Here are some terms used in Indoor Gardening and Plant Care:
Note: We continuously add more terms and words to this dictionary.
Air Circulation: The movement of air within indoor gardens, which is essential for plant health.
Aerogarden: A popular brand of hydroponic indoor gardening systems for growing herbs, vegetables, and flowers.
Aerate: Aerate refers to the process of improving the flow of air, water, and nutrients to the roots of plants. This is typically done by creating channels or openings in the soil to allow for better circulation and root development.
Albo: Albo is a term used as a prefix to describe specific plant varieties or cultivars that have variegated leaves, meaning the leaves have a mix of white or pale colors along with the usual green color. The term "albo" is derived from the Latin word "albus," which means "white."
Arid Plants: Arid plants is an umbrella term for plants like to dry out, including caudiciforms, succulents, and cacti. Found in hot areas with low humidity.
Anthocyanin: Anthocyanins are a pigment found in living plants that cause purple, pink, and red coloring. Leaves with anthocyanins still have chlorophyll or they wouldn’t be able to do photosynthesis, but the anthocyanins mask the green coloring. (Examples: Tradescantia zebrina, the underside of most Calathea species’ leaves, Peperomia ‘Schumi Red’)
Bulb: Bulbs are a root structure that stores water and nutrients, much like tubers or corms. The word bulb is often used to describe tubers, corms, and rhizomes, but they are all separate structures. They form to support the plant through changing conditions but they are also how some plants self-propagate. Bulbs are able to survive dormant for long periods underground or bare root in cool, dry conditions.
Carnivorous plants: Carnivorous plants are plants that capture and digest small animals, like insects, to obtain essential nutrients they can't get from the soil.
Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL): Energy-efficient artificial lighting used in indoor gardening setups.
Death Bloom: Death blooms are the flowers of monocarpic succulents that signal the end of the plant’s life. However, this does not mean that the plant gets thrown out after it blooms, they will produce up to dozens of pups in their lifetime, depending on the plant, and the original plant will live on through its multiple offspring.
Epicuticular Wax:
Epicuticular wax is wax found on the outer skin of all plants but can be thick enough to be visible and wipe off when you touch it. It’s most commonly seen on the bodies and leaves of succulents; extra thick to protect the water that they store in their bodies from evaporating.
Epiphytic Plants:
Epiphytic plants are plants that use other plants and structures to support themselves, such as trees or buildings. To do this they grow aerial roots for both grip and water/nutrient intake. Some epiphytic plants also root into the ground while some only require something to hold onto. Examples: Epipremnum aureum 'Pothos', Selenicereus anthonyanus 'Ric-Rac Cactus, air plants.
Etiolation: Etiolation is a stretching that will happen to succulents when they are reaching for light. As they grow, the space between leaves will increase and the new leaves will be thinner and longer. If this happens, give the plant a bit more light!
Family: Family is a ranking in the classification of living (and dead) organisms. We don’t refer to plants by their family names because family is one level above genus and we refer to plants as their genus name and then species name. But knowing a plant’s family can help you understand what it is closely related to and therefore what kind of conditions it thrives in.
Fenestration: Fenestrations look like holes or cuts in the mature leaves of a plant. As the plant matures, the new leaves grow with more and more fenestrations. They evolved so that as the leaves get larger as the plant matures, rain, wind, and sunlight can still get through the leaves. Examples: Monstera adansonii , Rhaphidophora tetrasperma 'Mini Monstera', very mature Epipremnum aureum 'Pothos'.
Fern
Ferns are a type of plant that reproduce through spores instead of flowers/fruits/seeds. These spores are found on the underside of the leaves. They are plants of the division (the 3rd level in the 8 level taxonomic chart for classifying living organisms) called Polypodiophyta.
Fertilizer for Indoor Plants: Specialized plant food formulated for the needs of indoor potted plants.
Fibrous Roots
As opposed to taproot, fibrous roots are a system of roots that grow in a branching form. They look like a bush of roots.
Fungus Gnats: Tiny flying insects that can be a common pest in indoor gardens, especially in damp conditions.
Genus
Genus is a ranking in the classification of living (and dead) organisms. The genus name is the first word in the scientific name of a plant and is capitalized. For example, the genus of a Monstera deliciosa is Monstera, and it is in the same genus as Monstera adansonii. The second word in the name is the species.
Glochid
Glochids are the tiny hair-like spines that grow on the areoles of some cacti. They may look so small that you think they’re harmless and fuzzy but can get in your skin and they are barbed so they will stick to anything. The small size makes them hard to remove so take precautions.
Grafting
Grafting is a technique that combines the best parts of two plants to maximise growth. One plant is cut or wounded and the growing end of another is placed on or in the cut and attached so that the plants will grow together and become one. This is done so that the strong roots or base of the ‘rootstock’ (bottom) plant support the ‘scion’ (grafted on) plant which has a fruit or a feature that is desirable, but would not support itself or grow as quickly with its own roots. This is common with fruit trees and cacti (look up ‘Moon Cactus’, you’ll recognize them from Home Depot and other large nurseries).
Grow Light: Artificial lighting designed to mimic sunlight and promote plant growth in indoor environments.
Harden Off: The process of acclimating indoor-grown plants to outdoor conditions gradually.
Humidity: The amount of moisture in the air; controlling indoor humidity levels is important for many indoor plants.
Hydroponics: A method of growing plants without soil, where nutrient-rich water delivers essential minerals directly to plant roots.
Hygrometer: A tool for measuring and monitoring humidity levels in indoor environments.
Kokedama: Kokedama is a Japanese potting style where the root ball of the plant, along with some soil, is wrapped in moss and secured with string. “Koke” means moss and “dama” means ball. They can be hung, mounted to a piece of wood, or they can rest in a decorative vessel.
LECA: LECA stands for Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate. It is balls of sponge-like clay that come in multiple sizes for chunkier or finer roots. It is used as a substrate for growing plants in water, especially hydroponic systems
Meristem: Meristem cells are the cells in plants that are able to form any sort of plant tissue, like stem cells in the human body. They are found at the nodes of stems, the areoles of cacti, at the tips of new growth, the roots, and are found up leaf stems and into the leaves of some plants. These areas are also referred to as the meristem.
Mixed-Soil: A well-balanced mix of soil curated for every type of plant. Not all plants use the same type of soil. The mix varies depending on the plant and its needs.
Mother Plant: The mother plant is the original plant from which you are propagating. It will be genetically identical to cuttings or pups, but if you are harvesting fruit and using seeds then it may be pollinated with another plant. A mother plant could have been propagated from a different mother plant (grandmother plant?).
Mounted: Mounted plants are plants that are attached to a piece of material- the best choice is unfinished wood- surrounded by moss and secured by string. The best plants to mount are those that create aerial roots, such as orchids, aroids, bromeliads, and more. Their roots are meant to cling to a support structure, often trees, and they appreciate the air flow allowed by the moss.
Monocarpic Plants: Monocarpic plants are succulents that die after they bloom. This flower is called a death bloom and it comes from the center of the plant, which sets them apart from most other succulents that bloom off of the side of the stem. (Examples: Agave species, Sempervivum species)
Neem Oil: An organic pesticide and fungicide used in indoor gardening for pest control.
Native: Native plants are plants that existed in an area before human intervention. They are the best evolved to exist in and support their ecosystem. It is helpful to know where a plant is native to so you can recreate the conditions in which that plant would thrive.
Node: Nodes are the spots on a stem where the leaves or branches attach. This is also where aerial roots grow on epiphytic plants, where flowers come from, and where roots come from when propagating a plant.
Nursery Pot: A nursery pot is the plastic pot that plants usually come in when you buy them. They can be very flimsy but are often useful for potting a plant you want to put in a cachepot or propagating plants.
Overwatering: Overwatering is causing the roots of a plant to die and rot from too much water. As long as you have adequate drainage, overwatering has less to do with the amount of water you pour into the plant and more to do with the frequency of watering. All plants want their soil to be fully saturated with water when they are watered. If you’re using the right soil then the soil should hold onto the right amount of water for the plant. Proper drainage means the soil isn’t forced to hold onto more water than it wants. The time you wait between watering allows the roots to take in the water and breathe air through the soil before being given water again. Overwatering is when the roots drown from lack of air and die, hosting root rot and pests.
Parasite: Parasites are epiphytic plants that not only use other plants for physical support but also siphon water and nutrients from them. They used modified roots to actually get inside of the host plant and connect to its transport tissue (plant veins) and steal the water and nutrients that it transports. Parasitic plants are found in almost every climate.
Pebble Tray: Also known as a humidity tray, a pebble tray is a saucer that is filled with water and gravel, pumice, lava rock, or another mineral substrate that allows the pot to sit above the water line. This allows the water in the saucer to evaporate and create humidity around the plant. The best materials for a pebble tray saucer are non-porous, like plastic or glazed ceramic so that the water does not travel through the saucer and sit on whatever surface the tray is sitting on.
Photosynthesis: Photosynthesis is the process that a plant uses to create food from sunlight so it can store the energy from the light and use it later. The plant uses chlorophyll to capture the light and the food is made from carbon dioxide and water.. Oxygen is a byproduct that is released out of the pores of the leaves.
Propagation: Propagation is creation of a new, separate plant. It is a very broad term, but in the world of houseplants, propagation mostly refers to the human action of using a piece of a plant to grow another. It depends on the plant which part of the plant needs to be separated so that it continues to grow or grows new roots/leaves. Some plants will grow from rhizomes/tubers/corms, some will grow from just a leaf, some need a cutting of the stem/body.
Pup: Pups are the offspring of a plant that grows off of the mother plant, often using rhizomes/bulbs or stolons. They are genetically identical to the mother. A wide variety of plants produce pups such as Aloe vera, Pilea peperomioides, the Bromeliad family, and more.
Pruning Shears: Specialized scissors or shears used for trimming and shaping indoor plants.
Repotting: Repotting is a little more involved than just moving a plant to a new pot and filling with soil. The best way to give plants a new home is to give the root system a nice massage before putting it in its new home. This should remove the bulk of the old, nutrient-deficient soil and help the roots grow outwards instead of in the shape of the old pot.
Rhizome: Rhizomes are the offshoot of a plant that grows beneath the ground and creates pups that sprout from the ground near the original plant. It is a modified stem, a subterranean version of a stolon. Plants that create rhizomes include Pilea peperomioides, Sansevieria species, and some Begonia species and more.
Rootbound: Rootbound is what a plant can become if it has been in its pot for a long time. Its root system will reach the walls of the pot and start to move along the pot looking for more space. When you pull the plant out of the pot, roots will be wrapping the substrate (or just its own root ball if it’s been a very, very long time) in the shape of the pot. The roots may start to poke out the drainage hole of the or out the top of the soil. The plant may soak up the water faster so you may have to water more often or the plant will act under-watered. These are good indicators that it’s time to repot your plant into a bigger pot.
Root Ball: Also called the root system, the root ball is the main chunk of roots of a plant. When repotting, mounting, or otherwise placing a plant, you want the root ball to have space to grow, but fill most of the container/space.
Root Rot: Root rot is the bacterial infestation in roots that have been waterlogged and failed. The dead tissue supports the bacteria and it spreads, eating the roots of the plant as the plant slowly suffers. It is often hard to catch root rot until it is already a big problem because the roots are underground, which is why drainage is so important.
Rosette: Rosette describes a form many plants will grow in; a type of upright growing. Plants like Echeveria species, or short, upright Philodendron species grow with their leaves in an array around the stem at the center, like the petals of a rose.
Saturate: Saturating the substrate that your plant is in means making sure that all of the soil has been allowed to soak up water. This is important so that none of the plant’s roots die of dehydration. But, saturating is different from flooding, or waterlogging, a plant. All of the soil needs to be saturated but it also all needs to be allowed to drain.
Scientific Name: The scientific name is the unique name of a plant that includes the genus and species, in that order. It can never refer to two plants but plant names can change when new information shows it was previously in the wrong genus or believed to be the same as another plant. For example, the Sansevieria genus (commonly known as ‘Snake Plants’) were recently reclassified as a species of the genus Dracaena.
Soil: Soil is a mixture of organic matter like plant fiber or compost and mineral or rock like pumice, lava rock, sand, or clay. The mixture that a plant will thrive in depends on the climate that the plant is native to. Whatever the mixture, healthy soil has air movement for gas exchange and living bacteria to help the roots process nutrients.
Soil Amendment: A soil amendment is any material/substrate that you add to your soil in order to tailor it to fit the needs of the specific plant you’re potting. Soil amendments like bark, sphagnum moss, and compost add water retention, amendments like pumice, lava rock, or LECA add aeration, amendments like compost, Plant Biotics, or other fertilizers add nutrients and bacteria. There are even soil amendments like activated charcoal to prevent the growth of rot or algae.
Spines: Spines are the ‘spikes’ or ‘thorns’ of a cactus. They come from the areoles on a cactus and they are made of dead cells, like the nails of a cactus. They provide the obvious protection from people and animals but they also provide shade, diffuse air around the cactus, and sometimes help the cactus propagate itself by attaching to passersby.
Species: Species is a ranking in the classification of living (and dead) organisms. The species name is the second word in the scientific name of a plant and is not capitalized. For example, the species of a Monstera deliciosa is deliciosa. Sometimes the same species name can be used to name plants in different genera (plural of genus) that have similar features.
Spidermites: Spider mites are tiny arachnids that are common garden and agricultural pests. They feed on the sap of plants by piercing leaf cells, causing damage and weakening the plant. Their presence is often indicated by tiny webs on the affected foliage.
Stolon: Stolons are a type of plant stem that are classified by growing along the ground or up a support structure using aerial roots. Stolons propogate the plant using pups that grow from nodes along the length of the stem. Some plants are faster growing and are called trailing because they have many nodes per stem and only a couple of leaves per node like Monstera adansonii ‘Swiss Cheese Vine’. Some plants will grow much more slowly and focus on developing each plantlet so they may only have one or two per stem, like Chlorophytum comosum ‘Spider Plant’. Stolons are found on plants from many different climates.
Substrate: Substrate is the material that the plant is growing in and receiving water and nutrients from. Often, this is soil, but some plants can grow in substrates like pumice, LECA, sphagnum moss, and even water.
Succulent: Succulent is a noun that typically refers to a plant that has thick leaves where it stores water (examples: the Echeveria genus or the Senecio genus). However, succulent plants is an umbrella term for plants that store water, not just in their leaves, making them able to handle periods of drought. This includes cacti, caudiciforms, and plants that grow rhizomes, bulbs, corms, and tubers. Some plants are considered semi-succulent if they have thicker, water-storing leaves or roots and can dry out more than most tropicals but aren’t drought tolerant like succulents.
Sticky traps: Sticky traps are adhesive surfaces, often in the form of boards or sheets, used to capture insects and pests. They are coated with a sticky substance that traps insects when they come into contact with it. Sticky traps are an effective and non-toxic method for monitoring and controlling insect populations in homes, gardens, and agricultural settings.
Taproot: As opposed to fibrous roots, taproots are one large center root with smaller roots attached to it. Carrots are a taproot.
Taxonomic Ranking: The taxonomic ranking of a plant is its place on the Tree of Life. The modern taxonomy or taxonomic chart that we use to classify all living organisms has 8 levels of organization: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum/Division, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species with domain being the most broad and species the most specific. We refer to organisms by their scientific name which is genus and species.
Terracotta Pot: A type of clay pot commonly used for indoor gardening due to its porous nature, allowing air and water exchange.
Terrarium: A closed or open container for growing small plants, often used for decorative purposes.
Tropical Plants: Tropical plants is an umbrella term for plants that enjoy a lot of humidity and want moisture in the soil at all times. The amount of moisture depends on the plant (see ‘How to Water a Plant’ if you need some advice). Plants do not have to be from the tropics to be considered a tropical plant.
Trailing: Also known as vining, crawling, or climbing, trailing is the way certain plants grow long stems (called stolons) with lots of leaves along the stem; usually roots (known as aerial roots until they burrow underground) as well. Trailing plants can often be found in hanging baskets. This is the opposite of upright. Most trailing plants are also epiphytic.
Top-dressing: Top dressing is the name for a number of materials that are used to cover the soil, either for aesthetic reasons or for functional ones, like getting rid of fungus gnats. The material should depend on the plant; common top dressings include sand, lava rock, bark, and gravel.
Tuber: Tubers are a root structure that stores water and nutrients, much like bulbs or corms. They form to support the plant through changing conditions but they are also how some plants self-propagate. Tubers are able to survive dormant for long periods underground or out of soil in cool, dry conditions. Plants that create tubers include some Begonia species and potatoes.
Unfurling: Unfurling is the unrolling of a new leaf. Many plants’ new leaves grow from the latest leaf in a curled up state, sometimes with leaf shields, and once they reach full size, they unfurl.
Upright: As opposed to trailing plants, upright growing plants do not (usually) require support. They grow straight up and do not have roots along the stem.
Variegation: Variegation is any variation in the green of a plant leaf due to changes in the chlorophyll. It is a very broad term but it is used most commonly to refer to mutated varieties of common plants that cause unique patterning. This can be white, pink, light green, or even dark purple patterns on the leaves/body of the plant.
Variety: Varieties are plants of the same species that have differing characteristics, like variegation, different color flowers, or different shaped leaves. Varieties that have been cultivated for a long time are called cultivars.
Waterlogged: Waterlogged is what a plant becomes when it doesn’t have proper drainage or it’s in too water-retentive of soil. If plants are waterlogged for too long or too often, they will get root rot.
Water-retentive: Water retention is how much water a substrate holds. Organic materials like plant fibers, bark, or compost hold onto water while mineral materials like gravel, pumice, or sand do not hold onto water and increase the drainage of soil.