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Houseplants provide a green fix and beauty indoors and satisfy a sense of nurturing when we can’t get outside. Try some nice, colorful foliage plants such as crotons, which offer a variety of leaf shapes and colors of green, red, bronze and orange. Aglaonema, also known as Chinese evergreen, is prized for its vibrant, patterned foliage in shades of green, pink and red. A beautiful flowering plant, kalanchoe, is an easy-care houseplant known for its colorful long-lasting flowers which grow in yellow, orange, pink, white and red. Combine different colors in a pot for a beautiful effect. Cyclamen with its heart-shaped leaves has flowers in many shades of pink, purple, red and white and bloom for weeks. Some cyclamens are hardy in our area and can be grown outside. Peruse your local garden shops and pick one for yourself as well as a holiday present for a friend, or as a hostess gift.
Christmas Trees – Real vs Artificial
Soon many of us will make the decision whether to buy an artificial tree or purchase a live cut one. There are many pros and cons to each such as convenience, cost, safety, watering, family traditions, and allergies. Live trees offer significant environmental benefits as they are biodegradable and can be repurposed when placed out in the garden as shelter for wildlife. While artificial trees are reused from year to year, they are crafted from plastics and contribute to landfill overflow at the end of their life cycle. Another consideration is buying a balled and burlapped tree which can be planted outside after the holidays and enjoyed for many years to come. Remember to dig the site before the ground freezes, cover and store the dirt in a garage. Whatever choice you make, just enjoy and have a very happy, guilt-free holiday. For more information go to: Real vs. Artificial: Which Tree is More Sustainable? | Ohio State Sustainability Institute
Picture This
Get outside and take pictures of your winter garden. Come spring, when you’re wondering what would look great with that conifer you planted last year, a picture will remind you where to
plant a winterberry with its beautiful red berries, or a red twig dogwood, or a Pyracantha ‘Yukon Belle’ pictured here at Secrest Arboretum. Try contrasting blue, green, and gold evergreens that complement each other. Add a dusting of snow with a visiting cardinal or bluebird, and you’ll not only have winter interest but a thing of beauty.
Amaryllis and Beyond
An amaryllis is a must for the holiday season. The bare-rooted bulbs are easy to grow, and the range of colors is endless. All garden centers have them, so the hard part is deciding which one or two or three to pick. Double your pleasure by putting two or more of the same kind in a pot. After blooming, cut off the flower stalk and treat as a houseplant during the winter. Move it outside for the summer making sure to water and fertilize. Energy from the leaves will pass to the bulb to produce blossoms for next year. In the fall, move the plant inside to a dark area, such as a basement, and let the plant go dormant for 5-8 weeks. Remove the dead leaves and plant the bulb in fresh soil in bright light with a little water. Don’t water again until new growth appears. There are no guarantees but it’s worth the try, especially when you see the leaves and flower stalk begin to grow next year.
Winter Windowsill Gardening
A sunny, south-facing windowsill is the perfect place for growing herbs during the winter months. Plant in pots with good drainage using a saucer liner. Consider many of your go-to herbs like parsley, basil, and thyme to add to hearty soups, roasts, and stews on cold winter evenings. Pinch the tops frequently to encourage fuller growth. Leaves can be cut and frozen in water in ice cube trays for use later in sauces, soups, and pesto. Plant them in your garden come spring and continue harvesting for making great tasty meals year-round.
–Sue Cook, Master Gardener Volunteer