Planting Potted Azaleas In Winter
If you received a potted azalea during the winter, do the following steps:
- Repot it in German peat moss (or Canadian) when flowering stops.
- Trim off any soft, lanky growth.
- Feed every three weeks with ammonium sulfate (dissolve one tablespoon in one gallon of water) until midsummer.
Planting Lilies At Easter
Here are the tips to follow:
- Keep lilies received at Easter in bright light.
- Provide enough water so that the soil is always nicely moist.
- When the danger of frost is past, plant outdoors in humusy, well-drained soil with partial shade.
- Prepare a hole deep enough so that the lily bulb will be at least 5” inches below the surface.
Ideal Summer Flowers In The Greenhouse
There is still time to order these plants for summer flowers in the greenhouse, lathhouse, or a protected part of the garden where there is shade during the heat of the day.
The following ideal summer flowers are:
- Achimenes
- Tuberous-rooted begonias
- Caladiums
- Kaempferias
- Curcumas
- Eucomis
- Gloxinia perennis (true gloxinia)
- Sinningias (gloxinia of florists)
- Haemanthus multiflorus
- Agapanthus
- Crinums
- Oxalis lasiandra.
Setting Out Bulbs In The Perennial Border
As soon as the ground outdoors can be worked easily, set out bulbs which were forced earlier in the greenhouse or sunny window, into the perennial border.
Examples of the bulbs include:
- Tulips
- Daffodils
- Hyacinths
Don’t remove the foliage until it matures and turns yellow naturally.
Ideal Time For Repotting
This month, it’s ideal to repot the following plants:
- Abutilon plant
- Allamanda
- Araucaria (Norfolk Island pine)
- Marguerite
- Nerine (oleander)
- Pentas
Good Time To Prune Potted Plants
Now is a good time to prune back plants you may have been growing as potted plants.
Examples of the potted plants include:
- Boronia
- Brunfelsia
- Cestrum
- Clerodendrum
- Daphne
- Petunias
Ideal Season For Root Cuttings
This is the ideal season for rooting cuttings of most house and greenhouse plants, including:
- Aeschynanthus (lipstick plant)
- Anacampseros
- Aphelandra
- Araucaria (use only terminal stem cutting)
- Asarina (sometimes called maurandia)
- Fibrous-rooted begonias
- Boronia
- Brunfelsia
- Buddleia
- Cestrum
- Chorizema
- Clematis
- Codiaeum (croton)
- Columnea
- Daphne
- Epiphyllum (orchid cactus)
- Fittonia
- Hibiscus
- Hypoestes (pink polka dot plant)
- Ixora
- Jacobinia
- Lotus
- Marguerite
- Nerine (oleander)
- Peperomia
- Philodendron
- Pilea
- Plectranthus
- Rivina (rougeberry)
- Ruellia
- Schlumbergera (Christmas cactus)
- Selaginella
- Stephanotis
Planting Zinnia, French Marigolds, Celosias
Plant 3 or 4 seeds of zinnia `Thumbelina,’ an All-America Selection, in each of several 6″ inches pots.
They’ll begin to bloom in June and provide bright splashes of instant color wherever you want them around the terrace, patio, or garden.
Dwarf French marigolds can be planted in the same way.
Dwarf celosias, both crested and plumed types, sown in large pots now, will be colorful by late August and helpful in making warm, bright displays until frost.
Bring them in just before, and they’ll last another 2 months in the sunny greenhouse.
Planting Annual Seeds Indoors
There is still time to start seeds indoors of such annuals as:
- Phlox
- Marigold
- Zinnia
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Eggplants
But don’t wait much longer.
Giving Warm-Season Vegetables A Head Start
Toward the North in freezing climates, give warm-season vegetables a head start now in 3” inches peat pots.
These include vegetables, such as:
- Cantaloupe
- Cucumber
- Okra
- Summer squash
- Watermelon.
2 or 3 seeds per pot will be enough. Thin later to the strongest.
In The Greenhouse
Keep your greenhouse in apple-pie order during this season.
It’s such a tempting time for friends to drop in unexpectedly to see spring unfolding in the nearly-perfect climate beneath the glass.
April is a touch-and-go time for greenhouse shading and cooling.