I swear everyone had a wonderful holiday and is looking forth to a astral 2013 gardening time of year . I know I am . As theseed catalogsbegin rolling in , I ’ll be on the prowl for the new flower and veg introduction so I can give them a go in my own garden before reporting back to you on my successes and failure . In the meantime , I ’ll focus on attend my temporary “ houseplant ” through the wintertime .
To economize money ( and test my immature thumb ) , I enjoy trying to overwinter some yearbook each season . I often overwinter geraniums , impatiens , begonia and a few others . Here ’s how to do it :
It ’s quite loose to overwinter geranium and impatiens indoors as long as you provide them with some canonic demand . They should receive ample light ; otherwise they will get very tall-growing and wan . A bright , sunny windowsill will serve , but if you do n’t have one of those , I suggest hanging a fluorescent workshop light from hook in the ceiling above them . The primary goal is not to produce bloom , so you do n’t need to buy any limited grow - light bulbs . Just utilize fluorescent tubes . Keep the bulbs about 5 inches above the industrial plant tops , and move them up if the plant turn . You ’ll desire to have them on for 12 to 15 hours per Clarence Day .
Another adept tip is to be careful to forfend overwatering . Geraniums and impatiens are very prone to fungous disease , such as botrytis , if they are watered too often or if the foliage is frequently lactating . Be certain the container has good drainage , and do not allow water supply to sit down in the saucer at a lower place .
There is no need to fecundate through the winter because you do n’t need to encourage too much active growth , but do begin to use a dilutedkelp emulsion fertilizerwhen April get . you’re able to do this every two to three weeks until the plant can be moved outdoors .
hook backthe plant back might also be another necessity once or double during the next few month . for keep the plants compact and shaggy-haired , use a pair of shrill , light scissors grip to remove the terminal 2 inch from each root . This will encourage a well ramate flora that is less likely to become leggy and top sullen .
As for my begonias , how I winter them depends on the type . I do n’t bother overwintering wax begonias , as it is n’t really worth the drive , but if I grow Dragon Wing or Angel Wing begonia I follow the directions above . If they are tuberous begonias , I dig up the sarcoid genus Tuber , turn off off all the leafage , brush off the soil , let them sit for a week in a cool , ironical place and then store the tubers in a composition board box filled with peat moss in the garage . Then I replant the tuber come May .
For more information on overwintering garden plant , check out my military post “ Overwintering Container Plants . ”
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