Flower Care Tips

• When you receive your arrangement make sure that none of the water was lost during delivery. If it has fill the container back up.
• It is important to keep the vase full of water and to change the water when it begins to appear cloudy.
• When you change the water, mix the nutrient packet provided by your florist. Follow the instructions on the packet.
• Keep fresh arrangements away from heat or extreme cold.
• Also to extend the life of fresh flowers keep them away from fresh fruit.

Plant Care Tips

by Dr. Alsup-Egbers, Missouri State University

Common Name	Parlor Palm
Botanical Name	Chamaedorea elegans
Light	Bright filtered light. Direct sunlight will bleach the foliage.
Water	You should water Chamaedoreas frequently during the summer months.  Wait until the medium has dried down about half its depth, then thoroughly water.

Common Name	Dumb Cane
Botanical Name	Dieffenbachia
Light	Grows best in bright indirect or curtain-filtered sunlight. Excess light scalds leaves, while inadequate light causes variegated leaves to turn solid green. Plants grow quicker in higher lighting.
Water	Allow medium to become moderately dry between waterings. Use soft water if possible.
Special Notes	The plant’s milky sap contains sharp, needle-like crystals of calcium oxalate that may irritate skin and mucous membranes. Ingestion can cause illness and swelling of the mouth and throat.

Common Name	Golden Pothos
Botanical Name	Epipremnum aureum
Light	Best leaf color in bright, diffused light. Insufficient light causes long internodes and loss of variegation.
Water	Water thoroughly when medium dries out on surface.
Special Notes	The plant’s milky sap contains sharp, needle-like crystals of calcium oxalate that may irritate skin and mucous membranes. Ingestion can cause illness and swelling of the mouth and throat.

Common Name	Rubber Plant
Botanical Name	Ficus elastica
Light	Bright, very adaptable to low
Water	Moderate to slightly dry
Special Notes	Sticky white sap may irritate skin, or stomach if ingested

Common Name	Bromeliad
Botanical Name	Guzmania
Light	require 12 to 18 hours of light per day
Water	Do not use a copper-based spray, as it can kill the plants quickly
Special Notes

Common Name	English Ivy
Botanical Name	Hedera helix
Light	Tolerates a range of lighting but prefers medium to high light.
Water	Water thoroughly, then let medium dry to touch to a depth of 1".
Special Notes	Leaves and berries are toxic. They contain triterpenoid Saponins and polyacteylene compounds. These can cause severe skin irritation with redness, itching and blisters following contact with sap from plant cells. Ingestion of berries will cause a burning sensation in the throat. Ingestion of leaves will cause delirium, stupor, cunvulsions, hallucinations, fever and rash.

Common Name	Heart-Leaf Philodendron
Botanical Name	Philodendron scandens oxycardium
Light	Tolerates low light but does best in bright indirect light.
Water	Keep moderately moist. Use soft water if possible.
Special Notes	All parts of this plant are poisonous. The plant contains oxalic acid crystals.

Common Name	Dwarf Schefflera
Botanical Name	Schefflera arboricola
Light	Medium to high. Does well near an east, west, or south window, filtered light, or location receiving 1000 footcandles or more.
Water	Water thoroughly, let soil dry to touch to a soil depth of 1/2".

Common Name	Peace Lily
Botanical Name	Spathiphyllum spp.
Light	Very tolerant of low light. Does best in part shade except in winter when it may receive bright indirect or filtered sunlight. Yellow leaves on outside of plant indicate excessive light.
Water	Water when top of medium is dry to the touch. Yellow leaves in center of plant indicate overwatering. Spathiphyllums wilt when dry, but will recover if the drought period wasn’t extensive. Plants may also wilt at the end of the day in a hot location; make sure they really need water before watering.
Special Notes	The plant’s milky sap contains sharp, needle-like crystals of calcium oxalate that may irritate skin.