Hungry to dig? Houseplants need re-potting too!

Taking stock of my houseplants in the winter months pacifies my gardening cravings just a bit. I have a few, or a lot, depending on how you judge that factor. In my sunroom, I have around eight different plants. In other rooms only a few.

From my experience, if you want your houseplants to flourish, talk to it! Really I am not joking! Just notice how well your plants do when they are placed an a room with a lot of conversation, or near a TV, or radio. I have no scientific reasoning for this, other than they are living things. Such craving any attention they can get.

So with as with any flourishing plant, sometimes they need dividing. Just like your outdoor plants.

After watering one of my many spider plants the other day, I noticed  the water just ran out the bottom of the planter. Basically when this happens the water is draining through the plant, instead of the plants roots absorbing it. This means the plant is root bound. Now spider plants like to be somewhat root bound, that is when they produce the baby plants, but there is a point that its too much. And that is when they don’t absorb the water any longer. Another sure sign is when you can see roots sprouting out of the soil. Obviously the plant needs more space!

For plants that just need a larger home you will need to get a bigger plant. Most will recommend going only 2 inches larger than the one it is currently in. Personally I use whatever I have. Then for plants that need to be divided, similar to outside plants, several small pots will be needed.

Need to know what type of houseplant you have? Try this website.

What you will need:

• Potting soil 
• Newspaper or a flattened empty cereal box 
• A flat surface
• A large spoon or dull knife 

If your separating and creating smaller plants from a larger one, don’t over water the new baby plants. The root system is smaller and requires less water. Try and water the plants a little daily.

For your established plants, here is a secret tip that someone just shared with me … Take left over coffee and dilute it half and half or more, with water. Then use to water your plants with once a week. It supposedly helps the plant to grow faster. (The caffeine maybe?) For now, I’m only trying it my most hardy philodendrons.

What’s your favorite houseplant? And which one do you baby the most?
For me, that would be my shamrocks! Just love 'em!

Do you have small children or pets? Make sure the plants they get a hold off aren't poisonous on this site.

Got Flowers? Keep the Love Alive

Keeping the love and flowers alive long after the holiday has passed is a bit of a challenge, but it is possible. From drying, separating and re-planting, you can make memories from your gifts of love.  

For roses: Once the blooms begin to fade, dump out the water and put the flowers back in the vase (you can also tie them and hang them upside down.) Either way, this allows them to dry without being crushed. You can do this with the babies breath that often accompanies a flower arrangement, too. If your more into the saving just the petals, carefully separate the petals from the stem and place them on a paper plate to dry. After a few weeks, you can use the dried whole flowers, in crafts, or displays. Personally,I like to put the petals in a see through jar or vase for decoration. For more ideas on drying roses, visit this website.

For plant arrangements:  These often have five or six plants crammed into one arrangement. To allow the plants to flourish, carefully remove the entire arrangement from the pot it is in. Then pull apart each of the little plants and re-pot them separate planters. These type of plants are usually easy to care for varieties and grow quickly when they have their own space. Now instead of one arrangement, you have a room full of plants to enjoy!

For miniature rose plants: Many varieties can be kept indoors long term, but truthfully these plants are much happier outside. Plants can be moved outdoors and planted once the weather warms-up to around 60 degrees during the day. Once acclimated they do fine year round. Over the years, I have created a small area with a dozen of these little plants. They do like to be watered well the first year, and often are susceptible to black spot. Using pre-mixed solution, or one you mix with water, sprayed on every couple of weeks will keep them healthy all summer long. The solution can be bought at any local hardware or garden center. In the fall, mulch the tiny rose plants heavily with shredded leaves. For a little background on the miniature breed read more here.

No matter what your flowery gift was, keeping the feelings alive that accompany them are as important as the gift itself. So love your giver, and maybe they will bless you with more plants for the next event!

Memory Gardens: Gardening From the Heart

Having a passion for anything must come from within, and gardening is no exception. Maybe its as simple as wanting to have your yard and home look inviting to guest. Maybe it's your hobby. Or maybe its something deeper. For me, my Memory Garden falls in the last category.

Clematis: Fireworks

While any loss is huge, it was the year I lost three people within a few months that found me seeking a way to process the different aspects of grief.

In November 2003, a dear family friend, who was only in her early fifties, passed away from pancreatic cancer. That following January, came the second blow to my heart, when my grandma, who lived a long and full life, died at 99 years old. Then in March of that year, there was the "much too young and testing of faith" loss. A friend's son of only 16 years, was tragically killed. All of these people touched my heart in so many ways that the loss felt overwhelming.

Garden art can express what's in your heart.

It was that spring that I began my Memory Garden. Knowing that all of these people were together in a better place, surrounds my heart ... still I continued to process it through gardening.

For our family friend, I planted a Clematis called Fireworks. She and our family always had standing date to celebrate the 4th of July! For my Gram, I planted black-eyed Susan's, because I always liked to pick the wild ones for her when I was little. For our friend's son, I planted a Lamb's ear, because he always showed pigs at the Saginaw County Fair. 


Of course, digging, preparing something new, signifies different things, to different people. It can feel like a new beginning to some - planting something small and delicate, and watching it grow. For me it's the feeling of instead of an end to a life, it is the beginning of new life.

When I interviewed gardeners (through a column I wrote for the newspaper years ago), it seemed that no matter how big or how small, a memory garden serves as a special place for reflecting, grieving, and of renewed hope.

As life goes on, so have losses, adding more plants to my Memory Garden. The space is getting tight now, but I am not in any hurry to expand it.
 
So how to begin a process that begins in the heart and flourishes in your Memory Garden? Look in your heart, then try including the following:

• Find plants and garden art, that represent the people (or pets) you have lost. Through their name, interest, feelings, or event you shared.
• Add a cross, an angel, or another spiritual object in the space to offer you hope. 
• Put a bench or rock in the space, to sit, rest, think, and pray upon. 
• Remember it takes three years for plants to really grown strong and mature.
• Then remember to give yourself that time, and more, to grieve.

Find more ideas and suggestions for Memory Garden's here.

Looking for help designing a garden? On the Right Path Gardening offers design services if you live in the Saginaw/Midland and surrounding areas. For more information contact me at ontherightpath@yahoo.com

Find Your Zone: USDA 2012 Zone Hardiness Map

This winter's temps are making it tempting for Northern gardeners, like myself, to want to get out and dig in the dirt. Of course, then the reality sets in. It's only February!

But their is hope, the groundhog may have predicted six more weeks of winter, but still, spring is only few months away!

And speaking of hope, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has just released the updated hardiness map for 2012- see below for Michigan gardeners, for other areas visit the USDA website.

  

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.

So before you place those orders for new plants and seeds, take note of the difference in zones stated on the map.(For instance, in and around Mid-Michigan area, the zone has been changed to 6a.) Changes like this will open the door for many more variety of plants destined to survive in our area. I am excited!

But many websites available to order from, and a gazillion catalogs in our mailboxes, it is hard to know which is best. Do you have a favorite garden website, or company you like to order from? Leave a comment and share it with fellow gardeners. Also check out the comprehensive list of garden and seed catalogs links at GardenList.com