AIR,LIGHT,HUMIDITY & T°

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Published on Wednesday, 10 July 2013 04:07

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Air and Ventilation

All plants need good aeration to grow and to perform the photosynthetic activity, which is the process by which they absorb carbon dioxide from the outside and release oxygen. A good ventilation facilitates the transpiration through which the plants eliminate the waste products through the leaves, also prevents air from stagnating and prevents the concentration of poisonous fumes, especially in urban environments where the problem of atmospheric pollution should not be forgotten. Then arrange the plants in a well-ventilated place, but be extremely careful not to expose them to direct drafts, which can be harmful and cause the foliage to fall. If the plants are placed close to form a composition, make sure that there is room for air circulation between them. In an air-conditioned apartment, the plants benefit from the filtered and fresh air, but some precautions must be taken to avoid the low humidity level of the air conditioning. To improve ventilation, you can use low-consumption fans to place close to the plants, avoiding, however, that the air hit them directly: the moisture on the leaves would evaporate too quickly and the roots would not have enough time to replace it , causing the plant to dry.

Exposure to light

When the plants are exposed to light, the tissues containing the chlorophyll produce the carbohydrates necessary for their nourishment. This natural process, called chlorophyll photosynthesis, can not be produced except in the presence of light. Natural light is composed of different bands of color, in the rainbow we see the light decomposed into the individual fundamental colors. The research has identified in the properties of blue-violet and red-orange the color bands of the solar spectrum essential for the survival of plants; the former determine the direction of growth and stimulate the production of sugars and starches by the chlorophyll present in the plant, while the red-orange bands are necessary for seed germination, vegetative growth and flowering, as well as for the synthesis of nutrients. In fact, all flowering plants need sunlight to produce buds, although some, the so-called brevidiurne (plants that bloom better if subjected to a photoperiod less than twelve hours), require less than others. The photoperiod is the duration of the daily illumination period. By artificially increasing the hours of light in the greenhouses, the chrysanthemum has been able to flourish throughout the year, which under normal conditions has only one autumn bloom. Houseplants, especially in winter, can suffer from lack of light. It is possible to improve the lighting with some tricks: by painting the walls in white or with a very light color so that the light, reflecting on them, increases in intensity; the dark walls absorb the radiation. It is also important to keep the leaves of the plants extremely clean, washing them regularly with lukewarm water together with a neutral detergent. Clean leaves are able to absorb a greater amount of light, and therefore synthesize more nutrients, look good and be healthier in general. Plants placed near a window should be turned 90 'each time they are watered in order to receive the same amount of light from all sides. A plant illuminated only on one side will grow unevenly; on the contrary, if it is turned regularly it will develop harmoniously. The most suitable windows for apartment plants are those facing East, because the light that goes from dawn to 11 am is the one that produces the most beneficial effects, while the windows facing south are more suited to those plants that prefer intense light and high temperatures. A plant that has survived a dark winter may not be able to withstand the intensity of summer light and must be protected from direct sunlight. Simple curtains or semi-enclosed blinds will prevent the soil from overheating and damaging the roots. Most plants need 12-14 hours of light a day, when darkness enters into a cyclic phase of rest that lasts until dawn.

Humidity

Most houseplants are native to tropical regions where the climate provides abundant rains to maintain a high degree of humidity. Moisture plays an important role for transpiration, which is the process by which plants eliminate through the stomata (pores), waste materials in the form of vapor that is dispersed in the air. Plants grow in optimal conditions when the balance between the water absorbed by the roots and the one eliminated through transpiration is maintained. Moisture-free air accelerates evaporation, the surface of the leaves quickly dry, causing more perspiration. If the air is excessively dry, the transpiration increases in intensity causing a strong dehydration of the leaves and the stem that will soon lose vigor and wither. To avoid this problem it is not sufficient to give the plant a greater quantity of water, in fact, it is also necessary to increase the degree of humidity in the air so as to recreate the balance. The ideal moisture content is 30-40%, while in apartments it is often less than 12%, apparently too low, for the wellbeing of plants (and men). The plants prefer a humidity level of about 80-90%; in a greenhouse the humidity is always around 60% or more, so it is quite natural that a plant transferred to the apartment will soon begin to take on a brownish color and lose leaves, flowers and buds.

The succulent plants are the only ones structured to withstand a long period of drought both of the soil and the air, they are in fact able to store water in the leaves and the stem and their leaves have a structure that slows down the transpiration process.

There are several methods to increase the percentage of humidity in the air to the benefit of plants:

1. the simple fact of grouping a large number of plants increases the atmospheric humidity, as each plant transpires emitting moisture;

2. Fill a pan with a compact layer of pebbles and place a group of plants on top of it. Keep the pebbles moist, making sure that the water level remains below the pots so as not to get wet because they would end up suffering. The water in the tray will evaporate slowly, causing an increase in atmospheric humidity;

3. vaporizing the foliage every two days or even daily if the air is extremely dry, using a very thin jet sprayer; it is better not to completely wet the plants. If the lighting is artificial, the plants do not need to be nebulized frequently, rather they need abundant irrigations;

4. buy a humidifier. The beneficial effect on the dry air of the apartment will benefit the plants and you will also appreciate it.

Temperature

The health of plants also depends on a correct temperature. Research and experiments have found that plants need the temperature range that normally occurs between day and night. During the hours of light the plants store and process the nutrients, they also perform the photosynthesis process, which could not produce in the absence of heat. At night, when the temperature drops. the plants cease this activity to assimilate the stored nourishment and grow. The temperature drop is one of the main factors that causes the change of activity of the plants, therefore if they are grown in a constant temperature environment they are not able to assimilate nutrients properly and they can not grow and flourish according to their potential. An exception to this rule is the African violet, which is instead able to thrive in environments at a constant temperature. The average temperature in most homes varies between 20 and 22 ° C, so plants that have similar thermal conditions will grow better. The plants die if exposed to temperatures near or below zero. but some tropical species will suffer damage even at temperatures below 10 ° C. To ensure optimal conditions for growth, the temperature of the apartment should drop by 5-8 ° C during the night. In winter, homes are often overheated, but the temperature near the windows will always be lower; this microclimate will be useful for geraniums, orchids, succulents and all species that need a cool climate to thrive. Never place plants near radiators or other direct sources of heat because they will shrivel. You can, however, place them on a radiator as long as they are insulated with a thick wooden or thermal insulation board. the heat will reach the plant in minimum quantity without causing any damage. During the winter nights it will be better to protect from the cold those plants that have been placed near the windows: close the shutters and, if necessary, isolate The window frame with some plastic to block drafts. Consult the Botanical Boards to establish the temperature required by each type of plant, some are extremely delicate and need precise temperatures to grow luxuriant.