House plants are a great addition to any indoor environment. They purify our air and give us fresh oxygen, contributing to a healthy atmosphere. But sometimes certain conditions lead to problems. The most common house plant problems are caused by insect infestation, improper lighting conditions and watering habits.

BUGS

The most common houseplant bugs are aphids which are green and appear in clusters, mealybugs which are white and appear on the undersides of leaves and crevices on the plant, and spider mites which are most often noticed due to the webbing that appears on the plant. Insects may be controlled just by washing the plant with a mild soap in warm water every few days. But if they persist you may need to use a pesticide or a miticide, depending on the bug. All Seasons carries these products year round, and we also have systemic insecticides that may be added to the soil to prevent bug infestations. Read the label before applying any chemicals. Bugs may be prevented by cleaning your plants regularly, planting them in well-draining containers and offering good air flow and ventilation.

LIGHTING

Find out what the light requirements are of your plant. Plants that do not receive enough light appear more spindly or 'leggy", with weak stems and less foliage. Plants that receive too much light may show sun damage on their leaves - a brownish drying up of the leaf at the edges, or exhibit a bleached yellowish look on the entire plant. Both plants should be moved to a more appropriate location relative to how much sun they need. You may consider artificial light for the plants that need more light, and move the plants that are getting too much light to a different window, or out of direct sunlight.

WATERING

Find out what the water requirements are for your plant. It is best to water regularly. Some plants like to 'wet feet' and some like to dry out between waterings, so it is important to know your plants. Signs of watering problems are a yellowing and dropping off of leaves. Overwatering and underwatering have the same telltale signs because the plant is spending the majority of its energy overworking the root system.

There is always a professional on hand at All Seasons to answer any questions you may have about your house plants.

Perennials for Sun:

Achillea * Alcea * Amsonia * Anchusa * Armeria * Artemisia * Asclepias * Aster * Boltonia * Campanula * Centaura * Cerastium * Ceratostigma * Coreopsis * Delphinium * Dendranthemum * Dianthus * Echinops * Erigeron * Eupatorium * Euphorbia * Gaillardia * geranium * Grasses * Gypsophilia* Heliopsis * Hemerocallis * Heuchera * Iberis * Iris * Lathyrus * Lavandula * Leucanthemum * Liatrus * Limonium * Linum * Lobelia * Lupinus * Lysmachia * Malva * Monarda * Nepaeta * Origanum * Paeonia * Papaver * Penstemon * Perovskia * Phlox * Platycodon * Polemonium * Rudbeckia * Salvia * Scabiosa * Sedum * Sempervivum * Solidago * Stachys * Tanacetum * Teucrium * Thermopsis * Thymus * Tradescantia * Verbascum * Veronica * Vinca

Perennials for Part Sun:

Aegopodium * Ajuga * Anemone * Aquilegia * Arenaria * Ater * Aubrieta * Baptisia * Bergenia * Clematis * Dicentra * Digitalis * Erigeron * Eupatorium * Geranium * Heliopsis * Hemerocallis * Heuchera * Hosta * Iberis * Iris * Lamium * Liatrus * Lysmachia * Malva * Monarda * Myosotis * Nepeta * Oenothera * Phlox * Physostegia * Ranunculus * Sagina * Saponaria * Thalictrum * Tradescantia * Trollius * Veronica * Vinca * Viola

Perennials for Shade:

Aconitum * Aegopodium * Ajuga * Alchemilla * Amsonia * Astilbe * Bergenia * Brunnera * Convallaria * Dicentra * Ferns * Galium * Hosta * Lamiastrum * Ligularia * Lobelia * Macleaya * Myosotis * Physostegia * Primula * Pulmonaria * Sagina * Teucrium * Thalictrum * Tiarella * Tradescantia * Thyme * Vinca * Viola

We carry different varieties of orchids depending on the time of year, but our most popular is the lovely Phalaenopsis Orchid pictured here:

Phalaenopsis is considered one of the easiest orchids to grow in the home and comes in different colors. It can live in a bright window, protected from direct hot sunlight. They like moderate heat, around 70°-85° during the day and 60°-65° at night, and moist well-ventilated air. Water frequently enough to keep moist below the surface of the media. Water from the top of the pot, avoiding any standing water in the crown of the plant which is where the leaves join together, to prevent rot. Let the water drain completely and do not allow to sit in water. Mature plants should be repotted every year or two after blooming.

Orchids make a lovely and elegant gift for the right person, or pop into All Seasons and pick out an orchid for YOU today!