of dividing, and this is what she wanted us to do. We did this immediately, partly to provide good customer service and partly to get them out of my shop as soon as possible.
     While getting to know these plants intimately, I captured a couple of pill bugs which isn't too hard to do; but I still didn't want them wandering into my shop of healthy, happy, beautiful tropical plants, that are indeed for sale. The planters this customer was using were the self-watering kind and a hiding mosquito emerged from the water reserve well in the pot.
     Neither of these bugs are very threatening to the health of your tropical plants; but the point is  Check Your Incoming Plants for Bugs. If these bugs had have been spider mites, mealy bugs, fungas gnats or scale, the result could have been much more severe. Left undetected in September or October, these pests would have multiplied many times over by January and February when they would finally be discovered, everywhere.
     We sell more insecticide products in February than any other month. So, Check Your Incoming Plants for Bugs!


Quick Orchid Notes : The  2013 Orchid Show and Sale is presented by the Central Ontario Orchid Society this coming weekend Saturday, Sept 28 and Sunday, Sept 29 in Cambridge, Ontario. For more information, visit their website at www.coos.ca   

There are thousands of different types of orchids, so a very hard

question to easily answer is "How do you care for an orchid?"  The 7 major types of orchids available for consumer sales are Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Oncidium, Dendribium Phalaenopsis, Cymbidium, Paphiopedilum and Vanda. Wherever you buy your orchid, ask the seller to identify the type and tell you how to care for it.

The type of orchid most commonly sold is the Phalaenopsis, These plants with the magnificent, large, long-lasting, coloured blooms grow well in average home temperatures and light conditions. These are an excellent orchid for beginners to grow. Phalaenopsis ( the Moth Orchid) account for more than 75% of all orchids sold.

1. The roots should be slightly damp all of the time; but not allowed to sit in water.
2. They thrive in humid conditions - 50% or higher.
3. Average nighttime temperature of 65 degrees F. Daytime 70 degrees F.
4. Low to medium light.
5. Should be repotted every 1-3 years with a porous potting material.
6. Fertilize regularly during blooming periods.

"How do you care for an orchid?" These are just a few quick notes about the Phalaenopsis orchid to give you an idea of the care required. Other types of orchids may require different care, so, wherever you buy your orchid, ask the seller to identify the type and tell you how to care for it.

One Last Thought - What is the most important factor that you should consider when purchasing a new tropical plant for your home? Linda will be addressing that at her talk on October 1 at the Salvation Army Heart & Home meeting. I would like to know your thoughts. Please send a comment in the space below.

Bonsai - Not for Everyone

When September takes hold and people get secure into their routines again, the interest in Bonsai increases. But I will be the first to tell you that Bonsai are not for everyone (even though I sell them).

Bonsai is not a specific type of plant; but rather a way to grow a plant. Bonsai is growing a plant in miniature. Everything is  smaller - roots, stems, trunks and leaves.
 When maintaining your regular houseplants, they always do better when all parts of the plant are in balance and you provide the essentials of life. This is very much the case with Bonsai.

 If you have ever maintained tropical fish, the same principle holds true. Because the volume in a 1 gallon goldfish bowl housing 2 or 3 shimmering beauties is low compared to a 125 gallon show tank with 20 or 30 specimen fish, the balance in the bowl is more easily upset, causing stress to the inhabitants. You have to be more vigilant in maintaining the balance. It isn't harder or even more work than maintaining the 125 gallon tank; but it is more frequent work.
 The same is true for Bonsai. Neglect them and they will not be

happy. So, before you buy a bonsai for yourself or as a gift consider these points:

• be prepared to mist your bonsai daily
• the roots must be slightly damp all of the time
• water gently and thoroughly
• feed them regularly with the right strength of fertilizer
• should your Bonsai need a winterizing regime, learn that and don't ignore that

Bonsai are a very interesting plant form hobby. After the hobby they become an art. They can be old, they can be young. They can be shaped. They are  something of which you can be proud. They are not hard to grow; BUT they do need frequent attention.
Interested? I have posted a downloadable pdf of Bonsai FAQs at our website. Check it out.

 If you want to give Bonsai a try we can help get you started. All of our Bonsai are beautiful, hardy and priced to get you affordably into the art of Bonsai.






Orchid Show:    COOS  (Central Ontario Orchid Society) is presenting its annual Orchid Show & Sale on Saturday Sept. 28 and Sunday Sept. 29 at the Cambridge Hespeler Arena. We have a very limited supply of $1 Off coupons for show admission, so pop into the Plants For All store at 66 Dawson Road in Guelph to get yours.  For more Orchid Show info go to COOS.ca

Getting Back Into Your Green Groove

It is still summer; but the weather often tells a different story. In our area of Ontario the temperature will drop to 1 degree Celsius tonight.  Be that as it may, the calendar doesn't lie.
The students are back in school and the vacations are mostly over.  Part of getting back into the routines of personal and family life is getting back into your green groove:

• plants that you have placed outside for the summer should be conditioned for coming back inside
• evaluation of your houseplant collection should be made to cull out the weak or spent plants and determine what new plants should go where
• educate yourself about what plants will benefit your home life and how to care for them and provide the environment they need.



Spathyphillum "Peace Lily"

• check your supply of plant care products -food, fertilizer, leafshine, insecticides, pots, potting mix

We will be addressing these subjects over the next little while but for now just think about making living green 
a part of your life and the life of your family.  I recently read that houseplants, regardless of how simple, are evidence of a life being in that place.  Make your home your own and get back into your green groove.

Coming Up : 
Linda will be presenting 2 different talks at the Heart & Home meetings at the Salvation Army in Guelph. The meetings start at 9:30 am and the Salvation Army is located 1320 Gordon Street in Guelph. Everyone is welcome to attend, so feel free to just show up or if you would like more information, call Linda at Plants For All (519) 767-2161 or via email plantsforall@ody.ca  
    Tuesday, October 1 : Caring for Houseplants 
    Tuesday, November 12 : Giving a Living Gift for Christmas - the Norfolk Island Pine

Closer to Now :   COOS  (Central Ontario Orchid Society) is presenting its annual Orchid Show & Sale on Saturday Sept. 28 and Sunday Sept. 29 at the Cambridge Hespeler Arena. We have a very limited supply of $1 Off coupons for show admission, so pop into the Plants For All store at 66 Dawson Road in Guelph to get yours.  For more Orchid Show info go to COOS.ca 

And One More Thing :  We now have an excellent selection of bonsai in store.

Lots of sizes, varieties and good price points. You can see pics, sizes, prices  and more information at our web site.
 

Spring has Come

Few things in life that affect everyone are as unpredictable as Mother Nature. I can also suggest that nothing is more predictable. Spring has come.
Here in Southern Ontario, Mother Nature has presented us with ideal Spring weather for the past several days, with no end in the immediate future.
With this glorious weather, our thoughts are turning to putting plants outside. Many of your live tropical plants will benefit from the natural sunlight and daylight as well as the fresh air and breezes.
A few things to remember-

• we may still get some cold nights, so provide sheltered areas for your plants and have an emergency plan in place, in case you need to bring them back inside in a hurry.
• gradually expose them to the full sun exposure. Being inside all winter, your plants will have become accustomed to lower light conditions. Too much sun too soon will burn the leaves and cause a set back for the plants.
• plants outside that are exposed to more light, more air movement (breezes) and warmer temperatures will require more water and more often. Check your plants daily and adjust your watering accordingly.
• I am not a fan of the slow release fertilizers that are available on the market. Instead, use a water soluble fertilizer. You will get better nutrient application control.

Your tropical plants, whether inside or outside, require light, water and nutrients. The amount of everything has changed with the move to outdoors, so you will want to make the necessary adjustments. We'll chat some more.

Since we last chatted on this blog, I have made lots of changes to our web site. Amongst other things, you can now see pictures of most of the live tropical plants that we have in stock for sale. This page changes as plants are sold and as more plants come in from the greenhouse, so check it out often. We are getting very positive reaction as more and more consumers are 'finding' us because of our web site and your feedback will really be appreciated.

" Talk to the Owners"

When the store is open, Linda and/or Brian is always there, on-site. Whether you come in, phone or email, you are talking to the owners of Plants For All.

We know our business and we know indoor tropical plants and we love to talk to people who love plants.

So, if you have any questions, want to share a plant success story or are looking for something special - call us and
 Talk to the Owners.

Plants For All

Plants For All: Plants For All has been providing professional interior, tropical plants, plant care services,...