[JAN. 17, 2001]  After several months of frigid temperatures, piles of snow and gray skies, most area gardeners are suffering from a severe case of cabin fever. Even though promises of warmer temperatures and the official start of the gardening season are still in the distant future, there are many things you can do right now to brighten up your home and spirit.

[click here for Part 1]

[click here for Part 2]

Forcing bulbs

Jennifer Krick, program coordinator at Washington Park Botanical Garden in Springfield,
says two of her favorite things to do this time of year are poring through garden catalogues
and forcing bulbs.

"This is a good time to go through catalogues and decide what kind of plants you want to try
next year," she said.

She also recommends forcing bulbs such as grape hyacinths and crocuses, two of her
favorites. "Bulbs are awesome. I especially like grape hyacinths, which are very easy to
force. You can plant them in soil or rock, stick them in a dark closet for 10 days, then place them in the sun and water them," she said.

Even though spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and crocuses usually signal the
beginning of spring in the Midwest, many bulbs can also be forced indoors during the winter
months. If properly planned, you can have the heady scent of spring flowers indoors from
January until spring.

The forcing of these bulbs actually begins in the fall, but you can buy some easy-to-force bulbs like hyacinths and paperwhites — a sweetly scented daffodil variety — throughout the winter months. Paperwhites and hyacinths are bulbs that do not need special treatment. Just plant them in rock, soil, marbles or any kind of material that will keep the bulbs from sitting in water, and watch them grow. It’s almost embarrassing how easy they are to grow and how much joy they bring from such little effort.

[to top of second column in this section]

For bulbs that need extra care to bloom, make sure to plan ahead in the fall. Buy good-
quality bulbs and well-drained potting mix. You’ll also need containers and cold storage facilities. Most bulbs can be forced, but best results are achieved by selecting varieties recommended for forcing and choosing large, firm bulbs.

The forcing procedure is as follows:

*Fill a container with potting mix; then place the bulbs in the pot so the tip of each bulb is
even or slightly below the rim of the container. Plant bulbs close together.

*Add potting mix and firm it around the bulbs, but don’t cover them. Keep soil level slightly
below the container rim. Water.

*Label each container as planted, including planting date.

*Place bulbs in a cold place like a root cellar or refrigerator for 12 to 16 weeks at a temperature of 40 to 45 degrees. The bulbs should be kept in the dark and watered periodically.

*After the designated time, place the bulbs in a cool, semi-dark location and keep the potting soil moist. Move the pots to a warmer area with direct sunlight when the sprouting shoots turn green. You should be rewarded with flowers in a few weeks.

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

[JAN. 17, 2001]  After several months of frigid temperatures, piles of snow and gray skies, most area gardeners are suffering from a severe case of cabin fever. Even though promises of warmer temperatures and the official start of the gardening season are still in the distant future, there are many things you can do right now to brighten up your home and spirit.

[click here for Part 1]

Indoor plants

Floral designers say placing a few blooming plants around your house can brighten up your home and your mood during even the dreariest of winter days. Sales of houseplants and blooming plants drastically increase from mid-January through February.

Plants are especially important after the holidays are over, when the house looks barren once the
Christmas decorations are stored away once again.

A few indoor blooming plants to try:

*Orchids. Dendrobium, paphiopedilum (ladyslipper orchid), phalaenopsis (moth orchid) and cymbidium will adjust to light from a west or south window. Be sure to research orchids before buying plants, because they are among the most expensive of houseplants and require special care, such as a bark chip planting medium and regular fertilizer. They are worth the trouble. Mature orchid plants will initiate at least one spike each winter, and blooms last two months or more.

*Cape primrose or steptocarpus. A blooming plant that's a cousin to the popular African violet, but easier to keep blooming. This plant sports long, fuzzy leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers in bright pink and purple shades.

*Angel-wing begonia. Similar to the common begonia found in many summer flower beds, this plant has great leaves and blooms.

*Clivia, Lady Clive or Duchess of Northumberland. Large masses of soft orange petals contrast nicely with shiny foliage. Although these plants are slow growers, mature plants bloom nicely. The secret to blooms is to keep the plants pot-bound. Allow the soil to dry out thoroughly between waterings beginning in October, then move the pot to a warm, sunny window in January and resume regular watering. A flower stem should appear within a month.

*Christmas cactus. If you received one as a gift this year, don't toss it out with the wrapping paper. This plant is easy to care for and will add a burst of color to any décor.

[to top of second column in this section]

Besides buying new blooming plants, winter is also an ideal time to thoroughly inspect the plants you already have and check for pests, diseases and problems. Poorly performing plants could signal poor growing conditions.

The correct amount of light is vital to indoor plants, and although a plant may not show the effect of inadequate light right away, it will eventually kill the plant.

Plants are usually classified as needing low, medium or high light. As a guide, consider that low light means light coming from a north window, medium from an east or west window, and high light coming from a south window. If the shadow cast by a window is barely noticeable, the light is low; if the shadow is present but indistinct, light is medium; and when the shadow is clearly visible, it’s a bright light. Choose plant types according to your existing light conditions.

Too much light can also be harmful to a plant and cause stunted growth and burned leaves. Sometimes placing a sheer curtain on the window is enough to correct the problem.

Plants sitting on a windowsill often grow toward the light, so turn the pots frequently.

Besides correct light, most plants also like humidity, which can be accomplished by a light misting several times a day. Another way to increase humidity levels for your plants is to group them together on a tray of wet gravel so pots will not sit directly in water.

Periodic grooming keeps houseplants looking their best. Clip dead flowers so the plant’s energy is spent on flower, not seed, production, and pinch the growing tips of foliage to encourage lush growth.

(To be continued)

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

[click here for Part 3:  Forcing bulbs]

[JAN. 16, 2001]  After several months of frigid temperatures, piles of snow and gray skies, most area gardeners are suffering from a severe case of cabin fever. Even though promises of warmer temperatures and the official start of the gardening season are still in the distant future, there are many things you can do right now to brighten up your home and spirit.

Quotes to brighten your winter days

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant. — Anne Bradstreet

In the depths of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. — Albert Camus

From December to March, there are for many of us three gardens — the garden outdoors, the garden of pots and bowls in the house, and the garden of  the mind’s eye. — Katherine S. White

We go, in winter’s biting wind,

On many a short-lived winter day,

With aching back but willing mind

To dig and double dig the clay.

— Ruth Pitter

Statuary, urns, gazing balls, ironwork and fountains are all being used indoors these days to bring the look of nature inside your home, helping a lot of people get through the depressing winter months.

Instead of wistfully counting the days until you can dig in the dirt, use the dreary days of winter to keep busy planning and preparing for the upcoming season. The cold months offer a great chance to analyze what you liked and didn’t like about last year’s garden and landscaping plan. Start a garden journal and sketch out plans for a new rose garden or make a list of what new vegetables you want to try this summer. Browse through the barrage of
seed catalogues filling your mailbox and make an order list. Bring in some garden furniture or garden accessories like sundials and birdhouses that may make their home in the summer garden but bring a breath of fresh air to your living or dining room.

One of the fastest ways to bring a hint of warmer days ahead into your home is adding some new houseplants.

(To be continued)

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

[to top of second column in this section]

February’s gardening chores

(source: County Living Gardener)

*Look through garden catalogs and place orders for bulbs, seeds and plants.

*Thoroughly clean any flats or pots for seedlings.

*Set aside a potting area for starting seeds indoors and gather necessary equipment.

*Sow the seeds that will need 10 to 12 weeks indoors before they can be transplanted outdoors.

*Beware of a February thaw!

*Continue looking for plant damage in the garden.

[click here for Part 2:  Indoor plants]

Animals for adoption

These animals and more are available to good homes from the Logan County Animal Control at 1515 N. Kickapoo, phone 735-3232.

Fees for animal adoption: dogs, $60/male, $65/female; cats, $35/male, $44/female. The fees include neutering and spaying.

Logan County Animal Control's hours of operation:

Sunday  –  closed

Monday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Tuesday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Wednesday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Thursday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Friday  –  8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Saturday  –  closed

Warden: Sheila Farmer
Assistant:  Michelle Mote
In-house veterinarian:  Dr. Lester Thompson

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