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French houseplant care quiz: light, watering and frequency

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Ten questions on French plant-care labels: lumière vive sans soleil direct, arroser quand la terre est sèche, une fois par semaine, rempoter au printemps.

In short

French plant labels give light (lumière vive, mi-ombre, ombre), water (arroser une fois par semaine, laisser sécher la terre entre deux arrosages), temperature and care (rempoter au printemps, vaporiser les feuilles).

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A houseplant and watering can beside a softly lit window.
Lumière vive sans soleil direct describes this bright spot. Illustration: Atelier
Sample label · Monstera
BesoinConsigne
Lumièrevive, sans soleil direct
Arrosage1 fois par semaine en été, tous les 15 jours en hiver
Humiditévaporiser les feuilles régulièrement
Température18–25 °C, éviter les courants d'air
Entretienrempoter tous les 2 ans au printemps
  1. Question 1No account needed
    Lumière vive, sans soleil direct means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    bright light but no direct sun. Near a window but out of direct sunlight.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    How often do you water the Monstera in winter?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    every two weeks. Tous les 15 jours en hiver.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    Vaporiser les feuilles means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    mist the leaves. Vaporiser: to spray with a fine mist.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    Éviter les courants d'air means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    avoid draughts. Un courant d'air is a draught.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    Rempoter means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    to repot. Rempoter: move the plant into a new pot.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    Laisser sécher la terre entre deux arrosages

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    let the soil dry out between waterings. Don't water until the soil is dry.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    Mi-ombre means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    partial shade. Mi-ombre is partial shade, half sun.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    Plante toxique pour les animaux

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    toxic to pets. Keep away from cats and dogs.

  9. Question 9No account needed
    Ne pas laisser d'eau dans la soucoupe

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    don't leave water in the saucer. Standing water rots roots.

  10. Question 10No account needed
    Engrais une fois par mois au printemps

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    fertiliser once a month in spring. L'engrais is fertiliser.

Watering vocabulary is precise: arroser abondamment (water generously), arroser modérément (moderately), maintenir la terre humide (keep the soil moist) and éviter l'excès d'eau (avoid overwatering). La terre or le terreau is the potting soil; un pot percé has drainage holes.

Most plant instructions use the infinitive (arroser, vaporiser, rempoter) like recipes and medicine leaflets. Une plante verte is any green houseplant; une plante grasse is a succulent, which needs very little water.

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