The Best Horticultural Tips for January
Winter Yard Tips
House Plants
1. Can you identify the difference between a Thanksgiving cacti and Christmas cacti?
2. To make the house seem less empty after all of the Christmas decorations are put away, treat yourself to a new blooming plant in January. Many
varieties are readily available at grocery stores and big box stores.
3. If you have not tried one of the glass containers with bulbs,you will be surprised by how well they work. They will need a sunny location, but it is a
good way to beat the winter blues and dream of spring. The container can then be used again for a narcissus or amaryllis bulb.
4. Keep house plants out of hot and cold drafts.
5. Grow Light Guide--Turn the lights on for 12 to 16 hours
Poinsettias
1. Contrary to popular opinion, a poinsettia is not poisonous. The colorful parts of
the plant that make them so popular are actually modified leaves or brachts.
Bright, indirect light is best, plus a dark period at night.
2. Day time temps of between 65 and 75 degrees will prolong the display of colorful
bracts.
3. Water thoroughly about once a week, but make sure the plant never stands in
water. Remove the foil the pot and allow the plant to drain in the sink.
4. The colored “petals” are actually leaves, called bracts.
Amaryllis
1. This is the easiest flowering bulb to bring to bloom. They should be planted inOctober to bloom at Christmas. Make a note on your new calendar so that you don’t forget next fall.
Garden
1. Frost heave occurs when fluctuating temps, combined with moisture, cause soil to swell and contract throughout the winter. This is why it is
important to put down 2-3 inches of mulch before the ground freezes.
2. The heat in peppers is measured in Scoville heat units (SHU), which is often noted in seed catalogs. Capsaicin is the compound in hot peppers
that produces a burning sensation.
3. An Orienpet Lily is a cross between trumpet and oriental lilies. They are available in a vast array of hues. All cultivars have good drought
tolerance and cold hardiness and can survive late spring frosts.
4. Enjoy the catalogs. Forget the cold for a while and plan additions to your gardens.
5. Branches from a Christmas tree can be layered over tea or shrub roses. This will protect canes from wind burn and collect the snow, which will
insulate the plants.
Lawns
1. Time to review your lawn contract. You are paying for it so make sure it is what you want.
2. Turn compost pile to encourage winter breakdown.
3. Grass Seed is your friend and it can be applied early, even when the soil is still going through the freezing and thawing cycle. It will not germinate
until soil temperatures are consistently in the 50"s.
Trees
1. Prune damaged branches throughout the winter months.
2. Wait to prune fruit trees until late Feb. or early March.
3. December through February is the best time to prune oak trees. This greatly reduces the chance of infection and insect damage.
Catalogs
1. The heat in peppers is measured in Scoville heat units (SHU), which is often noted in seed catalogs.
Capsaicin is the compound in hot peppers that produces a burning sensation.
2. An Orienpet Lily is a cross between trumpet and oriental lilies. They are available in a vast array of hues. All cultivars have good drought
tolerance and cold hardiness and can survive late spring frosts.
3. Enjoy the catalogs. Forget the cold for a while and plan additions to your gardens.
4. Look through catalogs for new plants or shrubs. Consider a Jostaberry, a cross between a gooseberry and a black currant.
Winter Yard Tips
- In icy weather, rather than using salt on the driveway or sidewalk, try magnesium
- chloride, which causes very little damage to concrete or metal and is also gentle on landscape plants. In addition, it is pet safe. Look for an ice melt with calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) as it is the safest.
- Evaluate your landscape during the winter. Think of good places to plant evergreens and trees or shrub with interesting bark next spring.
- Winter storage of pesticides and fertilizers should be kept from freezing and also away from sunlight, open flames, and excessive heat.
- Avoid heavy traffic patterns on frozen lawn.
- Cut branches of flowering trees and shrubs for indoor forcing.
- Beat the spring rush—take your lawnmower in now for tune-up or repair.
- Start seeds for lisianthus and other slow growing flowers by Jan. 15.
- Investigate new vegetable possibilities now. A grafted tomato may cost more, but they are stronger, produce more fruit faster, fend off diseases, and have larger fruit.
- Yes, you can add wood ashes to your garden IN MODERATION.
House Plants
1. Can you identify the difference between a Thanksgiving cacti and Christmas cacti?
- Thanksgiving cacti: stem segments have 2-4 pointed teeth
- Christmas cacti: stem segments have all scalloped edges
- Both types of cacti are “short day” plants. They start to come to life as the hours of daylight recede in the fall. Best results if day-time temps are not above 70 and night temps are 60-65.
- Place either cacti by any window and leave it there all year. As the days shorten in the fall, the lack of light will trigger the formation of buds.
- Fertilize once a year on Halloween.
- Keep away from direct artificial lighting in the room.
2. To make the house seem less empty after all of the Christmas decorations are put away, treat yourself to a new blooming plant in January. Many
varieties are readily available at grocery stores and big box stores.
3. If you have not tried one of the glass containers with bulbs,you will be surprised by how well they work. They will need a sunny location, but it is a
good way to beat the winter blues and dream of spring. The container can then be used again for a narcissus or amaryllis bulb.
4. Keep house plants out of hot and cold drafts.
5. Grow Light Guide--Turn the lights on for 12 to 16 hours
Poinsettias
1. Contrary to popular opinion, a poinsettia is not poisonous. The colorful parts of
the plant that make them so popular are actually modified leaves or brachts.
Bright, indirect light is best, plus a dark period at night.
2. Day time temps of between 65 and 75 degrees will prolong the display of colorful
bracts.
3. Water thoroughly about once a week, but make sure the plant never stands in
water. Remove the foil the pot and allow the plant to drain in the sink.
4. The colored “petals” are actually leaves, called bracts.
Amaryllis
1. This is the easiest flowering bulb to bring to bloom. They should be planted inOctober to bloom at Christmas. Make a note on your new calendar so that you don’t forget next fall.
Garden
1. Frost heave occurs when fluctuating temps, combined with moisture, cause soil to swell and contract throughout the winter. This is why it is
important to put down 2-3 inches of mulch before the ground freezes.
2. The heat in peppers is measured in Scoville heat units (SHU), which is often noted in seed catalogs. Capsaicin is the compound in hot peppers
that produces a burning sensation.
3. An Orienpet Lily is a cross between trumpet and oriental lilies. They are available in a vast array of hues. All cultivars have good drought
tolerance and cold hardiness and can survive late spring frosts.
4. Enjoy the catalogs. Forget the cold for a while and plan additions to your gardens.
5. Branches from a Christmas tree can be layered over tea or shrub roses. This will protect canes from wind burn and collect the snow, which will
insulate the plants.
Lawns
1. Time to review your lawn contract. You are paying for it so make sure it is what you want.
2. Turn compost pile to encourage winter breakdown.
3. Grass Seed is your friend and it can be applied early, even when the soil is still going through the freezing and thawing cycle. It will not germinate
until soil temperatures are consistently in the 50"s.
Trees
1. Prune damaged branches throughout the winter months.
2. Wait to prune fruit trees until late Feb. or early March.
3. December through February is the best time to prune oak trees. This greatly reduces the chance of infection and insect damage.
Catalogs
1. The heat in peppers is measured in Scoville heat units (SHU), which is often noted in seed catalogs.
Capsaicin is the compound in hot peppers that produces a burning sensation.
2. An Orienpet Lily is a cross between trumpet and oriental lilies. They are available in a vast array of hues. All cultivars have good drought
tolerance and cold hardiness and can survive late spring frosts.
3. Enjoy the catalogs. Forget the cold for a while and plan additions to your gardens.
4. Look through catalogs for new plants or shrubs. Consider a Jostaberry, a cross between a gooseberry and a black currant.