Boardash: ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Saturday January 16, 2010

Friday, January 15, 2010

ArcaMax Gardening Daily Tips for Saturday January 16, 2010

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Q&A: Planning Cut Flower Garden

Question: Can you recommend some annuals I can plant so I can have fresh cut flowers spring through fall?

Answer: There are numerous possibilities, and much depends on your own preferences. Some easy-to-grow annuals from seed for cut flowers include sunflowers, tithonia, zinnia, coreposis, cosmos, gaillardia, bachelor buttons, larkspur, snapdragons, asters, as well as pansies and Johnny-jump-ups for tiny bouquets. You might want to consider a wildflower mix, many of which provide a natural, "airy" feel to bouquets. Keep deadheading, or trimming off, spent blossoms to encourage the plant to continue producing flowers, rather than expending its energy on seed production. Consider planting some bulbs for spring bouquets, and remember that you can force some fruit trees branches to flower indoors in early spring. Many flowers also have attractive seedheads, which can be harvested throughout the fall and even into winter.

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Q&A: Hibiscus Dropping Buds and Leaves

Question: I have several hibiscus plants. They did wonderfully on my deck through the summer, but once I brought them indoors they began dropping buds and yellow leaves. What is wrong?

Answer: When plants are abruptly moved from outdoors to indoors (or vice versa) they usually suffer from the change in conditions. Dropping buds and yellowing leaves are common symptoms. It is best to make the move gradual, to help the plant acclimate. Before bringing the plant indoors, examine it for pests, and then gradually begin acclimating it to the lower light levels it will have indoors. Begin by moving it to a shadier location (but do not leave it outside when temperatures drop below about 50F). Then move it indoors to the sunniest spot you have. Keep it out of drafts and keep the humidity around it high if possible.

Even with these precautions, the plant may still suffer from the change in conditions and drop some leaves and buds. Also, it may go into a semi-dormant period where it doesn't bloom, but it will bloom again when conditions are more to its liking. Reduce watering and fertilizing as the plant's growth slows. In spring, reverse the process to reacclimate it to the outdoors. If the yellowing leaves continue, fertilize with a dilute solution, as it may have used up all the nutrients in the container.

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Tip: Group Houseplants

In winter, houseplants often suffer due to dry indoor air. To keep the growing area humid, use a humidifier or group foliage houseplants such as rubber trees and ficus together placing them on a tray filled with water and pebbles.

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Join the Haiti Relief Effort

ArcaMax Publishing is joining the international effort to raise money for Haiti disaster relief. If you would like to donate, follow these links:

American Red Cross | Unicef | TXT message a $10 donation

All of the links above are valid donation sites and have been checked by the ArcaMax editors. Please be aware that there are scam fundraisers already springing up, and be sure to check into any charity efforts before donating.

-- From the ArcaMax editors

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Sincerely,
ArcaMax Editors