We spend about 90 percent of our time indoors. Interior plants are an ideal way to WE CAN HELP YOU…. create attractive and restful settings while  To identify plants enhancing our sense of wellbeing. In addition,  Diagnose common insect and disease problems Growing houseplants can be a satisfying hobby and can  Find answers to your gardening questions  Provide soil test kits help purify the air in our homes. Indoor plants You can see us at many local events: HOUSEPLANTS not only convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, but  Local Farmers Markets they also trap and absorb many pollutants.  Chisago County Fair  Almelund Threshing Show in Minnesota They can reduce noise levels and  Chisago Lakes Home and Garden Show

stress as well! Gardening Expo An all-day gardening event held in March: Classes on a variety of horticultural topics Info booth staffed by Master Gardeners Local businesses display and sell merchandise.

Bare root plant sale Each spring the Master Gardeners offer for sale several varieties of fruit and vegetable plants as bare root stock. These varieties are University recommended for our area and are often hard to find at local nurseries. Order forms are available in January

Voice Mail Line 651-277-0151

Things to think about when choosing http://www3.extension.umn.edu/county/chisago the right houseplant for you… “Friend” us on Facebook

 SPACE ~ Do you have enough room for a Chisago County Extension Office Chisago County plant? They may start out small, but plants Our office is located at the Ag Service Building in North Branch at 38814 Third Avenue. grow, read the label to know what the Master Gardener mature height of the plant will be that you are considering purchasing.  LIGHT CONDITIONS ~ What are the light conditions in your home? What does the plant require? If your window faces North http://www3.extension.umn.edu/county/chisago

(low light), East (morning light), South (sunny – bright light), and West (bright

light). The University of Minnesota Extension shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.  TEMPERATURE ~ Is your house drafty?  INSECTS & DISEASES ~ The best method is The mission of the University of Minnesota Again, know what the plant needs. prevention — purchase pest-free plants and Master Gardener program: “Use research- Most plants thrive in temps between 65-75 check your plants often for signs of insects based horticultural knowledge and practices degrees and like the humidity to be at about or diseases, early detection is the best to deliver educational outreach and project- 80%. Most homes are drier than that, prevention. Call our office or check this based efforts that inspire change and especially the winters in MN! Ways to add promote healthy people, healthy diagnostics tool: communities and a healthy planet.” moisture into your home would be to group http://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/  plants together, daily misting, or placing a tray SOILS ~ The following potting mix is sufficient LOW MAINTENANCE for most indoor plants, use equal parts (1) of water with pebbles close to the plants, or on HOUSEPLANTS… a nearby vent in the winter. potting soil, (1) sand or perlite or vermiculite, and (1) peat moss ALOE VERA  DO YOU HAVE PETS ~ Make sure the plants (Aloe barbadensis) you choose are not toxic to  TRANSPLANTING ~ The decision to repot should be based on plant appearance, if it is CAST IRON PLANT the pets in your home, cats (Aspidistra elatior) and dogs like to chew on top-heavy, if it fills the container with new shoots, or if it has extensive root growth out CENTURY PLANT plants, make sure they are (Agave americana) of the pot’s drainage holes. Ideally, plants safe. CHINESE EVERGREEN (Aglaonema species) Common reasons houseplants die… should be repotted DRACAENAS ~ Several dracaenas do well in Overwatering, Underwatering, Light Levels – into a pot low-light conditions, including cornstalk plant too low or too high, Neglect or Undetected (Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana'), only one Janet insect issues (Dracaena deremensis) size larger Craig and the newer  WATERING ~ Watering plants from the (Dracaena than the Rikki plant bottom is easier. You can set the pot in a 'Rikki'). current pot. dish of water for an hour, then remove the GOLDEN POTHOS  FERTILIZING excess water. This way you don’t get the (Epipremnum aureum) ~ during the late spring and summer leaves wet and the plant drinks what it months when warmer temperatures GREEN TI PLANT wants. (Cordyline glauca) encourage growth. However, fertilizer Overwatering – Mold or fungus on the soil, (Crassula requirements for most plants need to be JADE PLANT mushy roots, soil can be stinky, and leaves may argentea) reduced during the winter months. drop. Underwatering – Leaves or flowers may LUCKY BAMBOO brown, yellow, curl or droop. You could also How long do indoor plants live… (Dracaena sanderiana) notice the soil pulling away from the pot. On average, indoor plants live 2-5 years. After SAGO PALM that, plants can stop thriving. (Cycas revolute) Helpful Resources… SNAKE PLANT https://extension.umn.edu/find-plants/houseplants (Sansevieria trifasciata)

https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?n ZZ PLANT umber=B1318&title=Growing%20Indoor%20Plants%20 (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) with%20Success#Introduction