North Florida Month-to-Month Gardening Guide February 2007  by Nancy George

Winter is the perfect time to appreciate houseplants.  Over the years, different types of houseplants have come in and out of fashion but today’s consumers want a healthy lifestyle that includes the calming effects and purifying properties of plants.  Foliage plants provide various shades of green, and shapes from mammoth to minute to match your interior design beautifully.  New introductions are more colorful and compact and many can be transplanted to your garden in warmer weather.

What to Buy / Plant

To utilize the air purifying properties of plants, use 1-2 medium to large plants for every 100 square feet of interior space.  All plants contribute to a healthier indoor environment, but some are better at filtering pollutants than others:  Aloe, Aglonema, Dracaena, English Ivy, Pothos, Spathiphyllum, Philodendron, Sansevera, and ficus are great recommendations.

Prune/ Propagate

When frost damage occurs, you could choose not to prune it off right away.  Try leaving the damaged foliage in place to protect the plant from future frost damage.  When new growth begins in spring, trim the plant back to just above where new growth is beginning.  Finish any pruning of deciduous fruit trees and cut back grape vines.

Sow seeds like a pro.  Start seeds about 3-4 weeks before planting in flats with drainage or six packs filled with potting soil.  Read package directions for cultivation notes.  Place flats in bright, filtered light.  Keep the soil moist and maintain soil temperature between 40 degrees and 68 degrees.  When sprouts are ready to go in the ground, introduce seedlings gradually to full sun over a few days.  After transplanting keeping the soil moist is particularly critical the first week.  For successive crops, sow seeds every week and plant between developing heads.

Watering / Fertilizing

Don’t kill plants with kindness, more houseplants die from overwatering than any other culprit.  Water logging your soil will suffocate the roots causing the plant to wilt.  The touch test works best.  Feel the soil before watering to make sure you plant has approached dryness.  If you have a saucer under your plants be sure to empty out excess water.

Most synthetic fertilizers are derived from ammonium nitrates and contain phosphates, which end up polluting our water systems.  For this reason they are prohibited in organic farming, and also because they weaken the soil’s biology.  A better alternative is to build your soil structure with organic fertilizers or simply add one inch of compost in each bedding area.

Edibles

Cold tolerant salad greens worth trying include spinach, savoy, swiss chard, red mustard, arugula, endive, radicchio, escarole, borage, sorrel, and lose leaf lettuces such as red oak leaf, tom thumb, mascara, reine des glaces, and amish deer tongue,  Plant potatoes by Valentines day.  There is still time to plant sweet peas from seed, but don't wait much longer.

Pests

Give your plants a thorough inspection, checking for pests, diseases, and any other problems that prevent them from looking their best.  If insects invade a plant, first try washing them away with water.  If that doesn't work, use organic pesticides such as neem or pyrethrine sprays.  Spray indoor plants outside if possible.

For Fun

For a quick colorful cake decoration use pansies which can be added directly on top the iced cake or candied for a frosty appearance by brushing with egg whites and sprinkled with sugar.  Shape flowers into a heart design for Valentines Day.

Photo Gallery

Aloe		Aglonema		Dracaena
English Ivy		Pothos		Spathiphyllum

Philodendron		Ficus

This article originally published on February 1, 2007.

Written by :

mkwestmark

 

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