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Port Washington Garden Club


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This month in the garden...

 

"The best way to make sure you're removing a weed and not a valuable plant? If it comes out of the ground easily it's a valuable plant."

Anonymous

 

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This Month in the Garden (February 2010)...

During winter, potted plants indoors can substitute for the garden.  African violets, foliage plants and vacationing garden plants line sunny windows throughout the Port Washington during the cold months of the year.

Phalaenopsis orchidMany people also have collections of easy care orchids like phalaenopsis which produce long-lasting flower stems several times a year.  Terrestrial orchids like cymbidiums thrive in the cool Port summers, too, and begin to open their flower spikes in February.

Those with more space or a greenhouse may over-winter less well known plants like the red passion flower (Passiflora cocinnea) above, flowering maples (Abutilon), or more potted'Meyer" limon citrus trees like Improved Meyer Lemon that are compact enough to move inside for the cold months.  Even small citrus trees can produce dozens of tasty fruits during the cold months.

Conditions comfortable for humans, however, are not always the best for plants.  Furnaces running overtime during cold snaps can lower indoor humidity and the indoor temperatures in many homes are too warm for many plants. Night temperatures near sixty degrees are ideal for some orchids and popular foliage plants and may even be required for them to develop flower buds. 

Combat dry indoor air by misting plants or placing them on trays that can be filled with pebbles and a little water to create humidity pockets (the water level should stay below the roots).  Also keep an eye out for insects like red spider mites, scales and aphids.  These pests attack plants stressed by indoor conditions. 

If insect problems develop they can be safely treated with products like insecticidal soap.  Powdery mildew on edibles like rosemary can be treated with some sulfur based fungicides.  Check the labels on any product for warnings and directions before treating your plants.


This Month in the Garden Archive:

November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July
2010
June 2010
May
2010

April 2010
March 2010
February 2010

January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April
2009

March 2009

 

Port Washington Garden Club, PO Box 492, Port Washington, Wisconsin 53074
Registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization