Linnaea Newman

The Guide to Interior Landscape Specifications, 5th Edition, ALCA (PLANET)

Although this drawing depicts how many interior landscapers have been installing interior foliage plants for years, it contains one significant ommission.  It does not depict how to keep plants from sinking into the planters as the well-drained soilless media used in them compacts and decomposes.

It’s springtime, and all the new installations I’m traveling to inspect  look great, with planters full of soilless medium and brand new plants.  However, without a method of preventing the plants from sinking, they AND the soilless medium will be 6" below the planter rim within a year, as in the photo below.  This palm tree has a 14" liner wrapped around its trunks, 4" sticking above the medium, and 10" below the soil, which has sunken beneath the plants.  Duration of installation, 2 years.   

Since exterior landscapers have faced this problem for more years than we’ve been operating indoors, they have devised a method of preventing this problem by using proper planting methods (see previous post).  We can do likewise, so stay tuned for the solution.

Above are photos depicting the proper steps given to exterior landscapers for plant installation.  Simple and direct, the instructions can be followed even without wording as long as the installation person can look at the pictures.  Proper Interior planting is no different, other than we use soilless medium in our interior settings.  What one major flaw could we eliminate in our installations that would give interior plantscape designs a much better chance of survival?  

Yes, the holidays are upon us, and the first delivery of beautiful Poinsettias is arriving at all of our malls and retail stores.  As a friend and client said to me, "The Poinsettia is a bittersweet flower."  Bitter, because it is the source of extra work and numerous complaints during the already busy holiday season, and sweet because it is also a beautiful example of what we do, and can be a good source of revenue.

This dramatic flower only remains beautiful as long as it obtains adequate moisture–without drying out or sitting in water, both of which will lead to its early demise.  So, how does the smart plantscaper keep it looking fresh and vibrant without jeopardizing profits with twice weekly visits?  In a word, Sippers™!

Regardless of what watering system(s) you may have tried on flowering plants in the past, don’t let another holiday season go by without the use of Sippers™ on every one of your Poinsettias.

Made out of the same material as the tips of dry erase markers, Sippers™ allow "on-demand" water transfer from a 1+1/2 inch reservoir held in a waterproof decorative liner to the soil of the plant, held safely above the water’s surface.  This allows a constant supply of moisture, as well as oxygen to the plant’s soil, preventing the occurrance of root rot–see diagram below.

Which is more cost effective, $2.00 per plant in Sippers™ or an extra visit each week to water thirsty Poinsettias?  And don’t forget to compute the cost of extra replacement flowers, and disgruntled customers where Sippers™ aren’t used.

Also, Sippers are not biodegradable, so don’t throw them away, they can be cleaned, and reused next year.  They are invaluable for hanging baskets, too.

To order, click on the following link:  www.linnaeanewman.com/wp-content/uploads/File/TOPsiders.mht