POTTING, DEPOTTING AND REPOTTING AND MAINTENANCE OF INDOOR PLANTS
OBJECTIVES:
To prepare potting mixture and filling the different earthen pots like Khobragade, Nand, Pela, Parali and filling the polythene bags of different sizes.
PRINCIPLES :
For good germination of seeds, rooting of cuttings or planting young seedling in pot or polythene bag, favorable growing conditions for roots should be made. For retention of moisture, aeration and supply ot nutrients potting mixtures are prepared and filled in the pots or polythene bags.
Equipments :
Spade, potting mixtures of different types (A,B.C.D) earthen pots
Materials :
Leaf mould, earthen pot pieces, sand, FYM, garden soil, garden trowel, khurpi, water can, saw dust, leaf mould.
Preparation of potting mixtures and filling the pots and polythene bags
Mixture 'A': Garden soil one part + Farm yard manure one part.
Mixture 'B': Garden soil one part + Farm yard manure one part + Saw dust one part.
Mixture 'C: Garden soil one part + Farm yard manure one part + Sand one part.
The individual parts may be taken on weight basis or on volume basis. The parts may be mixed thoroughly well before their actual use. Addition of floodplain / lindane powder or other insecticides useful for decomposition are added.
POTTING :
Before filling the pots, potting mixture should be ready. The earthen pots should be clean. If the pots are new they should be immersed in water before filling the potting mixture. The old re-used pots should be rubbed and made clean. New pots should have drainage hole at the bottom. The polythene bags should have punched holes at the bottom.
Procedure for filling the potting mixture
1. Put some pieces of earthen pots on drainage hole to prevent soil to be drained away
2. Add quantity of team mould later at the bottom. Little insecticide may be added to the leaf mould. Coconut husk may be kept at the bottom of the pot or polythene bag.
3. Fill the remaining part of the pot or polythene bag with potting mixture, Leave some space on the top of pot or polythene bag.
4. Planting of uprooted cuttings or seedlings or sowing of seeds is done after filling the pots or polythene bags.
5. Pot or polythene bags are then watered and kept in shade.
Potting procedure
1. Use pots or polythene bags filled as described above for sowing seeds, potting of plants, transplanting seedlings, or potting cuttings.
2 Scoop out hole in the centre of pot or polythene bag. Keep the plant in the centre of hole with roots well distributed if it is seedling or a plant or a rooted cutting. Throw soil all round the plant and press the soil firmly and uniform-
3. Care should be taken while planting that planting is not done too deep or to shallow.
4. Water the plant with watering can fitted with a fine rose.
Depotting procedure
1. Hold the pot or polythene bag between second and third finger and thumb along the side of the pot to remove the plant from the pot or bag.
2. Turn the pot upside down and tap gently on the edges of earthen pots. Take out ihe ball of earth before putting the plant in new pot. If the plant is in polythene bag cut one side of the bag with razor blade and take out the ball of earth without breaking the earthen ball,
Repotting procedure :-
1. Place the plant I pot mixture by scooping little quantity of soil.
2. Spread some more quantity of pot mixture over the roots and press it gently, water the plant with rose water can. Place the potted plant in a cool shady place.
Indoor gardening and its maintenance :-
The act of growing house plants or plants inside a house or in shady situation are called as indoor gardening. Generally, foliage plants are preferred for indoor gardening which are used to beautify the areas inside the house. The houseplants are grown generally in containers made of earthen pots, ceramic pots or plastics. In some places, the plants are grown in Totompole' which is a support covered with sphagnum moss. The cultural practices adopted for outdoor plants may not be suitable for indoor plants as they require different environmental conditions such as light, temperature and humidity which play main role in raising the plants outdoors.
Following factors should be considered while growing indoor plants.
1) Light :-
Plants require light for their growth. The intensity of light needed by the plant vary with different plants. In general, the plants grown for their foliage require diffused light. If the plants are exposed to move light than required, then foliage turn light green or yellowish.
2) Temperature:-
Generally, room temperature that are comfortable to human being will be suitable for most of house plants. Generally, temperature ranging from 18°C - 24'C is suitable for most of the plants. However, the Hardest number of plants are adopted in areas wipers temperature range is between 15- 30 C.
3) Humidity :-
A relative humidity of 40-60% is ideal for growth of plants. The humidity can be increased by spraying fine mist of water on foliage sponging the leaves with water & placing the pot on wet moss or moist sand.
Inadequate watering as well as over catering are the causes of death of indoor plants. So avoid such conditions.
5) Nutrition :-
Besides the Home, plants are provided with liquid fertilizer in low concentration. Doses should be applied fortnightly.
Fresh air is required by plants for growth and survival. It is provided by opening either a window or door in the room in which plants are growing.
7) Shifting of plants :-
Indoor plants should be kept outside once a week or fortnight under partial shade.
By :- Vijay Thorat
0 Comments