NEIGHBORHOOD GARDEN FOR FEBRUARY 11,
2017
HOW TO KEEP YOUR PLANTS ALIVE PART #2
BY GLADYS JEURINK
Last week
George listed a number of questions you need to ask about a plant if you
want to have a “green thumb”. Then you need to pay attention to make
sure it is getting the essentials while growing. The essentials include:
Light is an important
factor in good looking plants. Think of the difference in intensity when
you take your plants out and then when you bring them in.
To prevent burning in the spring, Gladys likes the North side of
the house for a week or two, while for some the East side will work.
Before bringing them back into much less light, she likes the North side
of the house again. She has some picnic benches out there (the table
fell apart long ago). Many plants respond not only to intensity but to
day length.
Florists
regulate the light on plants such as
POINSETTIA, KALANCHOE, and
EASTER LILY to get them ready
for a holiday. Some of your
plants could never stand a South window as they are shade plants in
nature. Gladys SANSEVERIA
(also known as SNAKE
PLANT and MOTHER-IN-
Temperature is another
major factor. For this you need to know where the plant is a native.
Tropicals are very popular right now and most of them should not
go below 45 -50 degrees F. Some may have a resting period such as during
the dry part of their native country. For example, Gladys
DESERT ROSE
(Adenum
obesum) stores water during rainy season in odd shaped stems and
blooms. Then during the dry season the leaves are dropped to conserve
water loss. She could panic
when this happens if she didn’t know the plant habits.
Gladys has a
dwarf POMEGRANATE that
requires a rest period during winter. In early winter it drops part of
its leaves and in general looks like it might die. Then when the days
get longer and warmer it perks up, blooms, and makes tiny
POMGRANATES. CLIVIA needs
not only a cold period but a dry one.
Just before frost Gladys brings it into the garage, which goes
down to 35-40 degrees F., and gives it water about once the entire
winter. In early March she waters some and by April it has a tall
beautiful orange stalk 18 inches above the leaves.
Learn about
your houseplants and the plants in your garden and you will find they
are much easier to take care of, and will grow and flower much better
for you. Copyright 2017 |