Plant care

Alocasia

Watering

  • 1 to 2 times a week.
  • Check the dryness of the soil, may constantly be slightly moist.
  • Small amount of lukewarm water at a time.
  • Spray the plant at least once a week.

Sunlight

  • Needs 5 hours a day of direct sunlight.
  • Approximately two meters from the window.
  • Turn the plant with some regularity a quarter turn.

Maintenance

  • Yellow-brown edges on the leaf: give a little less water.
  • Weak or broken leaves: give a little more water.
  • Leaves drip water: this is called guttation and is normal for this plant.
  • Guttation (dripping of the leaf) can cause damage in a wooden floor. Be careful with this!

Asparagus

Watering

  • 1 to 2 times a week.
  • Check the dryness of the soil, may be constantly moist.
  • Small amount of water at a time.
  • Spraying is not necessary.

Sunlight

  • No direct sunlight required

Maintenance

  • Weak leaves: give the plant a little more water.
  • Lighter, yellow leaves: move the plant a meter away from the window.
  • Pruning is necessary to maintain a nice shape and to allow sufficient light to reach the core of the plant.

Codiaeum

Watering

  • 1 to 2 times a week.
  • Check the dryness of the soil, may be constantly slightly moist.
  • Small amount of water at a time.

Sunlight

  • At least 5 hours a day of direct sunlight is needed.
  • Turn the plant a quarter turn with some regularity.

Maintenance

  • Mainly dark leaves: move the plant a little closer to the window.
  • Dark edges: give the plant a little less water.
  • Lots of leaf loss: place the plant a little more in the light and give a little less water.

Dieffenbachia

Watering

  • 1 time a week.
  • Check the dryness of the soil, may be constantly slightly moist.
  • In winter, the Dieffenbachia needs half as much water.
  • Watering strengthens the health of the plant, especially in winter.

Sunlight

  • Avoid direct sunlight.
  • Make sure that the plant is placed in a light spot.

Maintenance

  • Brown edges or yellow leaves: move the plant a little further from the window.
  • Faded print on leaf: put the plant a little more in the light.
  • Base of the stem soft: give the plant a little less water.
  • Pruning is not necessary. Less beautiful leaves you can simply pick / cut away.
  • The sap of the Dieffenbachia leaf is slightly toxic. Wear gloves when removing leaves or when repotting.

Draceana

Watering

  • Summer: once every 1-2 weeks.
  • Winter: once every 3-4 weeks.
  • Check the dryness of the soil. If it still feels damp after a week: give less water. 
  • Spraying: not necessary, but does improve vitality and ornamental value.

Sunlight

  • Maximum of 3 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Maintenance

  • Brown or yellow leaves: give less water.
  • Brown leaf edges or spots: move the plant further away from the sun.
  • Curled leaves: give more water.
  • Prune every autumn or earlier if necessary.
  • Brown edges can be trimmed easily.

Ficus

Watering

  • Check the dryness of the soil, it should always be slightly moist.
  • Soil after 2 days already dry: give more water.
  • Soil after 6 days still wet: give less water.
  • Give a small amount of water at a time.
  • In winter, Ficus needs half as much water.

Sunlight

  • At least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day.
  • The further away from the window, the slower the growth will be.

Maintenance

  • Leaf loss: can be due to relocation or too low light intensity.
  • Leaf loss: give less water.
  • Brown leaves: too much or too little water. The reaction of the plant will be the same because the roots will 'close up' when there is too much water. This will cause the leaves to dry out.
  • Prune the Ficus every autumn or when the plant gets too big.
  • Ficus is slightly poisonous. The milky white sap released after pruning can irritate dry skin.

Philodendron

Watering

  • Check the dryness of the soil; Philodendron is sensitive to too much water.
  • Summer: water the plant again when soil starts to dry up. If soil is still very wet after 4 days, water slightly less.
  • Winter: soil may feel dry for about a week. 
  • Small amount of lukewarm water at a time.
  • Spraying: the more the better. It is advisable to spray at least once a week.

Sunlight

  • Avoid direct sunlight, especially bright afternoon sunlight.

Maintenance

  • Brown or yellow leaf edges: give less water.
  • Yellow glow and limp leaves: move plant 1 meter further from the window.

Platycerium

Watering

  • Check the dryness of the soil, may always be slightly moist.
  • Spraying: not necessary, but enhances vitality and ornamental value.

Sunlight

  • Place or hang the Platycerium in a spot without direct sunlight.
  • Half-shadow is fine.

Maintenance

  • Yellow leaves: too much light, place the plant 1 meter further from the window.
  • Brown edges or spots: give less water.
  • The fern does not need to be pruned. The ugly and withered leaves can be removed.

Polyscias

Watering

  • Summer: check the dryness of the soil, soil should remain moist.
  • Winter: check the dryness of the soil, may dry out slightly.
  • Watering: regular watering ensures sufficient humidity and a healthier plant.

Sunlight

  • Sunny location with number of hours of direct sunlight needed.
  • The Polyscias does not like to change its location. Let the plant get used to a new location and make sure the plant is not suddenly placed in a dark place.

Maintenance

  • Brown or yellow leaf edges: give less water.
  • Leaf fall and stunted growth: move the houseplant closer to the window.
  • Whitish calcium deposits on leaves: use rainwater or decalcified water instead of tap water.
  • Yellow leaves: give less water and/or provide more sunlight.
  • All leaves fall out: give less water.