Question
We lost a few plants in our building over the winter and are now getting ready to replace them.   I know the reason that we lost them was because they were improperly planted in pots that were too big and the roots rotted.  Other than that I am pretty sure the light and locations were right for the plants.  These are the plants that we lost;  Maya Palm,  Seifrizzii Palm and Roebellini Palm. I was wondering if we should replace them with the same plants, assuming that if properly planted they will do better, or would you recommend something else similar but easier to care for since we have volunteers maintaining them. Thank you very much.

Answer
Hi Karan,

It is easy to purchase terrific looking plants. It is not so easy keeping them that way when they are cared for by well-meaning  volunteers. There is no simple formula for how often a particular plant should be watered, for example. In addition, plants respond to consistency so multiple care-givers is a mistake.

If you are serious about protecting your investment in new plants, then I suggest that your building look into having them cared for professionally. It will probably save you money in the long run. Interiorscapers or indoor landscapers are the professionals you are looking for.

Selection of plants that will do well in a particular environment begins with an accurate assessment of light and temperature. The selected plants must match those conditions if they are to have any reasonable chance of surviving. Here again, a professional interiorscaper can evaluate your building and help you select the appropriate plants. That is a free service I offer all my prospective clients.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions about finding an interior landscaper.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com
  
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]