There are some years when saltation - similar weather come almost too early . former crocus and snowdrops blossom , roses go quiescency , and the hard earth turns to clay all at once . For skeptical gardeners ( and all nurseryman turn into skeptics if they keep at it long enough ) , it is a origin of concern . What if there is a sudden freeze just as everything is leafing out ? What if this is as good as it ’s going to get for the intact year ? Why does n’t the garden centre have any pansies yet ?
Then of course , there are years like this one , when Mother Nature teases us with a batty Clarence Day now and then in February and former March , just before she hit us with yet another storm . The discrepant weather gets discouraging , as does the dateless sequence of gray days . It is a wonder moregardeners do n’t go demented at the close of wintertime .
I am staving off such rabies by keeping busy in the fifteen or twenty minutes of most working days that I essay to commit to garden - related natural action . Like me , my houseplants all sport the conclusion - of - winter look that come from months of less - than - optimal igniter , now and then inconsistent watering , dry indoor zephyr and a slowed emergence cycle . Once a workweek I bring each one of them into the kitchen , put it in the sink , and drench the grease with piss from the spray bond . The leaves get clean in the cognitive operation , which is generally right for the plant , and I fuck that the radical have been thoroughly hydrous . While theplant is in the sink I shave off any dead leaves and flowerstalks . Once the laundry and dressing is over , I may introduce a obtuse - exit fertilizer sparking plug into the territory . This should be done every six weeks or so . last I wash away and dry out the saucer that sits under the flora , and return it to its original situation .
The only coinage that do not gain from such a exhaustive laundry - down are fuzzy - leafed creatures such as African reddish blue . employ a watering can to drench the soil of those flora , as their leaves do not respond well to being spattered with pee droplet .
While you are involve in this cleansing cognitive operation , take a cold - hearted aspect at all your plants . If yours are like mine , some of them are clearly toast . recall that you’re able to not raise something that is already all numb , or even 90 % dead , and it will not help to put it back on the windowsill for another six weeks . cast off it out and think about all the pollyannaish specimen that you’re able to purchase to fill the empty space . Better yet , if the empty quad is in a south - face windowpane , start some pansies or other seeds . learn your little seedling sprout is a lot better for your mood than contemplating a bushed plant andfeeling guiltyabout its demise .
Plant grooming time is also a undecomposed sentence to repot and consolidate . Those amaryllis bulbs that have been hang around and sprouting leaves since Christmas , can be consolidated into one large pot , freeing up distance for morecolorful thing such as the cinerarias that are invading the supermarkets and gardencenters properly now . look at consolidating a few of those pot primroses that you may have bought last month . Eventually they can be transplanted to a fishy spot in the garden , but that will only work if they are alive and well . It ’s always easier to water one large pot rather than two or three little ones . African violets also respond well to being aggroup in one large deal . The discourse is especially good if you have violets whose flowers contrast with each other .
Once all your houseplant are in good shape , study your catalogue pile . In the world of mail order plant selling it ’s still the pre - season , and the pre - season is a proficient clip to get bargains on plants .
Check your mail order of magnitude catalogue for any that advertise early bird nest egg . These vendors like to disperse the workload , and it is in your interest and theirs to get orders in early . Sometimes the savings come in the variety of discount if you order before a sure day of the month ; other times you get a few supererogatory flora . Either way , there are good deals to be had .
My local garden clayware emporium is also advertize savings on all kinds of pot . Make a few headphone vociferation and check around in your area . If you have always require astrawberry jar , birdbath or a stylish urn , now may be the time to get it .
With a bit of destiny , all this purposeful horticultural body process will get youready for the real gardeningseason and keep your mind off the sleet coming down outside . By the midriff of April you will wish that you had this leisurely ( at least from a horticulture linear perspective ) clock time back again .
