Houseplant

A houseplant (also potted, taken in Austria Blumenstock ) is a plant that is usually maintained by humans as an ornamental plant throughout the year indoors. Unlike ornamental plants that are used in parks and gardens or agricultural crop. Houseplants are different from container plants in that the latter usually available during the summer months in the open and be overwintered indoors. Most indoor plants are grown in pots, as a natural soil is not available. In the field of indoor greenery rarely exist Beetsysteme partly with connection to the natural soil.

• 6.1 Flowering pot plants
• 6.2 green or leafy plants
• 6.3 Flowering house plants with decorative leaves

• 7.1 Shaded areas
• 7.2 and shady areas
• 7.3 Light areas
• 7.4 In a sunny window
• 7.5 Cool Room

Characteristics of indoor plants

As an indoor plant suitable species which are due to the adaptation to the climate of their natural vegetation area able to survive indoors. Husbandry and care requirements of the relevant species or variety - for example, temperature, light, water supply and other factors relating to: - must be respected.

As houseplants such species are selected and bred which are well adapted to conditions in rooms of people. Throughout the world, these conditions usually vary probably around 18 to 30 ° C air temperature and a mean humidity.

Need houseplants but higher humidity, the nachgeholfen with water spray ( atomization, nebulization ) locally to the sales agent.

Indoor plants have an important meaning for the living space of humans. They bind from the air pollutants such as formaldehyde, toluene, ammonia, this partly build in carbon compounds and to "filter" so the living air. In this context, scientific attempts have been made by NASA for comparison of hermetically sealed rooms with and without houseplants ..

Cultural history of houseplants

The cultivation of plants in pots has a long history. Even the Ancient Egyptians were growing plants in containers, the Greeks and Romans cultivated laurel trees in earthen vessels. In China a decade ago in 2500 pot plants were shown at exhibitions garden. How far then graced living rooms, is unknown.

For Central Europe until the 17th century, there is little evidence of the culture of houseplants. One explanation is the low living standards of the time. To use the window sill in the living room as a plant nursery, meant less light, storage and movement. Even in the often dark and unheated adjoining rooms, there was almost no plants.

In the late 17th and in the 18th century, plant breeding developed. Now could plants are cultivated, which brought researchers and botanists from their expeditions by sea from South America, Africa, Asia and Australia to Europe. These innovations were drawn to the botanical gardens and private collections in court and presented. Broad sectors of society rejected due to the usefulness of thinking and the cash shortage, the acquisition of indoor plants from long. With the beginning of the bourgeois era end of the 18th century, but particularly from the Biedermeier period, were Blumentischchen components of the salons. Nature now embellished living spaces. What began as a flower stand and Jardinière in 1800, developed from the mid-19th century representative round sofas, in the midst of often exotic looking palm trees were planted. Architecture reforms provided for the use of larger windows and thus an improved supply of light into the living spaces. So could increasingly common houseplants thrive. End of the 19th century, the range covered already begonias, Cineraria, Clivia, Cyclamen and flamingo flowers, but foliage plants such as ferns, Araucaria, ornamental asparagus, green lily, snake plant, ivy and rubber tree.

A rethink was held with the Bauhaus architecture. Large, often floor to ceiling windows made ​​for a seamless transition of the interior spaces in the garden. Flower pots to decorate the interiors were in intellectual circles in the 1970s as a superfluous knick-knacks.

Today houseplants are again estimated. They improve the living environment and visually transport the lifestyle feeling. They also improve the indoor air and absorb pollutants that are released into the air from carpeting, wall color or furniture gradually.

One of the oldest indoor plants

One of the oldest indoor plants is myrtle. In the 16th century it was to decorate fashion, brides with Myrtenkränzen in Germany. It developed the custom that the young wife put one originating from the bridal wreath branch into the ground and let take root. The verdant plant was viewed as an indicator of marital happiness and especially cherished. Thus, the myrtle collection took place in the living rooms.

The origin of houseplants

The natural range of plant species whose varieties are used as houseplants can be important to draw conclusions about their attitude requirements. Originating from tropical rainforests plants require different than those from temperate zones no rest periods. But their demands on the humidity levels are particularly high in the rule. A more detailed knowledge of the natural vegetation area of a plant therefore is useful for maintaining.

Tropical Rainforest

The vast number of Shares held as houseplants plant species native to the area of ​​tropical rain forest and adjacent areas. The day length is constant there about twelve hours. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year. The average daily temperature is dependent on the prevailing rate. In tropical forests, which do not lie at an altitude of 600 meters, it is usually evenly over the entire year, 24 to 28 degrees Celsius. In higher altitude rainforests, the so-called tropical mountain forest, it is sometimes only an average of 10 degrees Celsius.

The lighting conditions under which thrive the respective plant species are dependent on the type of vegetation stages. In plants that grow close to the ground, there are usually very shadow compatible types. For climbing plants and epiphytic species of the light requirement, however, is higher.

Typical plant species of the tropical rainforest, which are maintained as a houseplant, are bromeliads, orchids and Philodendron. Suitable for keeping as a house plant they are because they the whole year usually look over attractive and can be no separate dormant period at these plants.

Seasonally wet forests

In contrast to the tropical rain forests, the alternating moisture or rain green forests on wet and dry periods. The species occuring adapted to these dry periods and have growth and rest periods. A successful care of these types requires that these rest periods are observed.

Typical plant species of seasonally dry forests, whose varieties are cultivated as houseplants are Ritterstern and introduced as an indoor plant since 1850 Clivie.

Open savanna landscape

The open savannah landscape that can also find the subtropics in both the tropics, is divided into fine wet savannah, dry savannah and thorn bush savannah. Plant species of this habitat are very well adapted to short-term drought and low humidity. There usually are succulents and cacti. It should be noted here, however, in many species a possible need cold storage in the winter, to get a flowering Order in the next year.

In addition to the cacti mainly produce various kinds of aloes, agaves, Crassula, Echeveria, Euphorbia and dissemination Sansevieria found as a houseplant.

Subtropics

Hallmarks of the subtropics one to season changing day length and a relatively mild winter with abundant rainfall. During the summer rainfall occasionally occur only sporadically and very high temperatures can be achieved. Myrtle and oleander and some Ficus species are houseplants that originate from this vegetation zone.

Temperate Zone

Very few types of well-kept as houseplants plants originate in the temperate climate zone. Typical representatives are cultivated forms of ivy and Saxifraga stolonifera and Carex brunnea. They all thrive only when they are as cool as possible.

The culture of indoor plants

The propagation and cultivation of indoor plants dedicated to the professional division of ornamental plants as part of the professional field horticulture. In production plants indoor plants are usually grown in greenhouses and to the respective sales stage (eg certain size, flowering stage ) cultured further. Is cultivated in soil and in hydroponics or in a culture substrate of porous fired clay granules. They are then sold through operations of the service horticulture such as Endverkaufsgärtnereien or garden center to customers.

Classification of indoor plants

A distinction can be done first in flowering pot plants and green plants. The former have their ornamental value mostly recurrent flowering, the second group by any attractive colored foliage. Combinations of plants with high Blühwert and decorative foliage are also common.

Flowering pot plants

• Azalea (Rhododendron simsii )
• One strip ( Spathiphyllum - hybrids)
• Chinese Roseneibisch (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis )
• Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima )
• African violets ( Saintpaulia ionantha )
• Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum )

Green or leafy plants

• Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina )
• Sansevieria ( Sansevieria )
• Ivy ( Hedera helix)
• Pothos ( Epipremnum pinnatum )
• Delicious Cheese Plant ( Monstera deliciosa)
• Rubber tree (Ficus elastica )
• Croton ( Codiaeum variegatum )
• Peperomia ( Peperomia )
• Schefflera
• Zimmeraralie ( Fatsia japonica)
• Zamioculca zamiifolia

Flowering house plants with decorative leaves

• Rex begonias ( Begonia rex hybrids)
• Bromeliad, Aechmea fasciata eg
• Glanzkölbchen ( Aphelandra squarrosa )
• Spider plant ( Chlorophytum comosum )
• Zebra traffic light herb ( Tradescantia zebrina )
• Kapländische room Linde ( Sparrmannia africana)

Houseplants selection

Here is a selection of indoor plants - ordered by the cultivation requirements.

Shaded areas

• Schuster palms ( Aspidistra )
• Window sheets ( Monstera )
• Spider plant ( Chlorophytum comosum )
• Strahlenaralie ( Schefflera aboricola )
• Dragon trees (Dracaena )
• Philodendron
• Aglaonema ( Aglaonema commutatum )
• Pothos ( Epipremnum )
• Dieffenbachia ( Dieffenbachia )

And shady areas

• Zamioculca
• Klivie
• Yucca, of the many species actually only the (Yucca elephantipes )
• Rubber tree (Ficus elastica )

• Ivy ( Hedera helix)
• Flamingo flower
• Begonia ( Begonia sp. )
• Commelina plants
• Arrowroot
• Called wild wine, or Klimme, ( Cissus )
• Coleus ( Solenostemon scutellarioides )
• Cordyline Cordyline sp.
• Gold palm tree fruit ( Chrysalidocarpus lutescens )
• Some tropical ferns

Bright areas

• Elephant (formerly Beaucarnea today Nolina )
• Weeping Fig (Ficus benjaminii )
• Bromeliads
• Orchids (some types as houseplants suitable )
• Wonder shrub, Croton ( Codiaeum )
• Coffee plant
• Cyprus grass and papyrus ( Cyperus )
• Hibiscus (Hibiscus )
• Some palm species, such as Kentia Palms
• African violets ( Saintpaulia )

Sunny window

• Cacti
• Succulents
• Tillandsias

Cool Room

• Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum - hybrids )
• Primroses (Primula, different species)
• Onion flowers
• Cactus and succulents in winter
• Araucaria (Araucaria heterophylla )
• Kapländische room Linde ( Sparrmannia africana)
• Asparagus fern (Asparagus, different species)
• Camellia (Camellia japonica)
• Azalea ( Rhododendron Simsii hybrids ) and ( Rhododendron japonica hybrids)
• Hydrangea ( Hydrangea macrophylla)