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indoor bonsai trees
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How to stop your plant pots from dripping on your furnitureIf you correctly water a house plant in a container that has proper drainage, you're going to have a drip problem. Any excess water that the potting mix can't retain during normal watering will run out the drainage holes. Wherever you display house plants, water drips will probably be a problem. The most efficient solution is to provide a drips tray under the plant pot to catch the excess water. Buy a decorative drip tray that is designed for just this purpose and provides a healthy growing environment. Humidity drip trays look nice, catch water drips and enhance the rooms decor in which you have placed your plant or tree.
All bonsai plants and trees are sold with matching bonsai pots. Whenever possible, buy a drip saucer or humidity drip tray at the same time you purchase a container. With other plant containers, it's up to the indoor gardener to find a suitable drip saucer. Look for unobtrusive saucers or trays. Though a mismatched saucer may protect furniture surfaces, it can ruin the visual effect of the house plant. Pads or mats may also be used to protect interior surfaces. Part of the runoff problem can be solved at watering time. Take house plants to a sink for watering; then let them drain in the sink for a while (at least 10 minutes). The majority of excess water should drain into the sink, not into the drip saucer. This method of watering does not eliminate the need for a drip saucer, though. If your saucer or humidity tray is made of a porous material like clay it can absorb moisture. Water sitting in nonporous saucers, such as plastic or glazed ceramic, may cause condensation on the saucer's exterior. If the saucers with absorbed moisture or condensation remain in one spot long enough, the contact may eventually ruin furniture surfaces or rot carpets. Many indoor gardeners protect surfaces by creating a "buffer zone" between drip saucers and furniture, floors, or carpets. This buffer zone forms an air space in which any absorbed moisture or moisture caused by condensation can be dissipated. Coasters, mats, blocks of wood, metal or wooden plant holders, or any other means of raising the plant container and saucer off furniture or carpet surfaces create a buffer zone.
Using decorative sleeves A decorative sleeve is any container that an already-potted house plant is set into for display purposes. The decorative sleeve has many advantages:
The sleeve should be at least an inch larger in diameter than the plant's container to allow for good air circulation. Put the potted house plant into the sleeve. If it sits too low in the sleeve, prop it up. Bricks, other clay pots turned upside down, layers of small rocks or pebbles, sphagnum moss, or any material that will raise the potted plant to the proper level can be used. This also allows for drainage, keeping plants in decorative sleeves from sitting in water. Some examples of utilizing decorative sleeves are shown at left. If the runoff from normal watering could damage your decorative sleeve, line it with heavy plastic or provide a drip saucer inside the sleeve under the potted plant as a preventive measure.
Some indoor gardeners also line the space between the plant container and the sleeve to give the illusion of direct planting. Sphagnum moss or pebbles are commonly used; loosely packed, they still permit adequate air circulation around the container. A top mulch of pebbles or bark covering both the soil surface of the plant and liner helps add to this illusion. House plant Care TipsPlant care maintenance| Watering plants | plant pests and bugs | house plant container | pruning house plants | Propagating house plants | Repotting house plants | house plant care tips |
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