"Then sing, young hearts that are full of cheer,
With never a thought of sorrow;
The old goes out, but the glad young year
Comes merrily in tomorrow."
–Emily Miller
"Each age has deemed the new-born year
The fittest time for festal cheer."
–Sir Walter Scott
The onset of the New Year has found me getting back to the garden...to loiter and unwind and defrost from the demands of the holidays. Old problems are solved there, commitments reaffirmed, and new challenges invented. My occasional bouts with moodiness dissolve to make room for calmer introspection.
Gardening produces magic for many of us, because it allows for mood adjustment and freshness of thought. Rather than waiting to garden because I need therapy, this coming year I resolve to enjoy my garden more often...and play chase and sniff the catnip with Catharine and our cats.
Your questions for the Plant Man, for this first month of the year included...
Q. What is the most important garden job this month?
A. January is the month for pruning. Prune carefully to encourage the type of plant growth you desire. Early-flowering shrubs and trees may be pruned after they have flowered.
Q. My tuberous begonias are going down now. What do I do with them in Laguna Canyon?
A. When the stems have fallen off, remove the tuber and shake off the soil. Dry them for a few days, place tubers in a paper bag, and store in a cool, dry place. You can set the begonias out again in early spring.
Q. Dear Plant Man, my azalea plant was in blossom when I bought it about two weeks ago, but most of the flowers have turned brown and many leaves are dropping. What can I do?
A. Azaleas have a difficult time growing indoors...rapid leaf drop is an indication of too much heat (perhaps it’s next to a heater), lack of water or possibly the plant is sitting in saucer water. Plant it outdoors soon.
Q. My ficus benjamina is unhappy and keeps dropping its leaves. Some branches have also died. It is almost five feet tall and I don't want to lose it. It gets a lot of indirect light and I do let the soil get dry before watering. I don't let it stand in excess water. I don't know if I'm underwatering or overwatering or if something else is wrong. The leaves that are dropped look good - not withered. Please help!
A. Your ficus is as finicky a house plant as I’ve ever met and really prefers to be outdoors (see azalea answer above). I might guess that the container may be too small for your plant or that you may be underwatering the plant. But, as most horticulturists will explain, ficus will drop green leaves just out of principle. Light, temperature, and humidity changes are usually responsible for such behavior. Move the plant outdoors!
Q. I have planted bougainvilleas in pots, which are about 20" in diameter and about 22" tall. A few branches are about 4 feet long now. I would like the plants to grow longer and fuller, and then have lots of flowers. How often should I water and how much?
A. To keep your bougainvillea full, you must keep the ends tipped back. Gradually, you can allow the branches to grow longer, but only to a point. If you allow the plant to become too large, the roots will outgrow the confines of the pot. The soil should be kept evenly moist (watering could range from once to twice a week depending on your locale) and enough water should be applied to drain out each time you water. A healthy plant should give you lots of flowers.
Q. My roses have been so beautiful this past year. But now, they are losing leaves. Is it too early to prune for the winter?
A. Insects and cold winds have stripped many rose leaves. If you’re impatient, it would be okay to prune your roses now.
Q. Is this a good time to plant roses?
A. The best! Your local nurseries will have their largest selection of roses at the best prices, because it is bare root season through February.
Catharine and I spent the end of the year, hiking in Bryce Canyon. It was beautiful being outdoors! We toasted one another, but somehow, I couldn’t verbalize my resolutions. Now in print, quite simply, I resolve to listen better, move swiftly past hesitancy, and commit to success. And of course, love my wife unconditionally…but not too tightly. See you next time.
|
