That's what we really love them, potted plants? Caring, seated, to choose their place better and softer vodichku? Because pulls us closer to nature. I want to harmony and wonder. Is not it a miracle that the four walls, in a tiny piece of land is growing, flowers and greens now living miracle ..

That's why we moved it to their apartments Aboriginal humid tropics, hot deserts, dense forests and meadows. And we live with them side by side and are happy that they are with us. It is not always able to choose the correct indoor plants, which would be a good name in our house: some of them like the sun, the other shadow, some feed humid climate, and some, on the contrary, try not waterlogged. In short, a lot of trouble with them. Let's find out how to choose the right colors for the room of his house, because of its so-called micro-climate. For example, if the apartment is not enough sunlight, then it will be good to grow shade-loving potted plants.

Botanical Features

First, let's define just what is shade-loving plants, and there is shade-tolerant. And between them there is a significant difference. Shade house plants grow in the wild only in dark conditions. They can not stand direct sunlight, which can cause burns the leaves. Bright and well-known example of a shade-loving pot plants - ferns.

Shade tolerance quite feel well in bright sun, but tolerate shading. Such plants look different from the light-loving. They are usually wider, thin and soft leaves, smooth and flat in shape. Such features are caused by the need to capture more of the scattered light in shaded conditions.

In the indoor horticulture fundamental difference between shade-loving and shade-tolerant flowers there. And those and others are equally suited for growing in dark rooms, on the northern and western windows. The main condition of successful growth - a good fertile soil. Since most shade-loving plants in nature lives in the woods in the shadow of tree crowns, and compensates for the lack of light rich forest soils. Therefore, shade-loving plants are well adapted to a greater absorption of nutrients from the soil.

And another feature of shade-loving plants - their beautiful decorative leaves for which they are valued. It is clear that flowering specimens in low light grow hard. Therefore, we consider those shade-loving flowers for homes that are unpretentious and decorative at the same time. So, the five leaders.

Deciduous shade-loving plants

• Calathea. Shade-tolerant and water-loving. Poorly tolerated temperature drops.
• Aglaonema. Dieffenbachia similar to, but smaller than her. In winter, it needs additional lighting.
• Fittonia. He likes partial shade. Do not tolerate direct sunlight. In winter, also need additional lighting.

Tree shade-loving plants

• Ficus. Grow faster, not demanding to light. Suitable for both residential and for office space. Good in winter gardens.
• Aucuba. In nature, it lives in subtropical forests. It is semi-shade.
• Kordilina. It does not tolerate direct sun. For good growth needs a scattered light intensity, and in the winter for additional lighting.
• Fortune Tees capitate. Vertical columnar evergreen shrub. It grows slowly. The light is undemanding.

Shade vines

• Philodendron. Scansorial creeper with woody branches and long aerial roots.
• Ivy. Do not tolerate direct sunlight, but grows well in a fairly dark places. Poorly responsive to change in the position of the light source. In winter, it needs additional lighting.
• Epipremnum. Liana with aerial roots. Its leaves are painted white and yellow stains and "splash." Epipremnum growing quickly for ramification needs topping leaves.
• Tsissus Arctic (birch). It does not tolerate direct sun. It grows well in the shade, on the eastern and western windows.

Flowering Shade Plants

• Saintpaulia (violet). Liberally and long blooming. Do not tolerate direct sunlight. In winter the need for additional lighting.
• Clivia. Blossoms beautiful umbellate inflorescences on high stalks. It needs a fertile soil and good irrigation.
• Begonias. They prefer partial shade. Grow and bloom without any particular problems.

Ferns and palms

• Nephrolepis. It grows well in partial shade. Keep from direct sunlight.
• Maidenhair. It requires light partial shade and protection from the sun.
• Pteris Crete. It requires shading from direct sunlight.
• Rapis. Slow-growing palm tree. It grows well in bright but diffused light. Tolerate direct sun and shade.
• Chamaedorea. Palm plant. It requires protection from the sun.

All this is just a small selection of plants adapted to living in shaded areas. In fact, indoor plants, for which the lack of light and the familiar and desirable, much more. Grow in dark rooms may be even some shade-loving flowers for the garden. Therefore revive badly lit room or the far dark corner there is always help houseplants. You only need to select appropriate species of flora, which in nature are not spoiled by the sun.

You have purchased (or you were given) for the New Year a real live Christmas tree in the container? Christmas tree in a pot - it's wonderful! This means that you can try not only to keep it alive until spring warmth, and then transplanted into open ground in the garden area. Of course, there is no guarantee that this conifer plant perfectly accustomed in your area, but try all it is worth. How to care for the tree in a pot on New Year's holidays, and after them?

Live tree in the New Year's holidays

The first thing you need to pick up for Christmas beauties right place. Find the room where you plan to put dressed up a Christmas tree, the coolest place. Away from heaters and hot batteries and closer to the perch, but so that the sun's rays on the Christmas tree did not fall. The dry air of heated rooms is not very suitable for this forest guest. So often spray it.

Better yet, get the opportunity to put a container with a tree directly in the bowl or pots with water. If you are confused by the basin under the Christmas tree, zadekoriruyte a cloth and tinsel. The water in the basin need to constantly refill. And the Christmas tree itself also did not forget to water. Just do not get carried away. Otherwise, in the warm air and under intensive tree watering can suddenly pull to growth (which for its successful subsequent growth is very undesirable).

Strictly speaking, these are the necessary conditions that are important for the maintenance of life of green trees. Try to create the most suitable tree for the situation (as far as possible in a city apartment). Avoid electrical garlands on the tree and the more candles. Pour your Christmas tree, irrigated, ventilate the room in which it stands. But after the holidays, with Christmas trees removing sheen, try to keep it for life in the open field.

Live tree after the holidays

The best choices for Christmas trees would be "moving" to fresh air immediately after the New Year celebrations. If possible prikopat tree in the open field (for example, during a thaw), be sure to do it. If you have not decided on a permanent place for the Christmas tree, prikopat it directly in the container, or at least buried in the snow somewhere in the garden area. Just select a place for this shady and protected from the wind.

If this is not possible, and to spring the tree will have to keep the house, it is necessary to take measures for its survival in an urban setting. Move the tree in a container on the glassed-in balcony (loggia), or on a cold window sill. Or to the window on the staircase in the entrance, of course, if it does not threaten your fur-tree gaining new owners. Before you move a Christmas tree on a cold, well moistened earth (moisten, but not fill!). And then constantly follow in order to land in the pot does not freeze. Always turn the Christmas tree the different parties to the light source and protect it from direct sunlight.

For small plants, you can create a microclimate with a large plastic bottle. Cut off the bottom of the bottle and make some small holes for air exchange. Cover the entire bottle Christmas tree entirely with the pot - it will provide a constant humidity and creates quite favorable conditions for trees.

With the onset of the summer season at the earliest opportunity the tree should be planted in the garden. Place for Christmas trees should be shaded. The size of the landing pit - 20-30 cm larger than the diameter of an earthen clod. And the pit wall - steep. The composition of the soil mixture for the Christmas tree: the two parts sod land and one part peat and sand. Planting Christmas tree, make sure that the root collar at ground level. Be prepared for the fact that coniferous take root long and hard. It is possible that this period may last for several seasons (three years).

Living room Araucaria tree

A great alternative to this tree - spruce or Araucaria room. This dark green Christmas tree with a very thick and completely thornless needles. It can be purchased in many flower shops, but New Year's Eve to make it quite difficult.

Araucaria is growing slowly, but by the age of five up to two meters. Keep her best in the northern and windows pritenyat from the sun. As the trees have to change his flower pots, and after it reaches a meter height - topsoil. The very soil for Arau need loose, with good content of sand and peat. Watering herringbone enough room once a week (abundant), and sometimes even spray.

In general, care of a Christmas tree is not much different from the care of other shade-loving plants. So much trouble for a year ornamental tree in a pot does not deliver. But when winter comes, the window pops frost or snow falling softly, all towns and villages in a fever on the eve of the Christmas holidays, your home is green real live tree. She is looking forward to his magnificent Christmas attire, to once a year out of the ordinary houseplant turn into a fairy-tale Christmas ... beautiful.