House plants make great holiday gifts , but gift bestower should be deliberate to verify their gift plant is healthy . Otherwise , thatcheery poinsettiaorfragrant lavender bushcan wrick into a pot full of brokenheartedness by mid - January .
Bodie Pennisi , a horticulturist with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia , recommend yield each plant life a adept check - up beforebuying it as a giving .
“ You should purchase only sound looking plants with medium- to dark - green leaf . That is , unless the foliage is supposed to be a different color , ” Pennisi says . “ If the plant life is unhealthy at the greenhouse , chances are it will decline and may even cash in one’s chips presently after you buy it . ”
obviate works with unnaturally spotted , yellow-bellied or dark-brown leaves , and check under the leaves for hitchhikingpests . If you ’re shopping for ferns , do n’t be alarmed if you see brown - colored patch or long row of structures on the lower foliage surface . These “ spots ” are procreative structures shout out spore .
“ Remove the plant from the potful and examine the root system , ” Pennisi say . “ sound roots generally are and should be visible along the outside of the dirt Lucille Ball and should have an earthy smell . Unhealthy roots also may smell fetid . ”
Black , brown or discolored etymon are typically signs of problems . But some plants , like Dracaenas , have roots with colors other than white .
Pot it RightAttractive planter can heighten the decorative economic value of the plants . Consider the followers when selecting a plantation owner :
The style , shape and size of thecontainershould complement the works . Small containers are best for small , slow - growing plants and larger container are better suit for tight - growing 1 . Containers can be terra cotta , clay , plastic or ceramic .
“ Terra cotta potbelly , made of fired clay , are some of the most popular choices , with pattern grade from plain to ornate , ” Pennisi say . “ plant perform very well in terra cotta pots , as the holey open allows good air interchange between the flora roots and the environs . ”
Clay containers that are n’t terra cotta range from gray to brown in people of colour , depending on the cadaver case . Clay pots can be glaze or unglazed .
“ The glazed pots curb air exchange , but offer more design pick , ” Pennisi says . “ glassless pots evaporate water faster , and plants in them may need more frequent lacrimation . ”
Disadvantages of cadaver container are their fragility and exercising weight . charge card is a non - breakable alternative , but it does n’t breathe as well . pliant pots range from bare to elaborate and are constructed of materials like polyethylene , polyurethane , recycle credit card and fiberglass .
charge plate - muckle vantage include their light weight and chip and break immunity . line exchange and water system vapor rates are generally humbled in plastic container liken to corpse containers , but flora in shaping pots will not dry out as quickly , increasing the danger of over - lachrymation .
planter can have drainage holes or not , but do n’t give up plants in containers with drain holes to sit in dish filled with piss , unless the plant is suspended above the water level by a layer of stone .
“ container without drain holes work well for industrial plant such as the pacification lily ( Spathiphyllum ) , which need plenty of water , but they should not be used for cactus and succulents , ” Pennisi says .
If you reuse container , pick them by washing out any old compost , chemical or paint residue . Sterilize the container by placing it in a 10 per centum bleach solution and rinsing well .
For a list of popular indoor plants , see theUGA CAES publication site , or get thought from these HobbyFarms.com article for industrial plant and pot options :
