Happy New Year, everyone! As another year just started, it is time to start planning this year's garden.
Keep a look out for seed and nursery catalogs. Check seeds for viability by placing 10 seeds on a damp paper towel and keep them warm and moist. If fewer than half the seeds sprout, order new seeds.
All outdoor plants are dormant right now. However, we have indoor plants inside our house. It is time to clean encrusted clay pots. We should scrub them with a steel wool pad after soaking them overnight in a solution of 16:1 water and white vinegar.
We need to make sure houseplant foliage are dust-free, which allows the leaves to get the most light possible. Low humidity levels might be an issue inside the house during winter months. We can put pebble trays, place houseplants near each other and use a humidifier to maintain the humidity.
If we add new houseplants, make sure to quarantine them carefully and inspect for any pests. Check houseplants for common pests such as aphids, spider mites, scale, mealybugs, whiteflies, thrips and fungus gnats. If they are present, treat them accordingly.
After amaryllis have bloomed, remove spent flowers, and set the plant in a sunny window to allow the leaves to fully develop. Make sure the soil is evenly moist and fertilize them timely with a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer.
We should water house plants evenly with tepid water. Uneven watering can lead to oedema, and watering with cold water can shock the plant.
Some houseplants such as spider plants, dracaenas, calatheas and peace lilies are sensitive to harsh chemicals in tap water such as fluorine and chlorine. Damage can appear as tip browning. To minimize the issue, we should water with distilled or filtered water or allow tap water to sit for 24 hours to allow the chemicals to evaporate.
Check fruit trees for evidence of rodent injury to bark. Use baits or traps where necessary. Allow ice to natural melt off from trees. Prune off broken or damaged branches immediately to prevent the bark form tearing. Sow pansy seeds indoors now. Avoid foot traffic on frozen lawns as this may injure turf grass.
If you didn't get bulbs in the ground before it froze, plant them in peat pots, place outside and bury under a thick layer of leaves or mulch.
Monitor overwintering dormant plants, bulbs and tubers by ensuring they are not completely dried out or rotting.
January is the time to start a garden journal. Write down what plants you currently have, how they have performed, and what you plan on growing this year.
Make tools easier to sport by applying brightly colored paint or tape to the handles.
Happy gardening!
Source: Missouri Botanical Garden
Dhruba Dhakal, PhD is a University of Missouri Extension Horticulturist, serving to Missourians about a decade in Central Missouri. Dhruba can be contacted at [email protected] with gardening questions.