Simon & Schuster's Guide to House Plants

PISimon & Schuster's Guide to House Plants/Iis the definitive guide to selecting the right plants for your indoor environment and making them flourish. The introductory chapter explains how plants grow; how and when to feed, repot, and prune them; how to protect them from pests and diseases; the best ways to arrange and support house plants; and how to engage in hydroculture. Each of the 243 entries, illustrated in lush full color, gives the plant's family, place of origin, description, propagation requirements, and complete instructions on temperature, lighting, and watering.PWhether you are a novice or an expert indoor gardener, this indispensable guide is the most authoritative and useful handbook on house plants you can own.PPFONT SIZE=+1BChapter 1/B/FONTPBHOUSE PLANTS/BPB1 ABUTILON MEGAPOTAMICUM/B'Variegatum'PBFamily/BMalvaceae.PBOrigin/BBrazil.PBDescription/BAn evergreen shrub of drooping habit with slender stems bearing ovate, pointed, toothed and sometimes lobed leaves 6-10 cm (2-4 in) long. The leaf blade has yellow blotches. The pendulous flowers are bell-shaped and grow singly or in pairs from the leaf axils. Each flower has a red calyx which partially enfolds the yellow corolla, from which dark anthers project; length of flower is 4-5 cm (2 in). The flowering season is from May to October.PBCare/BThe species can be grown outside in warm regions. Indoors it needs plenty of bright light, even direct sun for several hours daily, and can be kept at medium temperatures of 18-22°C (64-71°F). Water regularly while growing, letting the surface of the soil dry out before repeating. Reduce amount of water during rest period. Feed with standard liquid fertilizer fortnightly from April to October. Soil made of organic matter, peat and sand in equal proportions. Replace the plants every 2-3 years with new specimens, preferably obtained from cuttings. Prune vigorously in March-April, reducing length o