Horticulture Principles and Practices

• Tolerates cool to warm temperatures
• Prune as necessary to keep shape
32. Flame nettles (Coleus spp.)
• Display in bright or full light for best color development
• Keep soil moist and mist often
• Grows best under cool temperatures
• Pinching helps to shape plant and produce a bushy appearance
• Propagate by cutting
33. Elephant’s ears (Caladium spp.)
• Keep out of direct full light
• Keep soil moist
• Grows best under high temperatures
34. Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
• Keep away from direct sunlight; prefers medium light
• Keep temperatures at moderate level
• Mist frequently
• Fertilize moderately
• Propagate by aerial runners or plantlets
• Display as hanging basket
35. Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)
• Prefers high light intensity (south window) for full color development
• Keep temperature moderate
• Leaves drop under drought stress of improper temperature (drafts)
• Pinching can be used to create a bushy plant instead of a tall, single-stemmed
plant
• Propagate by air layering, or cuttings
36. Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)
• Keep in south window for high light intensity
• Keep soil dry between waterings and maintain high humidity
• Keep temperatures moderate
• When plant blooms, do not rotate the plant (flowers will drop)
• Propagate by stem cuttings or seed
Plants that require low light should be placed at least five feet away from the window.
Placed closer to the source of light, such plants can suffer severe foliage burn. They
may be placed in room corners, hallways, and on shelves. To provide moderate light
to plants, they should be placed five to eight feet from the window. Plants that require
moderate to bright light should be placed three to five feet near the east and west
windows. To receive bright light, plants should be kept two to three feet near the southfacing
windows.
386 Chapter 11 Growing Houseplants
SUMMARY
Many plants can be grown indoors, provided the conditions for plant growth are adequately
provided. Plants can be grown indoors to enhance the appearances of rooms.
They can be strategically positioned to perform other functions such as dividing a room,
directing traffic, and hiding unsightly areas. Indoor plant displays can be greatly
enhanced by using ornate containers and placing them under a spotlight, for example. It
is important that plants be brought indoors from the nursery in good condition. In winter
and under severe weather conditions, plants need protection during transport from the
nursery to the home. Various parts of the room in a house receive different amounts of
light. As such, plants should be located carefully so that they receive the appropriate