Giving Houseplants as gifts

HOUSEPLANTS AS GIFTS*

If you are searching for a houseplant to give as a gift this season you can't go wrong with a 'croton'.

Crotons (Codiaeum) have very colorful leaves which can brighten any winter day. With basic care these colorful  houseplants will easily survive for years in a sunny window.  A few hours of sunlight is the key to maintaining the best color on the leaves.  Red, yellow, pink and green are often on the same leaf with no two leaves identical.

When giving a houseplant as a gift it is important to consider its new home.  If the recipient often says "I kill every plant I get" give them a plant that is easy to care for such as a Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera).  Blooming during the holiday season these tropical plants are very easy to keep alive. The key to bringing this plant into flower every year is natural sunlight. As the days get shorter it triggers these plants to develop their flowers.

Proper care and natural sunlight are all  the Christmas cactus require to trigger its annual bloom cycle.

Orchids and Poinsettia, both popular gifts are very sensitive to drafts and temperature fluctuations.



The decorative foil on this poinsettia will not permit water to drain away. Sadly this is a major cause of  death of this popular flowering plant. Remove the foil and put the pot in the sink while watering. After it has drained, it is safe to put the foil back on. Let the soil slightly dry out before watering again.

It is important to get your plant home from the shop without damaging it. Cover the plant with plastic or a paper bag, then move it from the store to a warm spot in your car, not the cold car trunk. Once home remove it immediately from the wrapping (which will now hold the cold)  and check the soil for moisture. When taking your gifts to their new home repeat the process.



Orchids make wonderful gifts. Now with modern propagation techniques they are more affordable

and popular than ever.

 This care will prevent your orchids from dropping unopened blooms or your poinsettia from wilting away in just a few days.  If the cashier is busy, step to the side and properly  cover the plants before leaving the store.

After being hit by a blast of cold air these orchids blossoms are wilting
and will drop off before opening.

Finally find the care instructions for your plant in a book or on the internet, make a copy and give this with the plant.  It will help answer any questions, ensure proper care and give the plant a better chance for survival.

Merry Holidays,

James

*First posted December 2014

Apples

APPLES

"As American as apple pie", dunking for apples and Little Johnny Appleseed, apples hold a treasured place in our history.

The story of apples goes back to the
beginning of written history.

The story of modern day apples started in the region of Kazakhstan in Eastern Asia.

The ancestors of the apple were too sour to eat. Luckily for us the pip, or seed, of the apple does not produce a fruit identical to the parent. This made it easy to create hybrids with sweeter fruit.  

The bitter taste of apple seeds is nature's warning not to eat them.
In small dozes they can cause an upset stomach and in large amounts are toxic.  

Once the fruit was acceptable, early people found ways to graft the tree to root stock and maintain the flavor. The ancient Greeks, Romans, and Celts in Britain all had mastered this horticultural skill.  

Grafting root stock is an ancient horticultural  practice
commonly used today. Modern day roses wouldn't existence without it.    

Johnny Appleseed, named John Chapman (1774-1845) a nurseryman, believed the only way to a good apple was by seeding.  He condemned grafting as "wicked".  He collected apple seeds from cider mills in Pennsylvania and carried them west, planting orchards in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. He also gave them freely to settlers. 

Johnny Apple seed claimed grafting "wicked".
His trees produced fruit too bitter to eat.

These mouth puckering apples were used mainly for making apple cider and apple jack.

Johnny Appleseed's trees were mainly used to make 'cider' and Applejack ,
a popular alcohol  beverage of colonial settlers. 

Even Thomas Jefferson planted apple trees and is partly credited for our modern day fuji apples.

Thomas Jefferson was a true "Renasissance Man' who
introduced hundreds of plants to America as well as pasta from Italy.
In his library was a copy of the Koran.

Today the 'USDA's Plant Genetics Resources Unit in Geneva, NY has 2,500 different varieties of apples from all over the world. These apples are prey to a host of pest and diseases. The Unit is reintroducing genes from the original ancestor to see if they can not only prevent problems but also create a better flavor which new varieties often lack.

Research continues to make apples hardier, healthier and more delicious.

The famous old Welsh saying, "An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away", has a great deal of wisdom in it.  Apples are considered a power fruit and eating one every day or at least five days a week can have a tremendous impact on our health.

Apples were ranked #1 in Medical News Today's top ten healthy foods.  Apples are rich in important antioxidants, flavonoids, and dietary fiber with vitamins C & A.

As easy as putting one in your pocket or purse apples are made for travel. 

With only 50 to 80 calories each, apples are an-all-time perfect snack food.

In poetry, legend, song, stories and film, apples
are so much a part of our culture we take them for granted.

Happy Autumn,                                                                                                           James

Garlic

GARLIC (AlliumSativum)

Over it's 5,000 year history garlic has garlic has been embraced for its many great
qualities and rejected because its potent affect on our breath.

Growing garlic can yield great rewards with a considerably low amount of work. Planted now before the ground freezes, garlic will grow over winter and be ready to harvest the following June.

Garlic is one of the oldest cultivated herbs in the world, but there is still debate if its origin is from Central Asia, South Asia or Siberia. From there it was carried into Egypt, Pakistan, India and China. Garlic was found in the pyramids and is mentioned in the Bible (Numbers11:5).

In ancient Egypt garlic was commonly used for many things from
 an offering to the gods as well as food for the slaves

Over garlic's five thousand year recorded history it has been used as an offering to the gods, medicine, an aphrodisiac, money and magic. Garlic was believed to ward off the evil eye, protect maidens and deter local witches and vampires.*

Before the age of antibiotics garlic was used to prevent and
treat infections including Word World 1 

To grow garlic start with good stock.  For best results buy your garlic from a garden center or catalog. In general the larger the clove you plant, the larger the bulb you will harvest. Do not plant supermarket garlic because they are often treated to prevent sprouting.

Removing the papery skin  eliminates the possibility it can  get
a fungus that will infect the healthy clove 

In my vegetable boxes I grow garlic a few inches from the edges so the center is free for spring planting.

When planting, separate the cloves and plant pointy side up one inch deep. Then water to help them adjust. Adding dehydrated cow manure or compost will get your garlic off to a good start. Mulch with grass or hay for winter protection.

After over-wintering in the ground your garlic will sprout its green leaves
in early.  

In early spring the greens will break the ground. When plants are six to eight inches high fertilize your plants with nitrogen and supply one inch of water a week. Add more mulch for weed control.

We the flowerheads or "scapes" curl it is time to remove them to force growth
to the maturing bulb.

When the "scapes' (flower heads) begin to curl, cut them off. This will force energy into the bulbs to ripen. The scapes can be eaten and have a mild onion flavor similar to scallions.

Scapes are commonly used in salads, cooking or pickled 

When the leaves begin to turn yellow stop watering for one month. Now your garlic is ready to harvest. It is better dig out your garlic rather than pulling it out of the ground.

After harvesting your garlic do not wash it. Cure it and brush off the
soil before long turn storage 

Curing your garlic will help preserve it for the coming months. Tie it together and hang it in a shady, dry, cool and well ventilated space for 4-8 weeks. Once dry brush off loose soil, trim stalks and roots and store in a refrigerator storage bin to prevent sprouting and promote freshness.

 Curing garlic in the right place can give a room
a nice 'American Homestead' feel

For more information see Rutgers Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet # 1233, Growing Garlic In The Home Garden. You can find it online or call The Garden Helpline (908-654-9852) and ask them to send you a copy.

*Although garlic wards off vampires and witches, it has no known affect on modern day zombies.

Happy Autumn, James

Mourning doves- raising the young

                MOURNING DOVES  (part 2)                 Mating And Raising Their Young

Almost identical you may spot the blue or pink feathers that distinguish
the male from the female in the sunlight.

Mourning doves are the most successful wild dove in North and Central America. They feed on a wide assortment of seeds and field waste grain. It is their ability to eat a vast  variety of weed seeds which makes them a valuable ally of farmers and gardeners.

The same with most bird species the mating ritual
 includes displays of feathers and the male feeding the female. 

Due to modern day tracking devices scientist now know that mourning doves mate for life; an old wives tale proven true.  If a dove does lose its mate they will eventually find a new one.

At this dramatic high point of  his dance, the males eyes are tucked deep in his feathers
making him extremely vulnerable to predators

At mating time the pair engages in an elaborate mating ritual with song, (coo-coo) feather displays and dance. The male then builds a loose nest five to twenty five feet above the ground out of twigs, grass, weeds and pine needles. The nest is so loose that you can see though it from below.

By feeding his mate the male proves he will be a good provider for his mate and their clutch. 

Once the eggs are fertilized the pair will tend the nest and their clutch together.  

The female lays two white eggs which both parents incubate for 14 to 15 days.  The male does the daytime shift and the female incubates at night.

 
Since the pair look very much alike most observers assume it is the same bird.  The switch happens quickly to keep the eggs warm and protected.

Pigeons and doves produce a very nutritious food for their young called 'pigeons milk'.  The parent opens it mouth wide and the young eat the mixture from inside.
Flamingos and Penguins also produce 'pigeon milk' for their young.

The first to hatch, both siblings will grow quickly and become fledglings within two weeks. 

Once hatched the squab (young doves) leave the nest after only twelve to fourteen days. Both parents teach the fledgling for a few days before starting the next clutch.  The pair can give birth to five clutches every year, often reusing the same nest.

Sadly the young mourning doves have a very high mortality rate of fifty to sixty percent. Hawks and other predators, human hunting, and the introduction of cats to our environment by Europeans takes a heavy toll on these indigenous doves.  If young birds live though the first year they can live to be four or five years old.

 You can see a few blue feathers on the doves back.
The male incubates during the day and the female at night.

If you are lucky enough to have a nesting pair of doves on your property try not to disturbed them. Mourning doves will quickly abandon their nest and even their nestlings if they feel endangered. 

Photographs of 'mating doves' taken by
Audra Loccisano on her Rahway deck.

Part one: 'Mourning Doves, Backyard Bird Feeding' was posted in December 2016

Happy Gardening, 

James

Crape-myrtle

                                                                                
                            CRAPE-MYRTLE                                
      (Lagerstoemia)

Crape Myrtles come in many colors including a deep purple

Mid-summer brings a spectacular display of color when Crape-Myrtle shrubs come into bloom. Clusters of flowers in pink, purple, white, red, blue and even bi-color varieties add incredible color to yards, gardens and on road sides.

Many have a gold center and they can be found with more then
one color on the flowers.

 

Originally from China and the tropics, Crape-Myrtles have been popular in the south as far north as Baltimore for many years. These subtropical plants were not able to survive our winters until recent years. Now with more hardy hybrids available they are quickly becoming standard for gardeners in the northeast.

Careful pruning helps develop an elegant plant that
can be enjoyed all year.
  
Crape-Myrtle are deer resistant, 

attracts butterflies and are easy to care for.  

Planted in full sun you should plan on enjoying
 your new shrub for many years to come. 

The biggest problem with Crape-Myrtles is 
deciding which color to choose.

The incredible bark would make Crape-Myrtles popular even if they didn't bloom  

When the leaves drop in autumn, the beautiful exfoliating bark adds interest to the garden all winter long.  

Crape-Myrtles bloom in early summer on 'new wood', so when pruned in the early spring they produce more flowers. 

Pruning is best done in March or early April to keep the shape and size in check.  Actually crape-myrtles benefit from a "heavy" pruning every few years.

A heavy pruning every few years helps create more flowers which
blooms on new wood.
Caution: this type of drastic pruning should not be done every year. 

A good time to buy your Crape-Myrtle is when they are in bloom so you are guaranteed the color you want. Keep your new plant in the pot until planting in September when the heat breaks.  Be sure to mulch it well after planting and give it extra tender care the first year.

Blooming at the same time as Rose-of -Sharon , Crape Myrtle does not have the
"volunteer seedling" problems that Rose-of-Sharon has.

Be patient in the spring because Crape-Myrtle break dormancy long after most other plants, usually when Dogwood are blooming.  Give them time and you will be rewarded with summer color when few other shrubs are flowering.

Happy Summer,
James

mulching properly

PROPER MULCHING 
SAVES TIME, MONEY, AND PLANTS

 There are multiple types of mulch to choose from: Chips, nuggets or shredded as well as
color choices from natural to red or black.. 

Mulching your landscape has many benefits for your garden, but the reason most homeowners mulch is to give their property a dramatic finished look. Your plants and flowers pop out with mulch.

No only does mulch add impact, it also creates an outline that makes mowing faster and easier. 

Properly used mulch suppresses weeds, keeps the soil moist, and maintains the soil temperature. This will help keep your plants healthy and reduce maintenance, especially weeding during the summer months. 

Usually one or two inches of mulch with 5 inches of space between the base of trees and/or the stems of shrubs is a good rule of thumb. Three inches on areas that have never been mulched before will help suppress weed seeds from germinating.  

The main functions of mulch are to suppress weeds, maintain moisture and control
fluctuating soil temperatures.

Mulching trees and shrubs is a recommended cultural maintenance method with many benefits, yet it can literally kill plants if mulch is applied improperly.

VOLCANO MULCHING KILLS TREES AND SHRUBS

A mountain of mulch, piled high against the tree trunk, does not kill a tree immediately but will result in a slow death. Over-mulching is a waste of mulch and money. It is a leading cause of death for azalea, rhododendron, dogwood, boxwood, mountain laurel, hollies, cherry trees, ash, birch, linden, spruce, and many other landscape plants.

Mulching  properly has many benefits, but "volcano mulching" sets your trees and shrubs on the
path to a slow death.
    

How does over-mulching kill trees and shrubs?

·        Lack of oxygen to tree roots. This is especially common in the spring and the fall, which are critical periods for root growth, and during other wet periods. Symptoms may take several years to appear.

·        Inner bark death. This comes from the piles of mulch placed directly against the stems/trunks of trees and shrubs. (This can also happen to trees planted too deeply. Carefully follow directions when planting trees and bushes.)

All living things on Earth require water and oxygen, including plants.
Volcano mulching suffocates roots at the base of your trees. 

·        Fungal and bacterial diseases. Moisture is required to spread and reproduce these diseases. Trunk diseases gain a foothold into the moist, decaying bark tissue under the mulch. Once established, the disease organisms ultimately invade the inner bark, starving the plant and finally killing the tree.

Mulching protects trees from the 'dreaded lawn mower disease'
Damage done to the base of  trees from being hit by lawn mowers and weed whackers.
This is a major cause of death of  Dogwoods and other trees.

·        Excess heat. This is created when wet mulch starts to heat up and begins to decompose the lower bark. 

·       Rodents such as mice and voles. These creatures live under the warm mulch in the winter and chew on the nutritious inner bark. Often this goes unnoticed until the following spring when the "tree doesn’t look good”.

In newly mulched areas a layer of 2 sheets of  wet black & white newspaper
helps to suppress weed seeds and saves mulch.
  

Information in this article is from Rutgers Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet FS099 Deborah Smith-Fiola, Agricultural Agent, Ocean County

Happy Gardening,                                              

       James