Chapter 8 The Interior Use of Plants. Evidence of the use of potted plants is found in ancient Chinese artifacts, on the walls of tombs of the Egyptian.

Chapter 8Chapter 8

The Interior Use of PlantsThe Interior Use of Plants

Evidence of the use of potted plants is Evidence of the use of potted plants is found in ancient Chinese artifacts, on the found in ancient Chinese artifacts, on the walls of tombs of the Egyptian pharaoh, walls of tombs of the Egyptian pharaoh, and the ruins of Pompeii.and the ruins of Pompeii.

Containers of ornamentals adorned the Containers of ornamentals adorned the palaces of European nobility for centuries palaces of European nobility for centuries and filled the parlors of middle-class and filled the parlors of middle-class Victorians and Americans more recently.Victorians and Americans more recently.

Potted foliage plants or house plants have Potted foliage plants or house plants have had their place in homes for many years.had their place in homes for many years.

An unsatisfactory outcome is An unsatisfactory outcome is predictable when architects and interior predictable when architects and interior decorators try to work with plant decorators try to work with plant material whose qualities and material whose qualities and maintenance requirements are maintenance requirements are unknown.unknown.

The term interior plantscaping comes The term interior plantscaping comes from the demand for maintaining plants from the demand for maintaining plants indoors. It is a variation on the term indoors. It is a variation on the term landscaping.landscaping.

For now, the term interior plantscaping For now, the term interior plantscaping will be used to describe the work.will be used to describe the work.

Tropical foliage plants have proven to beTropical foliage plants have proven to be the most successful indoor plants because the most successful indoor plants because they do not require the period of cool they do not require the period of cool temperature dormancy that often makes temperature dormancy that often makes temperate zone plants unsatisfactory. temperate zone plants unsatisfactory.

As a profession, interior plantscaping deals As a profession, interior plantscaping deals with the design, installation, and with the design, installation, and maintenance of plants in interior locations.maintenance of plants in interior locations.

Five things plants must adjust to when Five things plants must adjust to when used indoors:used indoors:– A drastic reduction in the quality and intensity A drastic reduction in the quality and intensity

of the lightof the light– Reduction and constriction of the plant’s root Reduction and constriction of the plant’s root

systemsystem– The replacement of natural rainfall by The replacement of natural rainfall by

dependency on humans for correct wateringdependency on humans for correct watering– A reduction in nutrient requirements and a A reduction in nutrient requirements and a

potential for buildup of soluble salts (fertilizers)potential for buildup of soluble salts (fertilizers)– A lack of air movement and rainfall, allowing A lack of air movement and rainfall, allowing

dust to accumulate on the leaves, often dust to accumulate on the leaves, often plugging stomata and reducing photosynthesisplugging stomata and reducing photosynthesis

– Potential damage by air conditioners, central Potential damage by air conditioners, central heating system, cleaning chemicals, water heating system, cleaning chemicals, water additives, and other irritants.additives, and other irritants.

To understand the lighting requirements of To understand the lighting requirements of a plant you must ask:a plant you must ask:– How much light do interior plantings need?How much light do interior plantings need?– What kind of light do they need?What kind of light do they need?– What sources of light exist indoors?What sources of light exist indoors?

No matter how many windows and No matter how many windows and skylights are designed into a home or skylights are designed into a home or office office

building, the light intensity inside building, the light intensity inside

will never equal that outside.will never equal that outside. Light intensity is expressed inLight intensity is expressed in

units of lux or footcandle.units of lux or footcandle.

A lux is the illumination received on a A lux is the illumination received on a surface that is 1 meter from a standard surface that is 1 meter from a standard light source known as unity.light source known as unity.

A lux is and international measurement A lux is and international measurement comparable in use to the metric system.comparable in use to the metric system.

In the United States, the footcandle unit is In the United States, the footcandle unit is more commonly used and understood.more commonly used and understood.

One footcandle is equal to the amount of One footcandle is equal to the amount of light produced by a standard candle at a light produced by a standard candle at a distance of 1 foot.distance of 1 foot.

A light meter is the only way to measure A light meter is the only way to measure light intensity accurately. light intensity accurately.

A light meter is the first piece of equipment A light meter is the first piece of equipment that should be bought by a plantscape that should be bought by a plantscape designer.designer.

The keys to a plant’s survival are The keys to a plant’s survival are acclimatization and maintenance of the acclimatization and maintenance of the minimum light intensity required for its minimum light intensity required for its survival in an attractive and healthy conditionsurvival in an attractive and healthy condition. .

Acclimatization is defined as the adjustment Acclimatization is defined as the adjustment of an outdoor plant to interior conditions.of an outdoor plant to interior conditions.

The minimum light intensity is the level of The minimum light intensity is the level of illumination necessary to allow acclimatized illumination necessary to allow acclimatized plant to produce new leaves at a rate equal to plant to produce new leaves at a rate equal to or slightly greater than the rate at which old or slightly greater than the rate at which old leaves senesce and abscise. leaves senesce and abscise.

The term used to describe when The term used to describe when leaves age is senesce.leaves age is senesce.

The term used to describe the falling The term used to describe the falling off of leaves is abscise. off of leaves is abscise.

Light intensity is reduced gradually Light intensity is reduced gradually over a period of several weeks or over a period of several weeks or months. The acclimatization process months. The acclimatization process cannot be rushed without a severe cannot be rushed without a severe reaction (defoliation, or death).reaction (defoliation, or death).

During nutrient acclimatization, high fertility During nutrient acclimatization, high fertility levels in the soil is unnecessary, and levels in the soil is unnecessary, and thorough soil leaching at the beginning of thorough soil leaching at the beginning of the acclimatization period and occasionally the acclimatization period and occasionally afterwards will prevent a buildup of soluble afterwards will prevent a buildup of soluble salts.salts.

During moisture acclimatization, the During moisture acclimatization, the frequency of watering is reduced to prepare frequency of watering is reduced to prepare plants for their more stressful interior locale.plants for their more stressful interior locale.

During temperature acclimatization, During temperature acclimatization, temperatures are gradually reduced to the temperatures are gradually reduced to the range common to most interior areas (65 -range common to most interior areas (65 -75 F).75 F).

Light quality is the color of light Light quality is the color of light emitted by a particular source.emitted by a particular source.

Plants depend upon blue and red Plants depend upon blue and red bands of the visible light spectrum.bands of the visible light spectrum.

The unit of measurement for light The unit of measurement for light wavelengths is the nanometer.wavelengths is the nanometer.

Five questions to consider when selecting Five questions to consider when selecting the proper lamp for illumination of an the proper lamp for illumination of an interior planting:interior planting:– How extensive is the planting?How extensive is the planting?– Are the plants to be encouraged to grow or Are the plants to be encouraged to grow or

merely to be maintained at their current size?merely to be maintained at their current size?– Will the plants receive any sunlight? If so, how Will the plants receive any sunlight? If so, how

much and for how long?much and for how long?– How far will the artificial light source be from How far will the artificial light source be from

the plants?the plants?– What types of lamps are being used for general What types of lamps are being used for general

lighting of the area and what is the intensity of lighting of the area and what is the intensity of surface illumination provided?surface illumination provided?

Special effects such as shadows or textural Special effects such as shadows or textural highlights can be created with incandescent highlights can be created with incandescent lights installed beneath the plants and lights installed beneath the plants and directed upward. These are called uplights. directed upward. These are called uplights.

When supplemental lights are added for When supplemental lights are added for overhead illumination, they should be overhead illumination, they should be positioned to light the plants fully without positioned to light the plants fully without shining in the eyes of viewers.shining in the eyes of viewers.

The most important of all light sources for The most important of all light sources for interior plantscapes is natural sunlight when interior plantscapes is natural sunlight when it can be planned for and depended on.it can be planned for and depended on.

Sunlight entering from overhead is of Sunlight entering from overhead is of greater use in the illumination of interior greater use in the illumination of interior plantings than light entering from the side.plantings than light entering from the side.

The medium that serves when plants are The medium that serves when plants are growing in a nursery field or production growing in a nursery field or production container is likely to be inappropriate for container is likely to be inappropriate for an interior installation. an interior installation.

Problems with natural field soil include:Problems with natural field soil include:– Too heavy to permit rapid drainageToo heavy to permit rapid drainage– Too heavy for the floor to support if the Too heavy for the floor to support if the

container is largecontainer is large– Inconsistent in composition, making Inconsistent in composition, making

standardized maintenance of separate standardized maintenance of separate planters difficult.planters difficult.

– Infested with insects, pathogens, or Infested with insects, pathogens, or weedsweeds

Indoors, photosynthesis is reduced to Indoors, photosynthesis is reduced to survival-maintenance levels, so the root survival-maintenance levels, so the root system need not be as large.system need not be as large.

One of the first steps at the time of One of the first steps at the time of installation is to remove production installation is to remove production medium from around the roots and prune medium from around the roots and prune away excess roots.away excess roots.

More interior plant deaths result from over-More interior plant deaths result from over-watering than from any other reason.watering than from any other reason.

The need to water a planting can be The need to water a planting can be determined by feeling the soil and determined by feeling the soil and observing its color.observing its color.

When water is applied, it must be in a When water is applied, it must be in a quantity adequate to wet the soil deeply, quantity adequate to wet the soil deeply, not shallowly.not shallowly.

Deep watering promotes deep and healthy Deep watering promotes deep and healthy rooting while providing the soil leaching rooting while providing the soil leaching necessary to prevent soluble salt buildup. necessary to prevent soluble salt buildup.

Fertilization is needed to provide the mineral Fertilization is needed to provide the mineral elements required for photosynthesis.elements required for photosynthesis.

Too much nitrogen may lead to spindly, Too much nitrogen may lead to spindly, succulent, and unattractive growth.succulent, and unattractive growth.

Excessive fertilization follows only slightly Excessive fertilization follows only slightly behind overwatering as a major reason why behind overwatering as a major reason why interior plants fail to survive satisfactorily. interior plants fail to survive satisfactorily.

Humidity is seldom a problem for plants Humidity is seldom a problem for plants growing outdoors, but can cause a growing outdoors, but can cause a problem for interior plantscapes.problem for interior plantscapes.

If the correct precautions are not taken, If the correct precautions are not taken, plants can experience ethylene poisoning plants can experience ethylene poisoning during shipping. This is caused by the during shipping. This is caused by the exhaust and can severely damage the exhaust and can severely damage the plants. Proper ventilation is the key to plants. Proper ventilation is the key to preventing this problem.preventing this problem.

Air pollution cannot be escaped by Air pollution cannot be escaped by bringing the landscape indoors.bringing the landscape indoors.

Proper ventilation will carry away chlorine Proper ventilation will carry away chlorine vapors, fumes from smokers and chemical vapors, fumes from smokers and chemical cleaning agents, or the ethylene which cleaning agents, or the ethylene which may be present if a building is heated by may be present if a building is heated by some form of hydrocarbon combustion some form of hydrocarbon combustion (fossil fuel).(fossil fuel).

Dust is an air pollutant different from the Dust is an air pollutant different from the others in that it is a particulate not a others in that it is a particulate not a vapor.vapor.

Air filtration reduces the amount of dust.Air filtration reduces the amount of dust.

Pruning will not be extensive in an Pruning will not be extensive in an interior planting because of the interior planting because of the plants’ reduced rate of growth.plants’ reduced rate of growth.

Repotting of plants is necessary in Repotting of plants is necessary in plantings where growth is allowed. plantings where growth is allowed.

Five common pests in interior Five common pests in interior landscapelandscape

Aphids Aphids MealybugsMealybugs

Spider mites Spider mites

Common Pests ContinuedCommon Pests Continued

White Flies ScaleWhite Flies Scale

The only real defense against The only real defense against vandalism to interior plants is public vandalism to interior plants is public education and cooperation.education and cooperation.

Grouping compatible species is used Grouping compatible species is used often in interior plantscapes. By often in interior plantscapes. By using plants which have the same using plants which have the same requirements for light, moisture, requirements for light, moisture, fertilization, and soil mix, grouping fertilization, and soil mix, grouping helps simplify maintenance. helps simplify maintenance.

The success of the plantscape is The success of the plantscape is measured by its appearance and measured by its appearance and health.health.

No greater field in ornamental No greater field in ornamental horticulture holds greater promise horticulture holds greater promise than interior landscaping. than interior landscaping.