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Answers to Plant Quiz
1. B. Light is the
single most important element necessary for growing healthy plants.
Although water, soil nutrients and humidity are important to good plant
growth, none of them matter if the light level is incorrect.
2. F. None of the
above is the correct answer because there is no single frequency for
watering plants that is appropriate for all plants. Water frequency
depends on light and humidity levels, temperature, pot size and many
other factors that vary from plant to plant.
3. False. Plants
should be repotted only when they are growing vigorously and have become
seriously potbound.
4. B or C are equally
correct. Most, but not all, indoor plants prefer roots that are
surrounded by soil that is in the range of evenly moist or slightly dry
or barely damp. Avoid the extremes.
5. Flowering plants
require more light than do foliage plants. Plants with variegated and/or
paler green leaves require more light than plants with dark green
foliage.
6. D. Wood ash is the
only acceptable additive to indoor plants on the list. Wood ash is a
good source of potash and adds texture to plant soil. Food substances
such as compost are great for outdoor plants, but attract insect pests
and are inappropriate for indoor plants. Coffee and tea are only
appropriate for acid-loving plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons and
blueberries.
7. False. Plants do
not adapt easily to changes in their environment, especially light
levels. Moving plants in and out doors forces the plant to constantly
adjust to new conditions.
8. B. Misting does
keep plants clean. Contrary to conventional wisdom, daily misting only
raises the humidity level for however long the water droplets remain on
the leaves - usually less than 30 minutes out of a 24 hour day. Water
alone will remove some plant pests temporarily, but it has no
long-lasting effect on plant pests.
9. A. Plants are good
air cleaners. Scientific studies have demonstrated that plants are
effective in removing indoor pollutants commonly found in buildings
suffering from "sick building syndrome."
10. False. Plants are
good for sick as well as healthy people. They use the carbon dioxide we
exhale and give off the oxygen we inhale. A few individuals do have
allergic reactions to some plants, but this is rare.
11. F. None of the
above. Humans need vitamins, but plants do not. Plants do need mineral
nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, iron, boron and
others.
12. E. All of the
above. Improper light levels and improper watering are the primary
causes of leaf yellowing. Improper soil pH and pests can also cause
yellowing. Unfortunately, yellow leaves only indicate that there is a
problem, not what is causing the problem.
13. False. Adding soil
to the top of a potted plant does not help the plant. If a plant is
truly potbound, then move it into a larger pot and add fresh soil to the
bottom and sides of the pot.
14. A. 65 to 80
degrees is the preferred temperature range for most indoor plants.
Indoor plants are native to tropical and semi-tropical climates. Our
normal household temperatures are compatible with their requirements.
That is why they are selected for use as indoor plants.
15. A. The sun. You
can't beat Mother Nature when it comes to providing light for plants.
Natural light is full-spectrum light. Incandescent or standard light
bulbs provide light from a portion of the light spectrum that is not
helpful for most indoor plants. Fluorescent bulbs provide spectral light
that is good for foliage plants. Plant lights come the closest to
duplicating the full-spectrum light of the sun, but they are expensive.
Candlelight is just to dim to benefit plants.
Your Plant IQ
If you had 12 or more
correct answers, then you are qualified as an
indoor plant expert.
If you had 8 to 11
correct answers, you definitely have a
green thumb,
but would benefit from some inside tips available on this website.
If you had 4 to 7
correct answers, you are about
average
in your knowledge of indoor plants.
If you had fewer than
4 correct answers, then you have the most to gain from
subscribing to Indoor Plant Bulletins.
Are you surprised by
some of these answers? If so, then you may be surprised to find out that
you, like many others, may have accumulated other misinformation about
plant care. Did you know that most plant books and plant care articles
are written by professionals whose experiences are limited to growing
plants in greenhouses where the environment is carefully regulated.
Unfortunately, you probably don't have an ideal environment for your
plants, so the standard plant care advice is often not applicable for
you.
I have had 20 years of
experience of caring for plants in offices, restaurants, department
stores, atria and residences. My expertise is knowing how to help plants
adapt to difficult environments. The secrets of the professional indoor
landscaping industry are revealed here to the public for the first time.
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