Bt2-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 26, 1992
Proper Handling Keeps
oliday Gift Plants Going
CREAMERY (Montgomery
Co.) Potted plants received as
gifts during the holiday season
will continue to provide color and
enjoyment if they are handled
properly. One of the first steps in
caring for gift plants is to realize
that the winter home environment
is hostile to a flowering plant.
Plants are produced under opti
mum conditions with all the light,
water, warmth and nutrients
needed for quality flowers and
foliage. The average home is to
dark, dry and drafty in comparison
to a greenhouse setting. In addi
tion, we generally don’t fertilize
much at this time of the year.
The life of most flowering
plants can be extended for days or
even weeks beyond the holidays
with some extra attention. Flower
ing plants require bright light to
retain their flowers and foliage.
Avoid direct exposure to the sun
which heats the flowers and
causes excessive moisture loss in
an already dry atmosphere. Since
the light helps the plant grow, turn
the plant once a week to keep it
symmetrical.
If you don’t have access to east,
south or western windows, set the
plants close to artificial light.
Fluorescent lamps are the best
choice because incandescent light
generates too much heat for the
amount of light produced. It is
possible for the heat of a light bulb
to either bum or fade the flowers.
Many flowering plants are not
produced at constant temperatures
in the greenhouse. Most plants do
well in bright spots with a temper
ature of 65’ to 75' in the daytime
and 50* to 55' at night. The cooler
temperatures “slow” the plant
down and help extend its decora
tive life. Remember that during
winter the temperature of a room
is considerably lower near a win-
Dolls In many shapas and sizes fill the Music Room at
Longwood Gardens this year. “Around the World with St.
Nicholas,” the theme of the 1992 display, features antique
toys and dolls, a teddy bear collection, and a series of fig
ures. The Indoor conservatories are filled with decorated
trees and 2,300 poinsettlas, and 200',000 lights glisten out
doors each evening between 5 and 9 p.m.
Longwood Gardens, located on U.S. Route 1 near Ken
nett Square, Is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the
Christmas display. For further information, call (215)
388-6741.
dow than in the rest of the room. A
In a still room, temperatures near
the glass may be low enough to v
damage the plant.
Drafts can be a serious hazard F7T j
for plants in the winter. Cold air /
from open doors as well as the
heat from radiators or air vents can
chill or overheat the plant. Avoid
any extremes in temperature. '
In the excitement of the holi-
days you may forget to water your
gift plant. Remember that indoor
air is quite dry and the plant will
dry out quickly. Also flowering
plants tend to dry quicker than
foliage plants. It is best to main
tain a moderately moist root sys
tem all the time. Roots can be seri
ously damaged if they become too
dry or are water-logged from too
much water. Keep the soil surface
moist with regular applications of
tap water at room temperature.
Cold water directly from the tap
may be too cold for the roots.
When you find it necessary to
water the plant, add enough water
to completely soak the root sys
tem. The excess water should pass
through the drainage holes in the
bottom of the container. If the
plant is in a decorative pot with no
drain hole, be very careful. Too
much water will drive all the air
from the roots.
If your plant has been allowed
to dry out completely, dunk the
pot in a deep pan of water to
quickly replenish the soil’s mois
ture. The dry soil mixture may
cause the plant to float for a short
time, but when the plant settles to
the bottom of the pan the root ball
will be wet. Remove the pot and
allow the excess water to drain
away. Blooming plants and those
with large leaves will tend to dry
out faster and require more fre
quent watering than nonflowering
plants or those with smaller
leaves,
The removal of older, faded
flowers will help prevent seed
development from taking strength
away from the rest of the plant.
Periodic grooming of the plant
will help keep it attractive for a
longer time.
At some point in the future you
will have to determine the fate of
your holiday gift plant. These
plants are produced under ideal
conditions which cannot be dupli
cated in the home. In most
instances it is probably better to
discard the plant after it has fin
ished flowering or is no longer
attractive. However, some of the
perennial woody plants can be
grown in the home and garden for
a number of years if they are given
proper attention. Some may have
to be taken indoors each fall to
protect them from frost and cold
weather.
Some plants need a dormant
period after flowering while
others can be kept growing until
moving them-outdoors in spring.
Others tend to get spindly in the
low light levels of late winter and
will need to be pruned to keep
them full and compact.
The poinscltia needs a dormant
period between March and May
when they are cut back to 3 to 5
inches before growth starts.
Chrysanthemums can be main
tained as a foliage plant indoors
until spring when they are cut
back to several inches before out
door planting. The greenhouse
variety of mum will not tolerate
freezing temperatures and has to
be brought back inside each fall.
Kalanchoe needs adequate light
to flower a second season and for
this reason it is often discarded
once the growth becomes too
spindly indoors. Cuttings can be
rooted in moist sand to carry the
plant to the next season. Regular
pruning will help maintain a more
compact plant.
Cyclamen is one of the most
attractive winter plants available.
It is also one of the most difficult
plants to keep looking good
indoors. Cool temperatures, as
low as 50' at night, are needed to
keep the plant healthy. Warmer
temperatures result in yellow
foliage and dead flower buds.
The gardenia is an’attractive
foliage and flowering plant. The
fragrant flowers will persist in
night temperatures of 60*. Keep
the plant in a sunny but cool loca
tion in the daytime. In summer
move the gardenia to a .lightly
shaded area and never allow the
soil to dry out. Keep it fertilized
during the summer growing sea
son, and return it indoors before
the cool nights of early September
arrive.
See your nearest
I\EW HOLLAfND
Dealer for Dependable
Equipment and
Dependable Service:
PENNSYLVANIA
Annvllle, PA
BHM Farm
Equipment, Inc.
RDI, Rte. 934
717-867-2211
Carlisle, PA
R&W Equipment Co.
35 East Willow Street
717-243-2686
Davidsburg, PA
George N. Gross, Inc.
R.D. 2, Dover, PA
717-292-1673
Elizabethtown, PA
Messick Farm
Equipment, Inc.
Rt. 283 ■ Rheem’s Exit
717-367-1319
Gettysburg, PA
Yingling Implements,
Inc.
3291 Taneytown Rd.
717-359-4848
Halifax, PA Quakertown, PA
Sweigard Bros. C.J. Wonsidler Bros,
R.D. 3, Box 13 R.D. 1
717-896-3414 215-536-1935
Honey Brook, PA
Dependable Motor Co.
East Main Street
215-273-3131
215-273-3737
Honey Grove, PA
Norman D. Clark
& Son, Inc.
Honey Grove, PA
717-734-3682
Loysville, PA
717-789-3117
MARYLAND
Frederick, MD
Ceresville
Ford New Holland, Inc.
Rt. 26 East
301-662-4197
Outside MD,
800-331-9122
NEW JERSEY
Bridgeton, N.J.
Leslie <3. Fogg, Inc.
Canton & Stow Creek
Landing Rd.
609-451-2727
609-935-5145
Woodstown, NJ
Owen Supply Co.
Broad Street &
East Avenue
609-769-0308
Hughesvllle, PA
Farnsworth Farm
Supplies, Inc.
103 Cemetery Street
717-584-2106
New Holland, PA
A.B.C. Groff, Inc.
110 South Railroad
717-354-4191
Oley, PA
C.J. Wonsidler Bros.
R.D. 2
215-987-6257
Pitman, PA
Schreffler Equipment
Pitman, PA
717-648-1120
Tamaqua, PA
Charles S. Snyder, Inc.
R.D. 3
717-386-5945
West Grove, PA
S.G. Lewis & Son, Inc.
R.D. 2, Box 66
215-869-2214
Washington, NJ
Smith Tractor &
Equip., Inc.
15 Hillcrest Ave,
201-689-7900