If the bought plant is in a small planting cell (with diameter 5 cm) it needs to be immediately moved into a pot.
If it already grows in a pot – it is possible to leave it alone for 3-8 weeks, and then to move it into a container of a big size. Choose a pot with a diameter of about 10-12 cm (it is possible and more but then be especially attentive: do not pour the plant because its roots can rot).
It is better to use for the landing of tropical plants, not glazed clay pots – they provide better breath for roots. But at first steps, a plastic pot will do too, but the main thing is not to overwater it. Carefully move the root clod of a plant into a pot with a planting mix.
Best potting soil mix for house tropical plants.
Small yellowish or greenish balls of planting soil mix in which the bought tropical plant grows are not “the eggs of Florida mini crocodiles”, but the granules of slowed action fertilizer; and white balls in the soil is perlite and foam chips.
Do not even try to use garden humus soil for the planting of tropical plants.
It is better to use special corresponding tropical potting soil mix for the pottery plants, bought in the shop for the planting of such plants. It has to be well-drained, and contain a big percent (not less than half of the volume) of peat and a small amount of perlite (the volcanic hoe product that accumulates moisture and provides air penetration to roots), or very small (2-3 mm) foam chips.
The illumination of tropical plants
The main condition for the successful development of tropical plants – is good light exposure! The newly arrived plant has to be put in a well-shined place (the more light, the better), BUT WITHOUT HIT OF DIRECT SOLAR BEAMS.
In 3-5 days it is possible to put the heliophilous plants on the open sun – EXCEPT those plants which demand filtered light (for example, whitfieldia, streptocarpella, barleria).
In autumn and winter the direct solar beams do not burn leaves of the plants, therefore and shade-loving tropical plants can bare them too. Probably in winter tropical plants may need additional illumination.
The adaptation and reanimation of tropical plants
Some weak types of tropical plants on which the lasting many days way through seven seas and customs influence bad or look tired after transportation. Here are some advises on how to help such plants to cope with the endured stress and to faster adapt to new conditions:
1. Remember that in natural conditions of growth the tropical plants lived in the high humidity of air (70-90 %) and temperature (27-35?). The majority of plants grew under the bright tropical sun, and house conditions obviously differ from the environment. But if at first to take special care of such plants they will adapt to new conditions. As soon as your plants will recover from stress, they will make you fewer problems.
2. Having replaced the tropical plant in a bigger pot (first – not wider than the native pot on 5-7 cm) and having watered it let the water to COMPLETELY flow down, then put the pot on a dry pallet. The roots of the plant densely sitting in a close pot got used to the absence of moisture stagnation and they have a risk to rot in damp soil. Do not water the plant until the top layer will slightly dry up.
3. Put the pot with a tropical plant on a well-shined place, but not under the direct solar beams. If your windows are on the south part and there is no possibility to avoid the sun, during the first days it is possible to slightly shade the windows with gauze or with a grid from mosquitoes. When the plant will recover, the direct beams will be good for them (except shade-loving plants). Exactly sun is the basic pledge of successful cultivation of tropics plants on your window sill.
4. First, the tropical plant with faded foliage is better to cover with a transparent cellophane package. Air the plant 2-3 times a day in order not to allow the stagnation of air under the package. In 2-3 days the package needs to be removed. First for maintenance of the raised humidity of air (later the plant will adapt to your house conditions) try to spray more often the foliage with pure water of room temperature. Thus try not to get on the stalk and especially – on the root neck of the plant. It is possible to place a small tray with pebbles and water under the pallet – its evaporation will raise the humidity of air near the plant.
5. If you noticed signs of mold or rot on the plant – dry the plant’s crone (it is possible to put a weak fan near it). Keep in mind that the white touch on leaves can be simply sediment from hard water – it can be easily removed by wiping the leaves by a soft damp rag.
6. It is not possible to return to life the yellow leaves and the dried up branches of a plan so they need to be accurately cut off.
7. Do not fertilize the bought tropical plant minimum 4 weeks (or until the plant will have new shoots). The experts assert that the size of new shoots is equal to the size of evolved roots and you need exactly this. The more the root system will develop, the easier it will be for the plant to take the fertilizers; otherwise, the fertilizer can burn the plant’s roots. However, if the bought tropical plant looks vigorously, a week after purchase it is possible to start to spray on its FOLIAGE a weak solution of water-soluble fertilizer. If you bought a tropical plant in the beginning of winter – remember that in winter the fertilizer needs to be excluded completely, or lowered to a minimum.
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