Field of Flowers Fresh Flower Superstore - Like no other flower store on Earth.
 
 
 
 
 



  Flower & Plant Tips
  Calendar
  Children's Parties
  Design Classes
  Newsletter
  Links to Partners

FOF Club
FOF Wholesale
Great Gift Idea!
Voted Best of Weddings!
Field of Flowers, voted Best of Weddings!

Tips for Healthy Plants

How to: Make your arrangement last longer.
How to: Tips for Healthy Plants.
More than Pretty: Unlock the hidden meanings behind flowers.
What is This: Our gallery of flower names and photos.
Why does the price of roses sometimes change?


How to: Tips for Healthy Plants.
Live plants from Field of Flowers are carefully selected for their health, beauty and superb value. This means you’re sure to find the most luxurious plants at the lowest possible price. Our plants are intended for indoor and patio use, although some can be moved outdoors, after acclimation. We offer individual blooming and foliage plants, as well as plants arranged together in a basket or container.

What’s the best way to water live plants or plant arrangements?
Use the “soaking method.” Remove the plant from its basket or saucer, and place it where the roots can be soaked and drained (i.e., a tub, sink or outdoors). After thoroughly draining, replace the plant in its container.

How often should I water?
It depends on many variables. However, there are two ways to determine if your plant needs water. “Hefting the plant” means picking it up and feeling its weight. A dry plant is lighter than a soaked one. After doing this several times, you quickly learn the “feel” of the plant and know if it needs water. Another way is the “finger in the soil” method. Stick your finger in about one inch deep. If it feels just slightly moist or dry, its time to water.

How much light is needed?
Field of Flowers plants are grown for indoor and patio use. Do not place in full, direct sun. Every plant has different requirements, but indirect, bright light is best. Artificial light can also be used, as long as there is enough intensity, and enough hours each day. As a rule, if you can comfortably read a newspaper in a room, there is enough light for a plant. In dim rooms, rotate plants to a bright place on a regular basis.

Is temperature important?
Yes. Most blooming plants such as azaleas, chrysanthemums and begonias like to be in relatively cool places with high light. Don’t put your plant on a TV set or near other heat generating appliances. Green plants and some blooming plants, like African violets and gloxinia, like to be warm.

Is it true that plants are good for me?
Absolutely. Plants improve the air you breathe and decrease indoor air pollution by filtering out harmful toxins and replacing them with oxygen. This is acknowledged as scientific fact.


Below are a few helpful tips to care for some of the more popular plants.

African Violets are lovely small plants, which may bloom at anytime. They prefer bright indirect sunlight and grow well under fluorescent light. Cut off the flowers after they die and provide good ventilation. Keep the soil evenly moist at all times and feed monthly spring through fall with a nitrogen-free fertilizer.
Areca Palms grow well indoors, in bright indirect sunlight and may be placed outdoors for the summer in an area of filtered light. Ensure that the plant has good drainage and keep it away from drafts. Never let the plant sit in water. Mist the fronds occasionally with warm water and feed monthly.
Azalea plants produce beautiful blooms February through May. They require specific care, such as good rich potting soil and full sunlight. Azaleas should be fed every two weeks during the growing season. Remove all dead flowers and keep the soil on the wet side.
The Boston Fern is the ideal hanging basket plant. It requires a little extra care in that it likes good, rich potting soil and should be misted frequently with warm water. Boston ferns grow well in bright indirect sunlight. Keep the soil barely moist and feed weekly.
Bromeliads are beautiful, exotic plants requiring some extra care and attention. Bromeliads grow best indoors in bright indirect sunlight. Use good rich potting soil, keep the soil evenly moist and feed about every eight months. Bromeliads bloom April through June.
Croton plants require full sunlight and should be pinched back occasionally for good shape. Croton plants are poisonous and should not be kept around children. Keep the soil barely moist and feed every two weeks when young. Fertilize weekly after maturity.
Cyclamen have beautiful dark green foliage with unique "upside down" blooms that flower December through May. Cyclamen are dormant for the summer and should be repotted in late summer and kept cool. Stop watering in late spring and resume watering in late summer. Feed every two weeks while in growth. Bright indirect sunlight and evenly moist soil is best. Cyclamen are poisonous and should not be kept around children.
Diffenbachias are easy care plants with large leaves, making it an effective remover of indoor air pollutants. Diffenbachias are poisonous if ingested. Do not keep around children. Place this plant in bright indirect sunlight and let its soil become moderately dry between waterings.
Dracaena plants are easy to grow indoors in bright indirect sunlight. Good general purpose potting soil is fine and should be kept evenly moist. Leaf tips may turn brown if the plant is under-watered. Feed every two weeks.
Gardenias are wonderfully fragrant blooming plants, but generally require a little extra care and attention. Gardenias grow best inside the house with bright indirect sunlight. The plant requires good rich potting soil, kept evenly moist at all times. Mist the plant frequently with warm water, feed every two weeks and prune in early spring. Gardenias flower June through August.
Gerbera plants produce beautiful blooms July through September and are very easy to grow. They prefer full sunlight. Be careful the crown of the plant is above the soil and provide good drainage. Allow the soil to become moderately dry between waterings and feed every two weeks during growth periods.
Hydrangeas are gorgeous blooming shrubs with showy color June through December. They require full sunlight and good, rich potting soil kept evenly moist. Prune the plant way back in early spring and feed every two weeks during growth with fertilizer suitable for acid loving plants.
Ivy plants are easy care leafy green plants perfect for hanging baskets. Ivy grows well in bright indirect sunlight. Keep the soil evenly moist, mist occasionally with warm water and feed every two weeks during growth periods.
Kalanchoe are succulents and bloom January through July. Kalanchoe grow best indoors in full sunlight. Use good general purpose potting soil with a little added sand. Avoid getting water on the leaves, be careful not to over-water and feed only twice a year, once in April and once in July.
Norfolk Island Pines require a little extra care and attention. Bright indirect sunlight is best and over-watering must be avoided. Turn the plant occasionally to keep it symmetrical. If possible put the pine outside during the summer in bright light. Feed every two weeks and do not fertilize in the winter.
Orchids are exquisite blooming plants, requiring just a little extra care. Orchids grow well in bright indirect sunlight and may produce flowers at anytime. Avoid cold drafts. Most orchids have sphagnum moss potting mix and should be kept evenly moist. Be careful not to over-water. Feed every two weeks during the spring and summer with orchid fertilizer.
Peace Lilies are beautiful large-leafed plants, which produce white blooms April through October. They require full sunlight and should be placed away from drafts. When watering, drench the soil and allow it to become moderately dry between waterings. Feed every two weeks during the summer months only.
Philodendrons are easy care plants, which grow best indoors in bright indirect sunlight. This plant is a climber if given proper support. Philodendrons are poisonous if ingested. Do not keep around children. Keep this plant's soil barely moist and feed it every two weeks when in growth.
Pothos are easy care climbing green plants. Pothos do well indoors in bright indirect sunlight, but will grow in rooms with less light as well. Keep this plant's soil evenly moist and supply good drainage. Pothos is a good climber, if given proper support. Otherwise, pinch back to maintain its shape. Fertilize every two weeks.
Schefflera are beautiful, easy care leafy green plants. They grow well indoors in full sunlight. When watering, drench the soil and allow it to become moderately dry between waterings. Feed monthly spring through summer.

back