Basic Tips For The Plant-Challenged

By Steve Bigham

Spring fever hit you, yet? Thinking about making your way out to the garden or picking up a few seasonal plants for the house? The following suggestions from local gardening experts are designed to help out even the “greenest” of planting novices.

Lexington Garden owner Tom Johnson recently led a walk-through tour of his 7,000-square-foot greenhouse along Church Hill Road, pointing to different plants on display – flowering plants that bring a lot of color into your indoor environment. Plants, such as the Lisiatha, prefer bright cooler, spots and should be well watered. They also require plenty of air.

“Plants really benefit from air circulation – fresh air,” noted Mr Johnson, whose store boasts 300 varieties of plants and more than 1,000 varieties of perennials and shrubs.

The Lisiatha is a slow-growing plant with an upright habit. It produces poppy-like flowers in summer amid deep green lance-shaped leaves. It is ideal for pots and landscapes, and thrives in well-drained soils.

Another plant of seasonal interest is the Martha Washington, which can eventually be moved outside when the weather permits. Lexington Gardens suggests this springtime plant be planted no sooner than mid-May, or after the last frost.

“Be careful. From time to time this area of the country experiences a frost in June. Maybe once a decade,” Mr Johnson said. “People try to rush the season and then they lose the plant.”

Also of seasonal interest are the many varieties of primrose. These flowering plants can be planted outside, and, given proper location, such as morning sunshine, and if the soil is amended and never dries out, it will survive through the winter. This is especially true of a snowy winter. The worst winters for plants are the ones without snow, when there is no protection from damaging winds.

Another seasonal plant is the Kalanchoe, which prefers light and direct sun. It is considered a succulent plant – meaning it has cactus in its family. It likes to be kept slightly dry between waterings.

Mr Johnson suggests “pinching” some of these plants – in other words, cutting them back to make them more compact. This prevents plants from sending out excessively long shoots that might break off.

Easter is late this year, so there could be a problem with Easter plants. Most Easter plants, such as lillies and spring bulbs, like cooler temperatures. An extremely warm April could cause some problems. Also, Mother’s Day comes two weeks later. This is expected to cause additional problems because growers prefer different flowers for Mother’s Day and, according to the experts, it is tricky to grow two totally different kinds of plants in the same environment. Some greenhouses may not be able to handle it.

Two of the most popular plants are gardenias and the hibiscus. The gardenia has been around for many years, but can be tough on an owner if not properly cared for.

“I consider them to be one of the most difficult house plants,” Mr Johnson said. “There’s lots of nostalgia to them, but there’s lots of roots for the size of the pot. They’re very fussy about temperature and water, but everyone likes them due to their fragrance. Forty to 50 years ago, we did not have the variety of plants that we have now. Gardenias have always been around.”

They can also attract insects, which can create havoc for plant owners.

The hibiscus has developed into a year-round houseplant. It drinks lots of water, but pays dividends with a great range of colors.

Understanding that people with green thumbs are itching to get outdoors, our experts offered a few suggestions for the outdoor gardener.

“They want to stay out of the garden unless the ground is dried up enough. It can do damage to the soil if you get in there to early,” Mr Johnson said. “The first thing you should do is clean up the foliage from last year’s plants. That stuff harbors insect eggs and creates a potential for disease.”

Late March is the best time to do cleaning and some preliminary planting. Pansies, dusta milla, and snapdragons should be the first to go in since they can survive a light to moderate frost.

The biggest mistake gardeners make is putting plants too close to the foundations of their homes. Or, they plant plants too close together, according to Barbara O’Connor of Planters Choice of Newtown. Another problem, she said, is homeowners do not pick the proper plants for the front of their homes. Hemlock and Blue Spruces look nice, but they eventually outgrow their surroundings, swallowing everything in their paths.

Many expert growers consider Connecticut to be a very difficult place to grow.

“We have dips in temperature in the winter. There’s lots of humidity too, which can cause fungus diseases,” Mr Johnson noted.

Of course everything depends on the summer, and last year’s drought was considered one of the most significant in recent history. The average rainfall levels for the spring and summer were well below normal.

“We had a drought last year and people got discouraged. We may still not know the full impact of the drought until this year, though. We’re still waiting for the results,” Mr Johnson said. “It’s very important to adequately feed and water plants. We have had a tough time and plants have been very stressed. It will be an interesting year to see what happens.”

Experts say plants are a lot like people in that they get cranky when they’re not fed. Sunlight is nice, but too much can create problems.

Gardening continues to grow in popularity. For some, it’s the perfect medicine.

“Most people like to see things grow. Plants need attention. It can be rewarding,” Mr Johnson said. “People get a sense of fulfillment for their psychological well-being during winter.”