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"Clear November skies are rare
As like as not fierce storms arrive
But still the garden is not bare
Chrysanthemums the rain survive"
~By David Squire~
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- Begin forcing Amaryllis, Paper whites and Calla Lily now for a quick cure for the winter blues. Within the month you will be admiring these fragrant beauties.
- If your bulbs begin to bloom to early place them in a cool room and give them less water. Place them in a warmer area to encourage faster blooming.
- An easy and unique way to grow your Paperwhites or Hyacinths are to place them in a bowl with a few loose stones to anchor the bulbs. Add enough water to reach the base of the bulbs and keep it filled to this level. Keep your Paperwhites & Hyacinths in a cool spot until they have rooted then move them to a sunny window.
Plant an Indoor Herb Garden
- Sow seeds of parsley, oregano, rosemary, basil, sage, and chives. Transplant seedlings into individual pots after they begin to peek through the soil. Add water and fertilizer. Place in a sunny location.
Poinsettia:
- Buy your Poinsettia early to increase your chances of a great looking plant in December. When shopping for the healthiest Poinsettia look for ones with dark green leaves that haven't shed their pollen yet. Buy from a place where Poinsettia are displayed in areas that provide good lighting with relatively high humidity.
- For healthy long lasting Poinsettias place them in medium to low sunlight. Full sun may cause the leaves to get sun-burned. Allow the soil to dry before watering.
- The Pointsettia was considered a symbol of purity by the Aztecs of Mexico. According to Mexican legend, a child knelt before the altar at the village church on Christmas Eve with no money for a gift to offer to the Christ Child on his birthday. The child's prayers were sincere, and through a miracle the first "Flower of the Holy Night" bloomed at his feet in bright red and green homage to the holy birth. This was the birth of the Poinsettia. - Encyclopedia Britanica
- Read a slightly different version at History For Children
Wood Ash for the Garden:
- Don't throw out your ash if you're burning wood in the fireplace this winter! Save it until next spring then spread it in your gardens. Scatter it around carrots, radishes and onions to keep root maggots away. It will also improve the flavor of your potatoes. Wood ash is high in potassium and will raise the pH level of your soil. - Ann Scarr
Keep a close watch on your houseplants for bugs:
- If you find white cottony fluff where your leaves meet the stem then you probably have mealy bugs. To get rid of them use a liquid soap and water mixture sprayed on your plants ( - Sandra) or use a Qtip soaked in alcohol and dab the alcohol onto the white cottony areas. - Bill O
- If you encounter hundreds of tiny little bugs in your soil you probably have gnats. Soak your soil with a liquid soap and water mixture or repot the plant in new soil.
When forcing tulips, hyacinth and daffs; Pot your bulbs in a warm, dark room aproximately one week apart to enjoy blooms throughout the season.
Once they sprout move them out to a sunny window.
Amaryllis:
- Place the root area of the Amaryllis bulb in lukewarm water for a short while so that it gets a good shot of moisture before potting.
- Plant your Amaryllis in good quality potting soil at a depth where only the top of the bulb is showing.
- Amaryllis should be kept at room temperature and will require more watering once the leaves begin to grow.
- Once the flowers are finished and the stem begins to die back you can cut them off and store it in cool dark place. (Some Amaryllis only bloom every second year)
- Check Amaryllis bulbs that are in storage regularly for signs of growth.
Primrose provide a nice variety of color for the winter season. They look great with winter pansies along the patio in containers.
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Cure the winter blues
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