In this viewer-inspired video, find out the meaning of various houseplant terminology. If you’ve wondered what is meant by various houseplant terms, this video will clear things up for you.
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Hello, and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors! If you’d like to support our show, please use our Amazon affiliate link below.
Today, I am doing a video that was recommended by one of my viewers, TD Ginter. Thank you, TD, for suggesting this! This is a fun one, and it’s all about common houseplant terms. TD recently became involved in a houseplant enthusiast group and wanted to know some of the terminology. It can be a little intimidating and confusing if you hear people saying certain things related to plant care.
It’s a good idea to become well-versed in the lingo, as they say. Like any hobby, indoor gardening has its own terminology. So, the next time you hear people talking about some of these terms or if they mention them to you, you’ll know what they’re talking about! I’ll be covering these in alphabetical order, and if there are any other terms you’d like to know, please put them in the comment section below, and I’ll be happy to define those terms for you.
Amendment: This term refers to organic materials that you add to your potting soil to make it healthier for your plants, helping them establish strong roots. Amendments include worm compost, peat moss, and pumice, which enhances drainage. An amendment is anything you add to your soil to improve its condition, making plants grow even healthier, like the plants you see here.
Bolt: This happens when a plant goes to seed too early, like lettuce or coleus. For example, if a coleus starts getting a lot of flowers, it’s bolting. Edible plants like basil can also bolt, and pink polka dot plants tend to bolt as well, starting to grow upward with flower stalks. When this happens, you’ll want to pinch off the flowers, as bolting can make edible plants bitter and decorative plants rangy.
Cross: In indoor gardening, this is when two dissimilar parent plants cross to create a new, unique plant, often resulting in different colors, leaf shapes, or growth patterns. Hybridizers create these by crossing different parent plants, like the arrowhead plant with lime-green leaves.
Cultivate: This term simply means preparing the soil in your containers for planting. You might move the soil around with your fingers or a trowel, deciding if it needs amendments or top dressing. Cultivating just means mixing or loosening the soil, which helps with planting.
Deadhead: This term refers to removing old flowers from your plants to encourage new blooms. For example, when your African violets finish blooming, pinching off the old flowers will help the plant produce new ones.
Drainage: Houseplants generally need excellent drainage to prevent roots from sitting in water. When you water, the water should easily flow through the pot and out of the drainage holes. Good drainage is essential for healthy roots.
Established: After repotting, a plant becomes “established” when it’s acclimated to its new environment and starts to grow. This can also apply to new plants in your home. New growth signals that a plant has settled in and is established, and it’s at this point that you can begin to fertilize it.
Foliar Feeding: This refers to spraying a liquid fertilizer directly onto plant leaves, allowing the nutrients to be absorbed quickly. Foliar feeding is a good option for plants needing a nutrient boost.
Force: This term refers to tricking certain plants, like paperwhite narcissus or amaryllis, into blooming indoors during winter by mimicking spring conditions.
Hydrated: A hydrated plant has full, buoyant leaves, indicating it has received adequate moisture. After watering, you’ll notice the leaves perk up as they become well-hydrated.
Leach: Leaching refers to running water through a plant’s soil to remove excess salts and fertilizer buildup. Leaching is especially useful when bringing home a new plant, as it flushes out chemicals that may have been added during commercial growth.
Pinch Back: Pinching back simply means removing shoots on plants to encourage side branching, creating a fuller plant. This technique is common for herbs and other soft-stemmed plants.
Potting Up: This term means repotting your houseplants, changing their pot or soil. Potting up gives the plants fresh nutrients and room to grow.
Set Down Roots: When a plant “sets down roots,” it means its roots have established in healthy soil. Once roots are settled, the plant is established.
Sucker: Suckers are sprouts that grow from the rootstock below a grafted section of a plant. They should be removed, as they drain energy from the main plant. This is common in plants that have been grafted, such as roses or certain fruit trees.
Transpiration: Plants release moisture through stomata on the underside of their leaves, a process called transpiration. This can help regulate their internal moisture levels, especially in high humidity.
That’s it for today’s houseplant terminology! Now you’re better equipped to talk to other houseplant enthusiasts. Let me know if you have questions about other terms, and I’ll be happy to answer them.
Thank you for stopping by! Please leave comments about any indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video, and click the bell if you’d like to be notified of new videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an amendment in houseplant care?
An amendment refers to organic materials added to potting soil to enhance its health and aid in root development. Common amendments include worm compost, peat moss, and pumice, which improve drainage and help plants grow more robustly.
What does it mean when a plant bolts?
Bolting occurs when a plant goes to seed prematurely, often due to environmental factors. This process is common in plants like lettuce, coleus, basil, and pink polka dot plants. Pinching off the flowers helps maintain the plant’s quality, as bolting can make edible plants bitter and ornamental plants unruly.
What is a cross in indoor gardening?
A cross is when two different parent plants breed to create a new, unique plant. This hybridization can result in new colors, leaf shapes, or growth patterns.
What does it mean to cultivate soil?
Cultivating soil refers to preparing it for planting by mixing or loosening it, which helps aerate and improve the soil structure.
What does deadheading mean?
Deadheading is the process of removing faded flowers to encourage new blooms, especially in flowering houseplants like African violets.
Why is drainage important for houseplants?
Proper drainage allows excess water to flow out of the pot, preventing root rot. Good drainage is crucial for maintaining healthy plant roots.
When is a plant considered established?
A plant is established once it has adapted to its new environment and begins showing new growth, indicating it’s ready for regular care, including fertilization.
What is foliar feeding?
Foliar feeding involves spraying a liquid fertilizer directly onto plant leaves for quick nutrient absorption.
What does it mean to force a plant to bloom?
Forcing a plant, such as an amaryllis, involves simulating spring conditions indoors to prompt winter blooming.
How can you tell if a plant is hydrated?
A hydrated plant displays full, buoyant leaves, indicating it has adequate moisture.
What is leaching in plant care?
Leaching involves flushing soil with water to remove excess salts and fertilizer buildup, which is especially useful for new plants.
What does it mean to pinch back a plant?
Pinching back refers to removing shoots to encourage branching, creating a fuller plant, common in herbs.
What does potting up mean?
Potting up is the process of repotting a plant into a larger container or refreshing its soil to give it space and nutrients.
What does it mean when a plant sets down roots?
This term describes when a plant’s roots have adapted to the soil, marking its establishment.
What are suckers in plants?
Suckers are sprouts that emerge from below a grafted section and should be removed to prevent energy loss from the main plant.
What is transpiration?
Transpiration is the process of plants releasing moisture through their leaf stomata to regulate internal moisture.
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