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Fri ber 17, 1993 - North Shore News - 47

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aking the most of festive season plants

You don’t have to be an expert to maintain flowering plants during the holidays

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Bx.
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SOW IT GROWS

AS WE approach the holi-
day period, many stores,
flower shops and nurseries
_dispiay a great variety of
_ seasonal plants for gift-giv-
- ing to help accent the
Christmas decor. |

Most plants that we buy or are
given at Christmas are grown in
" special greenhouses under op-
timum conditions before being
distributed through retail outlets.
When buying plants for yourself
: ora friend, look for top-quality
: plants that show signs of proper
care."
> If they have been sitting out on
"the street in near sub-zero weather
they may collapse when they come
into a warm house.
“- Look for the number of blooms *.

:~ that have the potential to open;

not just the ones already on the .
plant. ;

You don’t have to be an expert
to maintain Flowering plants dur-
‘ing the festive season, as most
plants require only a minimum of
care. wot

Here are some basic tips to help
you get the most from your
seasonal potted plants.

Unless there is supplementary
lighting for 12 hours per day,
most plants benefit from being in
front of, or near,a window.

This not only provides them
with more light energy but also
keeps the plants a few degrees
cooler,

Cyclamen and gloxinia prefer

SAVING PLANTS for the future is practical in some cases. The pepper, Jerusalem cherry, p

pruned back and grown outdoors the following summer.

bright but indirect light.

The majority of plants should
be kept imoist but not soggy.

Excess water, poor drainage and
a lack of air in the soil will kill
plants as quickly as drought con-
ditions.

Try adding some pea gravel to
your drain pan to raise the pot
above the excess water level and
this will allow the humidity to be
increased around the plant.

Gloxinia, cyclamen and
poinsettia actually prefer to be
watered and allowed to dry out
before being watered again.

One of the most frequently
asked questions is, ‘‘How often
should | water my plant?’’

__ There is no answer to the ques-
tion — it is best to let the plant

~ Put nature under
your tree this
Christmas

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(No fillers - no waste)

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Sat. 9:30 - 5

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FEEDING SPECIALIST”

f

Sunday
12-5

eee arae

teli you when to water.

Pot size, soil type, size of plant,
light and temperature wiil afl help
to determine when to water.

Check the plant every other day
until a watering pattern becomes
obvious.

Plants generally prefer
temperatures slightly below room
temperatures, 16 to 18°C.

Two exceptions to this rule are
ornamental peppers and Jerusalem
cherries; they both prefer higher
temperatures.

On the other side of the scale,
hyacinths and most bulbs benefit
from lower temperatures.

lt is best to avoid placing plants
near heating vents or exterior
doors.

To keep seasonal plants healthy

and growing, a weak fertilizer
solution (quarter strength Hysol
20.20.20.) can be applied two to
three weéks after receiving the
plant and repeated every two to
three weeks as long as the plant is
growing. :

Increase the rate as the spring
season arrives.

High-quality plants should ar-
rive in your home free of disease
or insects, but it is worth checking
under the leaves and around the
growing tips to make sure you are
not introducing any unwanted
guests into your home.

Spider mites, aphids and scale
are three of the most persistent
pests to watch for. ‘

A frequent shower in lukewarm
water will generally help to keep

oinsettia, hibiscus and azalea can all be

the first two under control.

For scale you have to be ,
prepared to use a chemical insec-
ticide or throw the plant out after
blooming. :

Insects can also arrive on
fresh-cut holly, boughs and sprays
of forced blooms. ;

Plants should be groomed to
remove dead leaves or spent
blooms.

Saving plants for the future is
practical in some cases. The pep-.
per, Jerusalem cherry, poinsettia, -
hibiscus and azalea can all be
pruned back and grown outdoors

. the following summer.

Although the poinsettia will add
greenery to t... garden, potting it

See Lilies page 1&