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| Title: |
Planting Instructions
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| Author Date: |
7/2/2009
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| Description: |
Once your plant is arrived, it should be unpacked immediately. We suggest you pot these plants in a larger pot for a few weeks for acclimation purposes. We also recommend you to let the plant adjust after shipping stress for at least 24 hours by placing it in a warm, but not hot, place with semi-bright shade (no direct sunlight) in a pot with a well-drained moist soil. Do not give fertilizer until the plant has acclimated to your surroundings and is starting new growth.
It is not uncommon for the plant to experience shipping shock, especially if the mail has left the plant outside for any amount of time in the hot or cold. If this is happening keep the plant in a shady area and keep it well watered but not water logged. The plant will recover; sometime it takes 2-6 weeks for new growth to occur.
General Information
All our plants are grown in South Florida, in natural conditions (not in a greenhouse), under full or partial sun, 40 to 90% relative humidity, 55 to 92F with only moderate air movement. Most of these plants will not take freezing temperatures or frost, so if you live in a climate that freezes please consider this. Almost every plant we sell does very well as a houseplant year round or through the winter months.
If your plant arrives wilted remove the plastic and place the plant in a pot of water. The soil that it is shipped with can become hydrophobic and will not hold water right away. Submersion forces the soil to accept the water. After a few minutes remove the plant and allow it to drain. Do not let it sit too long as water logged plants are subject to root rot or fungus attacks.
After unpacking, immediately pot the plants in containers about 1 gal size (or bigger if you got bigger plant with developed root system). Remove the tape and bamboo stick, without damaging roots, and set the plants' roots into the soil so that the point where the stem starts stays just at the same level with soil surface. If you place the plant too deep in soil - the stem might rot. Make sure you have a well-drained potting medium, with good drainage characteristics which is important for most tropical species. The best choice is soil less potting mix containing 50 to 75% of organic matter (peat moss) with pH rating 5.5 to 6.5, mixed with a little sand.
If you find your plant has broken or bent leaves, or they are turning brown or yellow, do not panic, this is known as shipping shock. Shipping can be very stressful on plants, being cooped up in a dark box for days and subjected to extremes in temperature and humidity. These conditions are out of our control such as the ride in the mail truck and sitting on your door step. Give them TLC for a few weeks and they will recover. Even plants that are broken will regrow new leaves
Water well and let it drain. Mist the foliage with pure water. Remove any yellowed leaves or damaged branches using sharp clippers. Place your plants in a shady spot: in good light, but out of hot direct sun, for a day or two until they re-adjust from shipping stress, then move the pots to their permanent location. Don't water again if the soil is wet.
Some mature plants are slightly pruned for shipment to avoid damage and provide less of a burden for the plant during stressful period of transportation. Some leaves and flowers might fade or drop during transportation, especially if the package was exposed to extreme heat (it happens sometimes in summer). Usually it won't create any problem and your plant will soon recover and new growth will start after 2-6 weeks adjustment period in proper light and watering conditions.
Allow two to six weeks before repotting, or planting directly into the ground. If planting outdoors, make sure that low night temperatures won't damage the plant. Do not apply any fertilizer for the first 4 weeks.
Be careful - do not over water!
Don't water again if the soil is wet. Some plants prefer when soil gets slightly dry before new watering.
Ground Planting
Prepare for planting by digging a hole about twice the width of the root ball. The hole should be just deep enough so that the top of the root is at the level of surrounding soil. Never set a plant too low - this way, stem will rot and the plant might die. If you plant it too high - it will be lacking water and also might feel unhappy.
Prepare proper soil medium by mixing the soil you took from the hole with peat moss (50:50). Add a spoon of a slow-release balanced fertilizer (such as 12-12-12 or close).
Add soil mix into the hole around root ball and slightly press around with your hands (not with your feet!). Mulch the top of the soil around plant's roots to keep moisture and prevent weed growth. Leave 2-3" space between plant's stem and the mulch to provide proper air circulation, otherwise the stem might rot. Use mulch that will break down and continue to feed the nutrients to the plant over time. Another reason for plant failure early on after planting is from the root ball drying out. Water daily the first week, and at least twice a week the following 2 weeks, then as needed (try soil for moisture with your finger).
Nipa Hut Gardens and Gifts
http://www.nipahutgardens.com
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| Author: |
Nipa Hut Gardens and Gifts LLC
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