Boardash: ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Thursday December 3, 2009

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Thursday December 3, 2009

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Advice from Carolyn Hax

Gardening Daily Tips
For You
Thursday December 3, 2009

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Q&A: Animal Eating Tree Bark
Q&A: Encouraging Poinsettia Bloom
Tip: Repot Houseplants
Reader Photos

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Today's Featured Plant
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Read the full profile of this plant at ArcaMax.com.

Interested in reading about other plants? Search through hundreds of plant profiles and helpful articles by keyword.

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Q&A: Animal Eating Tree Bark

Question: Something is gnawing the bark on our newly planted trees. What is it, and how can we prevent the trees from being gobbled up before they have a chance to mature?

Answer: It might be a rabbit. The best protection is fine wire mesh such as hardware cloth shaped into a cylinder and set around but not touching the trunks. Add a ring of mesh just under soil level spreading outward as well to discourage smaller tunneling rodents later in the winter. You can cover the horizontal mesh with a thin layer of gravel as additional discouragement. Finally, make sure the wire is tall enough to foil a rabbit standing on tiptoe on top of snow - - and be sure to expand it as the trees grow.

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Q&A: Encouraging Poinsettia Bloom

Question: How do you make poinsettia leaves turn red after all of the red leaves have fallen off?

Answer: In order to make your plant color up again, you need to keep it growing during the spring and summer months in full sun. It's best to keep it outsid and provide it with plenty of moisture and monthly fertilization. Be sure to gradually acclimate the plant to being outdoors.

In the fall, you will have to bring it back inside when the night temperatures drop into the upper forties, setting it in the sunniest spot you have. This should result in lots of color again by the holidays, provided you also somehow keep the plant in total darkness for 12-14 hours every night beginning in September. The best way to provide the necessary darkness is to place your plant in a closet every night or cover it with a bucket or cardboard box to block out all light, even from a porch light or streetlight.

This is more effort than most people care to make for a poinsettia, but it can be a lot of fun to see it color up again after all those months.

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Tip: Repot Houseplants

When repotting houseplants use a potting soil formulated for good drainage. The mix should contain vermiculite and perlite. Heavy potting soil stays wet and can cause plant roots to rot more easily.

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Sincerely,
ArcaMax Editors