Timi DeBusk
Master Gardener, Master Naturalist
December 2007
As I write this article it is still 80 degrees outside, we have had a few cool-to-cold nights and we have a promise of cold weather next week. I have winterized my greenhouse and called the propane company to fill the tank that I use for the greenhouse. I know cold weather is just around the corner.
By now you need to have brought in the plants that are not winter hardy. Is your garage crowded? A little protection now can make such a difference in the spring. If you have plumeria (Hawaiian lei plants) you will notice that they are dropping their leaves. Soon they will be nothing but a bare stock. This is how they should be. They do need to be protected from freezing. About Valentine's Day we will divide them for more plants for next year. Right now just let them stay dormant. Only water about once a month.
All tropicals need protection in our area. Tropicals are those that are typically grown in the tropics, ie; ginger, split-leafed philodendron, palms, shaffalerra, pineapple plants, etc..
I hope you are thinking compost – and not just thinking but doing. If you have started a compost pile here is a little recipe to help it during its decomposition. From Jerry Baker;
Compost Feeder Tonic
½ can beer
½ can regular coke cola (not diet)
½ cup liquid dish soap
Mix these together in the jar of your 20 gal. hose end sprayer, and apply generously to your compost pile about once a month.
Poinsettias are foremost in my mind this month. Nothing says the holidays have arrived like beautiful poinsettias. If you care for them properly they will remain beautiful from Thanksgiving through the New Year. Few plants are more colorful and festive. Place your poinsettia near a warm, sunny window, but don't let it touch the glass. Check the soil every day, and water when it's dry to the touch. Don't allow the soil to either dry out completely or remain soaking wet.
If you want to enjoy your poinsettia for another season, stop watering and store it in a cool, dry place when the leaves fall off. In the spring, water it again and cut the stems back to 6 inches tall. Keep the stems pinched back, as the new leaves begin to form, to make a short, compact plant. From early October (next year) until blooming starts, place the plant in a dark closet for 12 hours each night. Keep the plant in a sunny window or under grow lights for the other 12 hours of the day, and you should be rewarded with bright, beautiful blooms.
My recipe for a great holiday potpourri that will give your home that “home for the holidays” fragrance is:
½ orange – cut in wedges
½ lime – cut in wedges
¼ cup whole cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
2 bay leaves
Simmer in water on low (I use a small crockpot). Add water as needed (will last for a couple of days). This is for fragrance only, do not drink.
When you are in Llano, take a little stroll thru the wonderful “Pocket Park”, now renamed “Pioneer Park” next to the Historical Museum. Just before you cross the bridge on your left, between the antique store and the museum. The Llano Master Gardeners in partnership with the City of Llano and the Main Street Commission have transformed what once was an alleyway into a wonderful little park with benches, lighting, rock work, and plants that are labeled so that if you see something you like you will know its name.
The Llano Master Gardeners will begin taking registrations in January for the 2008 Master Gardener's Training Class which will begin March 19. This is a 10 week course that meets once a week for 4 hours each week. Last year's class filled quickly after the holidays, so I am mentioning it now.
If you have a gardener on your Christmas list, remember that most gardeners love receiving garden-related gifts. My personal favorite is ‘yard art’ or books on gardening.
Have a very merry Christmas. May the holidays be filled with love and happiness.
Happy gardening - Timi
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