Care of Angel Plants

Exotic Angel Plants are a brand of indoor tropical plants cultivated by Hermann Engelmann Greenhouses. Identified by their bright red angel tags, these houseplants are in stores across the U.S. Ranging from baby jade to dracaena to ferns, there are over 400 varieties. While the specific care needed to promote plant growth varies, you can use basic principles to determine the best care for your variety.

Planning

• Before you purchase a plant, take time to choose one that will work well for your level of gardening. Some indoor plants require more maintenance than others, and you should be able to tell from the tag how much time you’ll need to spend caring for the plant.

Care

• Knowing where to place your plant is an important part of caring for it. The amount of light a plant gets determines how much sugar and starch it will produce. Some plants such as the hoya and ficus thrive in full light; some, such as dracaenas and ivy, prefer partial shade; others such as ferns need low light. If you try to grow plants in the wrong light, it can lead to problems.

  Along with light, establish an appropriate watering schedule. According to Hermann Engelmann, the amount of water a plant receives is as important to the care of your plant as the amount of light it gets. Watch for symptoms of over- or underwatering your plants and adjust your schedule as needed. The symptoms of overwatering, which can cause the roots to rot, include leaves falling off without changing color, and yellowing at the base of the leaves. Wilting leaves tend to indicate a lack of water.

  To avoid shocking your plants, follow watering practices recommended by plant nurseries. These include using lukewarm water to water plants and allowing chlorinated water to age before applying it. To age water, allow it to sit out overnight, which causes the chlorine to evaporate, reducing negative affects on tropical plants. Once water begins to drain from the holes on the bottom of your pot, stop watering. If the water seems to rush out too quickly, you may have let the plant become too dry. When this happens, put the pot in 1-inch-deep water and allow it to soak for 30 minutes.

  Depending on whether or not you think your plant needs additional nutrients, you can consider fertilizing your plants. A fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in a 1:2:1 ratio works well. Most manufacturers use fertilized soil to promote plant growth, so you can wait two to three months after you purchase the plant before adding fertilizer. Angel plants only need fertilizer once a month to thrive.