BAPI-006
Floriculture and
Landscaping
Indira Gandhi National Open University School of Agriculture
Block
5
INDOOR PLANTS INCLUDING CACTI AND OTHER SUCCULENTS
UNIT 1
- Growing Environment
- 5
19 39 62 89
UNIT 2 Cacti and Succulents
UNIT 3 Semi-woody Indoor Plants
UNIT 4 Climbers
UNIT 5 Bulbous
Programme and Course Design Committee
- Dr. K. Prathapan
- Dr. Harpal Singh
Mission Director, State Horticulture Mission-Kerala Principal Scientist (Rtd.),G-20/A, Kiran Garden, (Govt. of Kerala), Sunny Dale, Mead’s lane, Palayam, Trivandrum-695034 (Kerala)
Main Najafgarh Road, Uttam Nagar New Delhi
- Dr. Room Singh
- Dr. S.V.S. Rathore
Principal Scientist (Rtd.),HIG-II/110 Swarn Jayanti Nagar, Ramghat Road, Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh)
B-39, HIG, Near Paschim Crossing, Shastri Puram Agra (Uttar Pradesh)
- Dr. S.S. Sindhu
- Dr. R.L. Mishra
- Principal Scientist, Department of Floriculture and
- C-04, Brahma Apartment,Plot-7
Landscaping, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Sector-7, Dwarka,
- Pusa,New Delhi-110012 (Delhi)
- New Delhi
- Dr. Prabhat Kumar
- Dr. Neera Kapoor
Assistant Professor, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculure, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Dist. US Nagar (Uttarakhand)
Professor, Life Science,School of Science, IGNOU,Maidan Garhi New Delhi
Faculty from School of Agriculture
Dr. M.K. Sheikh
Prof. B.S. Hansra, Director
Prof. M.K. Salooja, Professor Dr. S.K. Yadav, Reader
Head & Professor, Horticulture College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences P.B. No.-18, Bijapur (Karnataka)
Dr. P.K. Jain, Lecturer
Dr. P. Vijayakumar, Lecturer Er. Mukesh Kumar, Lecturer Dr. Mita Sinhamahapatra, Lecturer
Dr. P.K. Jain Professor & Head, Department of Horticulture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Viswavidyala Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh)
Programme & Course Coordinator : Dr. S.K. Yadav
Block Preparation Team
- Writers
- Editor
Dr. Harpal Singh (Unit 1-5) Sr. Consultant School of Agriculture IGNOU, New Delhi
Dr. S.S. Sindhu, (Unit 1-5) Principal Scientist, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa,New Delhi
PRODUCTION TEAM
- Mr. Kulwant Singh
- Mr. Hemant Parida
- Assistant Registrar (P)
- Section Officer (P)
- MPDD, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi
- MPDD, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi
January, 2021
Indira Gandhi National Open University, 2020
ISBN : 978-93-90496-98-3
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission in writing from the Indira Gandhi National Open University. Further information on the Indira Gandhi National Open University courses may be obtained from the University's office at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi.
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BLOCK 5 INDOOR PLANTS INCLUDING
CACTIAND OTHER SUCCULENTS
Indoor plants are an important component of aesthetics. Several plants are now found purifying the air of rooms. Plants which can sustain their life without sunshine or with limited sunshine. Such plants are suitable for indoor plantation. Most of these plants are capable of growing in the pots. These plants require specific management avenue to grow. Their upkeep is not so much submissive but specific.
In this block, you would learn about the growing environment of these indoor plants.Also, information about the cactus and other succulents has been provided to help you to choose right kind of indoor plant for your use.
Certain indoor climbers are available. Their growing behaviour and types are also explained.
Indoor Plants Including Cacti and Other Succulents
4
Growing Environment
UNIT 1 GROWING ENVIRONMENT
Structure
1.0 Objectives 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Light
1.2.1 Light Used in Photosynthesis Process 1.2.2 Indoor Light Levels and its Measurement 1.2.3 Day Length of Light 1.2.4 Natural Light 1.2.5 How Plants Seek Light 1.2.6 Sunny Light 1.2.7 Filtered Sunlight 1.2.8 Shady Light 1.2.9 Poor Light in the Room 1.2.10 Artificial Light for Indoor Plants
1.3 Temperature
1.3.1 Mini-climate-1 1.3.2 Mini-climate-2 1.3.3 Mini-climate-3 1.3.4 Mini-climate-4 1.3.5 Mini-climate 5 1.3.6 Monitoring of Temperature 1.3.7 Variable Temperatures in the Indoor House
1.4 Humidity
1.4.1 Monitoring of Humidity 1.4.2 Sign of Humidity Deficiency 1.4.3 How to Increase Humidity
1.4.3.1 Portable Humidifier 1.4.3.2 Mist-spraying 1.4.3.3 Pebble–filled Tray 1.4.3.4 Lining Baskets 1.4.3.5 Burying Pots in Peat
1.5 Let Us Sum Up 1.6 Key Words 1.7 Further References 1.8 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises
1.0 OBJECTIVES
The unit will give you details about the climatic requirements for growing healthy plants under indoor environment. The plants growing in your houses come from temperate, sub-tropical and tropical areas where widely differing growing conditions exist.
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Indoor Plants Including Cacti and Other Succulents
for growing all these foliage plants you have to provide proper light to indoor plants, according to their requirement.
some growing under shade need the same environment in the house in order to grow.
to provide proper temperature to indoor plants to develop favourable environment.
some are exposed to high temperature and need a high warm climate in the house.
the third important factor is humidity which help to develop proper environment for all type of foliage plants used indoor.
you will study all these points as per the requirement of different type of indoor plants.
1.1 INTRODUCTION
After the world war-second, the indoor house plants become a part of modish interior decoration, for their fascinating foliage, flower and forms. The indoor plants include foliage plants, palms, cacti and succulents and flowering plants. In recent year there has been a manifold increase in the demand of indoor plants, as people are getting conscious about their significance in making indoor environment healthyand beautiful. The dearth of open space, especiallyin multistoreyed flat or apartments, has given impetus to pot culture and has increased the demand of indoor plants. These pot plants are used for the adornment of residential buildings, rooms, corridors, portico, window sills and offices.
Most of the plants can be grown indoors under indoors they get different environment as compared to outdoors so all the indoor plants need congenial environment to grow healthy. If not provided there will be some initial set back, and plant will die. The selection of indoor plants, and knowledge to provide a congenial environment to them is very important aspect to grow indoor plants. Plants do not perform well when there is sudden change in indoor environment.
The successful cultivation of indoor house plants depend on climatic environment of the place where plant is to be grown and the micro-climate of the house interior. The major factors essential to develop essential environment in indoors where indoor plants are grown are light, temperature and humidity. The micro-climate required for different type of indoor plants is different. The other factors, such as soil, pot and potting mixture, propagation techniques and cultural practices, fertilization, watering, repotting or topdressing, pest and disease control are equally important factors to grow indoor house plants successfully.
This unit will highlight all these important necessary factors, required for developing micro-climate inside the house for indoor plants with other cultural practices to develop healthy and attractive indoor plants in the house.
1.2 LIGHT
The light is essential requirements for all plants, without which growth suffers, and leaves become small and pale. Healthy growth depends on the process of photosynthesis which produces carbohydrates. Which is essential for overall growth of the plants.
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Growing Environment
It is triggered off by the action of light on the green pigment chlorophyll. The pigment imports green colour to the plants part majorly present in green leaves as well as present in red, bronze, purple and grey leaves as the other colour is just an overlay to the green beneath.
Variegated-leaved indoor house plants, however, are in a disadvantage as the yellow, cream or white sections on their leaves contain no chlorophyll. For this region, variegated-leaved indoor plants generallyneed brighter light for the strong leaf colour contrast.
1.2.1 Light Used in Photosynthesis Process
The photosynthesis process in only possible if plant get sufficient light. This is the process undertaken by the part of plant containing the green pigment chlorophyll, in which light energy is used to produce carbohydrates from water and carbon dioxide.
During day light hours, carbon dioxide is taken from the air through the pores (stomata) of the leaves. Photosynthesis occurs through the action of light on the chlorophyll in the leaves. The light energy is used to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen with the carbon dioxide taken in through the stomata to form carbohydrates, such as glucose, which provides the plant with food. Certain minerals are required for these chemical reactions, and these are taken up, with water by roots. This whole process in known as “Photosynthesis”. The flow of oxygen and carbon dioxide is reversed as the plants respires or “Breathes”.
1.2.2 Indoor Light Levels and its Measurement
Plant in their native habitats have adapted to a wide range of different light levels. Indoors, you should try to provide the light intensity preferred by each plant as far as possible. To do this, you need to assess the amount of light present in various parts of any particular room. This can be difficult because the human eye is not a good judge of light intensity. The only really accurate way to measure light intensity, is to use a small hand-held photographic light meter, which gives a good indication of light levels. You will be surprised at how low the levels of light are indoors; on a south facing window sill your plant will only get about half as much light as they would if they were growing outside, due to reflection from the glass. And as little as one metre into the room there is only about three-quarters as much light as the window. The most popular indoor plants are extremelytolerant, their adaptability being the main reason for their popularity.
1.2.3 Day Length of Light
In addition to intensity, light duration or day length is an important factor in determining how much light a plant receives. Most plants need about 12 to 14 hours of day light to sustain active growth. Foliage indoor plants fall into two main groups. One of those stop growing in the late autumn and need resting during the winter, and 2nd group that will continue to grow throughout the winter and remain active. Foliage plants from the tropics, which in the wild receive around 12 hours of sunlight each day throughout the years. These plants will only continue to grow all the year round in temperate regions if they are given as much light as possible in winter, by using supplementary artificial light, and are kept in warm room. Plant from more temperate regions stop growing with the onset of winters and shorter days.
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Indoor Plants Including Cacti and Other Succulents
In general, flowering plants need more light than foliage indoor plants in order to initiate flower bud production and to allow the buds to develop properly. In many plants, flower production is triggered off by day length. These plants fall into two groups; long day foliage plants and short day plants. Long day plants flower when they have received more than 12 hours of light a day over a certain period e.g. Saintpaulia hybrids (African violet). Short day plants flower when they received less than 12 hours light a day a certain period e.g. Euphorbia,
Poinsettias, Chrysanthemums, Azaleas, Christmas Cacti etc. Many indoor plants
appear to have no strong preference with regard to day length, and flower through most or all the year. These are known as day-neutral plants.
1.2.4 Natural Light
Light act on green pigment chlorophyll, which is present in all the plants, to start the process called photosynthesis. The violet blue and red wavelength are most important for plant growth; the blue stimulates foliage and the red stimulates flowering. Incandescent bulbs are low in blue wavelengths and have onlya limited effect on plant growth.
The amount and quality of daylight that a plant needs depends upon its original habit in the wild. Some plant need full sunlight, some prefer filtered light, which can be given by diffusing daylight with venetian blinds, lace or muslin and others prefer indirect light. The quality of the natural light in your room well of course, dictate the areas in which you can display your plants.
1.2.5 How Plants Seek Light
All plants turn their leaves towards the source of light, apart from self-leaved species such as Sensevieira sp., many palms and Dracaena sp. and rosette-shaped Bromeliads. Room with white or pale-coloured wall will reflect light back on plants, whereas those decorated in darker colours absorb light and will cause plant to turn towards the window. To counteract this natural tendency, and to promote balanced, upright growth, you should turn your plants around frequently.
1.2.6 Sunny Light
A sunny position is one that gets direct sunlight for all or part of the day. Southfacing windows will receive sunlight for most of the day, east-facing window receive sunlight for several hours in the morning, and west-facing ones for several hours in the afternoon only. The strength of sunlight will depend on latitude and on the orientation of the room. South facing rooms receive more intense light, but in summer it reaches less far into the room than in east-or west-facing rooms. At the sea coast (lower latitudes) where light is brighter due to reflection from the sea, some form of shading may be necessary at a large south-facing window in summer. It prevent possible leaf scorching and too-frequent drying out of the potting mixture of foliage indoor plants. This type of bright light is, for plants such as desert cacti, succulents open bush or savanna, hard leaved bromeliads from the tree tops and certain sun-loving flowing plants to grow indoor.
1.2.7 Filtered Sunlight
Filtered sun light is direct sun that has been filtered through a translucent curtain or baffled by tree or building outside. This level or light is also found between 1 meter and 1.5 meter from a window which receive sun for all, or part of the day.
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Growing Environment
Filtered sun is about a half or three-quaters as intense as direct sunlight. In general, too little light is less harmful than too much light. Indoor palms, and shrubs,
including Dracaena sp, Dizygotheca elegantissima, Cordyline terminalis and
soft-leaved bromeliads, such as Vriesea spledens, prefer this kind of light.
1.2.8 Shady Light
This position is one that receives not direct or indirect light, yet does not have poor light. The level of light is found in or just a little distance from a well-lit north facing window. It is also found in shady areas within sunny rooms. Shady positions receive about a quarter as much light as sunny one. This amount of light suits plants from low-down in the jungle canopy where they are shielded from the rays of direct sun. In a shady position, flowering plants or foliage indoor plants with variegated leaves, will lose most of their leaves, and those that remain will lose their variegation.
1.2.9 Poor Light in the Room
An area more than 2 meter away from the source of light have poor light. No indoor plant will thrive here, even though the area seems to be bright.
1.2.10 Artificial Light for Indoor Plants
The use of artificial light is becoming more widespread among indoor gardeners, either as a substitute or supplement for natural light. It allow plants to be grown in place where the light level is otherwise too low for healthy plant growth or regular flower production.
Fluorescent electric tubes are the most satisfactory and economical way of providing artificial light for plants at home. They are available in several different colours. The coating on the outside of the tube determines the colour of the light. If you are using a fitting with two tubes, a combination of “natural white” and “daylight” gives the closest approximation to natural light. The indoor plants require the violet / blue and red wavelengths: “daylight” are high in blue but low in red: “warm white” and “natural white” are high in red, but low in blue. The simplest units consist of reflector which holds one or two tubes and is supported on legs, enabling plants to be positioned underneath the light. Multi-layered units are also available which have lights under each shelf to illuminate the plants immediately below.
Indoor plants vary in their light need in natural conditions and equally so under artificial light tubes. If indoor plants are too close, the foliage will be scorched. If they are too distant they will become etiolated and flowering species will produce less flowers or blooms than they should. The indoor plants grown for their flowers, such asAfrican violets (Saintpaulia hybrids) need 20-30 cm distance from the tubes. But most foliage indoor plants are better placed 30-40 cm away.
To grow indoor plants exclusively under light, the tubes must be kept on for around 12-14 hours per day for foliage plants and 16-18 hours per day for flowering plants, unless they are short-day types-such as Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia), which require less light. Electric timer switches can be installed so that the lights will come on when it is most convenient.
When using units to provide more additional light in winter, indoor plants should have as much normal daylight as possible, and then the tubes should be illuminated
- for around 5 to 6 hours in the evening.
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Indoor Plants Including Cacti and Other Succulents
Check Your Progress Exercise 1
Note : a) Space is given below for answers. b) Compare your answer with that given at the end of the unit.
1) Why light is essential for indoor plants to grow healthy ?
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2) What is light intensity and how it is measured ?
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3) How will you provide light to indoor plants when natural light is not available? .......................................................................................................................
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4) Will south facing or west facing window provide light to your indoor plants most of the day ? .......................................................................................................................