People often overlook Cyclamen and go straight for the holiday hallmark of Poinsettias. Cyclamen make for great gifts, beautiful centerpieces, and a great holiday flower when space is limited. With proper care Cyclamen often continue to bloom on into late February and early March! While many people treat Cyclamen as a temporary short-lived houseplant, they are reasonably easy to grow.…
A Holiday Hallmark What’s left to discover about Poinsettias? Well, for starters, Poinsettias are not poisonous, are available in colors besides red, and the finest are found in garden centers. Ironic, perhaps, that a plant with legendary, child-centered origins is often seen as one dangerous to children. According to the Poisondex TM Information Service, a 50-pound child could eat 500…
You have picked out the perfect Christmas Tree. Now what do you do to ensure a safe, fresh and attractive tree throughout the holiday season? If you are not going to take it inside immediately, store it outside in a cool, shady place sheltered from drying winds. If possible, remove about a one-inch section from the butt of the tree…
It’s officially summer and July has brought warm sunny days with it. So far, we have had a cool and somewhat dry spring and early summer. The last few days and the weather forecast indicate that might be going to change. We have had plenty of rain recently and the temperature is beginning to…
Summer is right around the corner; the days are getting longer and warmer and rain is sporadic to say the least. Most of our summer rain comes from summer storms. Some are very heavy and drop a lot of water in a short period of time, others make a lot of noise with very little rain. Our neighbors may…
HOUSEPLANT TROUBLES By: Gary Garner Sr. A couple of months back I pinned some tips on bringing your houseplants inside for the cooler months of the year. Those tips included proper placement according to plant light needs, air circulation, plant temperature needs, indoor watering and fertilization among other things. Now that the plants have been inside for a…
By: Gary Garner Sr. Many people invest in a beautiful poinsettia then take it home and make little or no effort to make it last. As soon as the plants colored leaves begin to yellow and fall, they simply toss the plant. To me that seems like such a waste. With just a little maintenance a poinsettia can be…
Pansies grown in Central Virginia are a cool season annual. Pansies can be planted in the fall from late August until approximately Thanksgiving, and in spring starting in late February. Planted either time they should bloom until late May or early June. Pansies are equally easy to grow in the ground and in pots. Growing location and care is similar…
Surviving Summer Heat By: Gary Garner Sr. Summer is officially here. If the summer is anything like the beginning, it is going to be extremely warm if not hot. So far, the number of 90-degree days is unusually high. The question now is how, when and how much do we water what we have planted and what else can we…
Watering 101 “How often do I water my plant?” is undoubtedly the most frequently asked question about plants and also one of the hardest questions to answer! Here’s the simple answer: Water when the plant gets dry. 9 out of 10 times when we see a watering problem it is due to overwatering – for whatever reason people seem to…