* Select hardy, pest and disease-resistant varieties for minimal maintenance.
* Choose plants suited to your area’s climate zone. The Okanagan Valley zone is 4/5.
* Carefully consider the various sites in your garden (sun exposure, soil type, drainage and rainfall), then select plants that will thrive in each environment.
* Determine the mature size of the plant before you position it in your garden to ensure it has adequate space to grow to full size, and consider whether the mature plant will be appropriate for your long-term landscape plan.
* Consider the plants’ seasonal aspects: bulbs are spectacular in the spring; annuals, perennials and flowering shrubs show best in the summer; and maples provide dazzling colour in the fall. Try to create seasonal balance in your landscape.
*Native plants are increasingly being used in home landscapes. Planted in appropriate sun exposure, soil and moisture conditions, native plants also provide habitat for many other organisms, conserve water and soil, and are low maintenance.

Lastly, consider purchasing local grown plant materials as they are generally better acclimatized than imported plants.

Garden quote:

"Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity."

Lori

In order for a plant to grow and thrive it needs nourishment. Nature provides plants their basic needs such as oxygen, sunlight and water (though we may have to top up the water needs of the plants). However, if you want a great garden you will have to provide the other nutrients needed for healthy plants throughout the season.

Many different nutrients are important for plant development. Fertilization will improve crop yield and plant performance. The three main nutrients in fertilizer which are important for plant development, and often lacking or depleted in soil, are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K).

#Nitrogen (N): This nutrient is responsible for the healthy green colour of your plants, nitrogen deficiencies result in a yellowing of leaves and slow down in growth.

# Phosphorus (P): Affects early vigour, promotes healthy root growth and flowering. Plants with a shortage of phosphorus are often stunted.

#Potassium (K): (Also called potash.) This nutrient promotes healthy plants and disease resistance.

The numbers on a bag of fertilizer are percentages of the composition of the main 3 nutrients that soil needs and that are in the bag. So, a bag of 10-15-10 fertilizer has 10 percent nitrogen, 15 percent phosphorus and 10 percent potassium and the rest is filler and has no value to the plants.

Lori

Because the seedling is growing in a soilless mix, you will need to give it some supplemental feeding. I use a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen and potassium. This is to encourage good roots and healthy growth.

Before transplanting, water the seedlings well. This will aid the seedlings to easily separate when taken out of the container. Hold the seedlings carefully by the stem when transplanting, fill container with soil and set the seedling at the same level it was in the seedling flat. When firming the soil avoid injuring the tender stems.

Immediately, after transplanting, water each seedling container thoroughly. Wilting at this point can damage young plants severely.

Spacing is important. Plant quality suffers from crowding too many plants into a small area, crowded seedlings become weak and spindly and are more susceptible to disease. In this photo the tomato seedlings should be transplanted to a larger container. Wider spacing or larger containers permit stronger growth. As a rule of thumb, to produce high quality plants, space them so that the leaves of one plant do not touch those of another.

For many of you it’s fun to get a head start on the upcoming garden season by starting seedlings indoors. Sometimes, growing your own may be the only way to obtain the new or special variety you want.

A soil-less potting mix is best for germinating seeds. These mixes are made from peat and vermiculite or perlite and are mediums that are sterile and drain well. Using garden soil increases the likelihood of damping-off diseases that attack seedlings and should therefore be avoided. Look for soil mixes with terms like germination mix, plug mix, and starter mix.

Various containers can be used to germinate and grow transplants. Previously used flats, trays, and pots should be cleaned and disinfected before use. Wash and disinfect them in a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water.

When sowing seeds in flats, fill the containers with the growing medium to within 2 cm of the top, firm the medium and seed thinly, cover the seed only enough to make it disappear from view, rule of thumb is 2x their diameter, and water thoroughly. Cover the container with clear plastic and put in a warm place. Remove the plastic as soon germination occurs.

Once the seeds have germinated, move the seedlings to an area with slighter cooler temperatures and direct sun. Transplant the seedlings into individual containers when the first true leaves appear. To avoid leggy plants, supplement natural light available through windows by hanging one or two fluorescent light fixtures about six inches above the seedlings. As the plants grow, raise the fixtures. A mix of cool white and warm white bulbs will provide the right quality of light for plant growth. Or, you can also use grow lights.

Water your seedlings well before and after transplanting. Seedlings growing in soilless mixes need to be fertilized when the first true leaves appear. Feed at every other watering with a water-soluble starter fertilizer to encourage good roots and healthy growth.

Lori

To take a cutting, remove a 5 to 6 cm section of the plant’s stem with a sharp knife. Pinch off the leaves from the lower half of the cutting and dip the cut end into a rooting hormone. Rooting hormones are sold in powder or liquid form. I use the powder number 2 or number 3.

Stick the cuttings in a moist, well drained rooting media. Nothing beats a good commercial medium because it is sterile and free of unwanted weed seeds. I also like to put cuttings in individual pots.

Ideally, cuttings root best in a moist, warm environment. I don’t cover the cuttings because in my experience they rot if the humidity is too high. The pots should be placed in bright but indirect light. Check regularly to insure they remain moist and not too wet. If your medium is too wet your cuttings will also rot.

The cuttings will root in about 6 weeks. Pinch shoot tips back to force branching and prevent spindly growth. At this point, it is time to start fertilizing, choose a good liquid fertilizer and use a weak solution once a week. Fertilize only lightly. Excessive amounts of nitrogen will promote leaf growth at the expense of flowers.

Last Tip: *Geraniums in containers bloom better when they are slightly root bound.

Whether to start from seeds or plants is a decision you will have to make. I personally grow all my herbs from seed. When starting from seeds the soil you use should be loose and well drained. I recommend a mix of equal parts potting soil, peat moss, and perlite or vermiculite.

Herbs do not require high fertility and you should not fertilize them as much as your house plants. As well, avoid over-watering when growing herbs indoors because the roots will rot.

Parsley is my number #1 herb. Parsley is a nutritious herb, high in vitamins A and C and good for many things, as well as being a nice garnish. I use parsley in salads, soups, and herb mixtures. It comes in either curly or flat leaf varieties.

Basil is another must have. It is ideal for making pesto, or for use in pasta sauces and it will go well with any dish that contains tomatoes.

Oregano is another herb that goes well with tomatoes. Oregano has a strong flavour. When using fresh leaves make sure to strip the leaves from the stem.

Mint is delicious in tea and it can be used in desserts. Mint should stay in a container even outside because it will spread everywhere if not contained.

Sage is another herb that I use frequently. The leaves are perfect with poultry.

Herbs require little care and space and have very few insect and disease problems. These traits, in addition to being tasty makes them ideal plants for the beginner gardener.

Tip: When reusing pots make sure to wash them thoroughly and rinse in a bleach solution before use.

Lori

Tufa is formed when water evaporates from lime rich waters. It is a relatively soft rock that is porous and creates the ideal growing condition for plants that like an all or nothing water supply.

Tufa is available in the Rocky Mountains, but not easily accessible. So, instead, I will be using hypertufa which is a man made tufa. It is lightweight and retains moisture but drains well. You can use any mould but make sure you apply oil (I used a baking spray) or smear the surface with grease so your finished project will release when it sets. When making my first container I failed to grease the mould well enough and the hypertufa was stuck in the mould. Also, make sure the top of the mould container is larger than the bottom, otherwise the finished product will not pop out.

The recipe is not an exact science. The following recipe is creative and experimental but this one works the best for me.

One part portland cement. Make sure it is portland cement. This is a type of cement that is made of limestone, clay and gypsum. I also tried to make the container using premixed which had portland in it but it never hardened and the container fell apart.

One part peat moss with one part vermiculite or perlite and then add water slowly and mix well. It should hold together but not be too wet. If it is too wet you will not be able to put it in a form because the mixture will all run to the bottom of your mould. Therefore, add water until the mixture resembles a crumbly cookie dough. Press the mix firmly into the mould and let it cure slowly. Have fun and let me know how your container turns out.

At this time of year, our gardening is focused on indoor plants. Caring for houseplants makes for a great hobby during the long winter months. Many gardeners refuse to twiddle their green thumbs when winter keeps them indoors. Along with keeping gardeners busy, indoor plants brighten the home by providing a cheerful sight for those grey and dreary winter days.

Indoor plants are also an important part of decor in our homes and offices. There is nothing more lovely and cheery than a room filled with beautiful green plants.

A more important reason plants are being brought indoors today, are to do with health. We spend a lot of our time indoors and we don’t get enough “fresh air”. We all breath in air taking in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide and with living in airtight houses, especially in the winter, we create pollution.

Plants operate differently, although they also breathe , they absorb carbon dioxide, mostly during the day, and release oxygen. One potted plant per 100 square feet will clean the air in an average home or office.

With house plants you have beauty and clean air. Give indoor gardening a try and breath easier.

Some Poinsettia Facts:
Poinsettias are native to Mexico.  The showy coloured parts of poinsettias that most people think are the flowers are actually coloured bracts (modified leaves).  Poinsettias are part of the Euphorbiaceae family.  Poinsettias are not poisonous.  Many plants in this family ooze a milky sap. Some people may have skin irritation from the milky sap.  Poinsettias were introduced into the United States in 1825 by Joel Poinsettia.

Selecting A Poinsettia
1.  Choose a plant with dark green foliage down to the soil line. Choose bracts (modified leaves) that are completely coloured.
2.  Do not purchase poinsettias with a lot of green around the bract edges. Do not choose plants with fallen or yellowed leaves.
3.  Do not purchase plants that are displayed in paper or plastic sleeves. Plants held in sleeves will deteriorate quickly.

Poinsettia Care
1.  Make sure the poinsettia is wrapped properly when leaving the store. Exposure to low temperatures even for a few minutes can damage the  bracts and leaves.
2.  Unwrap your poinsettia carefully and place in indirect light. Six hours of light daily is ideal.
3.  Keep the plant from touching cold windows.
4.  Keep poinsettias away from warm or cold drafts coming from radiators, air registers or open doors and windows.
5.  Ideally poinsettias require daytime temperatures of 17 to 21 Celsius and night time temperatures around 15 Celsius.
6.  High temperatures will shorten the plant’s life so move the plant to a cooler room at night.
7.  Check the soil daily. Be sure to punch holes in foil so water can drain into a saucer.
8.  Water when soil is dry and allow water to drain into the saucer and discard the excess water. Wilted plants will tend to drop bracts sooner.

Enjoy your poinsettia!