Despair not, gardeners, we've had almost a week of the days getting a wee bit longer; it might only be a few minutes more of daylight, but it won't be long before we can see a difference.
Over the busy Christmas week, you may not have had much of a chance to pay attention to your houseplants. Let's review how we should do a mid-winter check of our plants.
First, watering. Every plant has its own needs, depending on where it is living in your home, how warm or cool your house is how much light it gets, the list goes on. Always check the soil, and water only when dry. Give the plant a good drink, and let the water run out the bottom. Not many houseplants like their feet to be wet. Don't give the plant little dribbles each day; a proper watering when needed is much better. If you must, error on the side of your plants being dry, rather than give them too much water.
As you are watering each plant, check it for overall health. Remove any fallen or broken leaves. Check for leaf discoloration, or for pests. If you do find any pests, do some research to see what they are and how to get rid of them. My Mom preferred to use a mild solution of dishwashing soap and water for most pests. This might be a slightly more time-consuming method, but if you don't want to use chemicals, it is a practical alternative.
Consider giving your plants a boost by top-dressing them with some fresh soil. Mix it in gently, just at the top layer of your plants so that you don't disturb the roots. A little later in the winter, you could also give them a mild fertilizer, sort of a "spring tonic".
Remember to turn your plants towards the sun, if you can. The sun is weaker now and they are straining, leaning towards the light. Keep them balanced by turning the flowerpot every once in a while.
The winter is a strain on plants: they must deal with low light, low humidity, and uneven temperatures as we crank the furnace up and turn it down. But with a little extra TLC, the plants will be just fine.
We're days away from a brand new year-we wish you a healthy, happy new year! May the New Year be one of exciting new opportunities and challenges. May it be a year with the chance to do something new, learn something new, or go somewhere new, even if it's just a few blocks away! Make "grow!" your motto for 2012, not only for your garden, but for yourself as well. Have a great week!
Happy New Year, from your friends at the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society.
