Houseplants Part 2

Watering practice is crucial. More plants are killed by overwatering than from becoming too dry. Most of the big stores will have care tags on the plants. Be sure to read and follow directions. I have found that sometimes the care tags can be misleading. It is best to consult a houseplant book for accurate information if you have one. African violets will droop if overwatered. This is a signal the plant is being kept too wet. The medium should become dry between waterings. Fertilizing properly will keep the plants happy. One can go by the instructions on the label, although you may prefer to make more frequent, diluted applications such as quarter strength, weekly. About once a month it is wise to flush the medium with clear water to avoid buildup of excess soluble salts. Most foliage plants will be perfectly happy without fertilizer application between now and March, when days are short and light intensity low. They can't use the fertilizer during this period. Many of the flowering plants can be fertilized lightly during the dark months. More next time on Pests and diseases.

Bit of Spring for your winter?

Winter is often a time of year for subtleness in the garden. We all need color in the winter garden! Try Hellebores. They are native to mountainous woodlands and open meadows of Western Europe. These are really great plants. The foliage is dark green and leathery, with very fine serrations along the leaf margin. The leaves remain an attractive green into January, when they start to collapse and discolor. Aside from locating them with winter interest companions all Hellebores require a well-grained location and prosper with afternoon shade. All are drought tolerant, and provide ample seedlings for naturalizing and are deer resistant. For more information, please visit www.RutgersGardens.org