"hosta, york me" by Peter Beardsley

Now is a great time to look ahead to the summer season. You will have time to plan and order the needed supplies to create stunning outdoor container arrangements for your clients. It is important to consider the space you are working with when you plan your arrangements, and many establishments may want their container arrangements placed on covered porches.  This poses the particular problem of light.  Many covered porches will not have enough light for sun loving flowers. There are, however, a number of beautiful plants that will not only tolerate, but thrive in the low light conditions. You can create beautiful container arrangements that are perfect for porches.

Hostas

Hostas are an excellent, shade loving plants that are perfect for a porch container.  There are a seemingly endless amounts of varieties. Hostas are attractive because of their lush foliage, that range from broad and deep green to narrow and variegated. They have small, understated flowers that rise above the foliage and are usually light blue or purple in color. Garden Guides suggests planting Hostas singularly in containers and then group different varieties of Hostas together for an arrangement. Garden Guides also suggests ornamental grasses in separate containers or ivy in the same container as companion plants.  Hostas like a lot of water but do not like to remain soggy so be sure to choose a potting mix that will encourage drainage. Also, Hostas vary greatly in size, so be aware of the mature size of the Hosta you are growing and plan accordingly.

Ferns

According to Container Gardening Guide there are 12,000 different varieties of ferns. Ferns also love the shade and can grow well in containers. Ferns have shallow roots systems and should not be planted in pots deeper than 6 inches. If you want to display your fern in a large decorative container, place the pot inside the larger container. You can flip over an empty pot in the bottom of the large container to fill space and act as a stand.  The watering needs of ferns vary greatly, so be sure to follow the growers instructions so that you do not over or under water the ferns. Ferns also grow well singularly in containers. You can place several different varieties in different containers and group them together for an arrangement.  Browse this link for a list of several descriptions of ferns, along with pictures, that are ideal for growing in containers. Ferns can also work well in hanging containers.

Shade Tolerant Flowers

If you want to add color to your porch arrangements, consider some shade tolerant flowering plants. A few options include begonias and impatiens.  Fine Gardening suggests finding some unique varieties of these old standards, such as double impatiens or tuberous rooted begonias with unique foliage. You can pair these with coleus or ivy to make the containers overflow with interesting foliage.

Foliage is the key to making stunning shade tolerant container arrangements. The possibilities and combinations are numerous, and shade loving varieties can be grouped together in showy containers to create a lush environment. As you search for the right container to show off your unique variety of hosta or fern, check out NewPro Containers selection of outdoor containers. Do you have a favorite shade loving plant you like to use in arrangements?

Photo “hosta, york me” courtesy of Peter Beardsley

"Spring is Here" by aussiegall

As winter continues with its dark nights and chilly days, it is exciting to start thinking about the color and warmth spring will bring. Now is the perfect time to plan out and even plant  spring containers. Consider using some of you favorite bulbs in a container to create a cheery springtime display.

Getting Started

To get started first choose the bulbs you want to use then, based on their size, choose a container. NewPro Containers has a great choice of indoor and outdoor containers.  The National Gardening Association suggests you allow for 1 inch between the tip of the bulb and the rim of the container, and a few inches between the bottom of the bulb and the bottom of the pot. For example, if you have a 2 inch bulb, your pot should be at least 6 inches deep; 3 inches of soil, 2 inches for the bulb, and 1 inch between the top of the bulb and the rim.  You can plant several different kinds of bulbs in the same container. Place the larger ones towards the bottom and the smaller bulbs closer to the top, taking care not to place the bulbs on top of one another. Make sure the bulbs that you plant together have relatively similar blooming times. You do not want some plants languishing and turning brown while others are just starting to bloom. If you want to have succesive blossoms plant several different containers each with bulbs that bloom at different times. Place the container that is flowering in the most prominent position.

You can use regular potting mix formulated for houseplants in your container. When you pot the bulbs add fertilizer formulated for bulbs, at the rate specified by the manufaturer to the soil. Once, the bulbs are planted with just the tips showing above the soil, water the container thouroughly. Make sure that your pot is able to drain well. The soil should stay moist, but if it stays soggy the bulbs will rot.

Time to Chill

Depending on what type of bulb you use, it will need a period of 8-14 weeks of cold in order to flower. These temperatures should average between 35 and 40 degrees. If you live in a place that has warmer temperatures, find a cool place to keep your containers such as a garage, basement, or refrigerator. If you live somewhere much colder, if you place the containers outside they could freeze, because they do not have the insulation from the ground.  You can keep the container outside and when freezing temperatures threaten, bring the containers to a cool place indoors, or keep the containers in a space you know will not become very cold. While your bulbs are chilling, be sure to watch the moisture in the soil. If is becomes dry about an inch deep in the container, add water.

Ready For The Move

When the tips of the bulbs begin send up green shoots, you can move the container outside. If it is not warm enough, you can continue to keep the containers in a cool and dark space and this will inhibit growth. The National Gardening Association suggests that once you move the containers outside, if temperatures become warmer than 75 degrees, keep the container shaded. Temperatures warmer than this will encourage the bulbs to grow too quickly and become leggy and top heavy. 

With care and planning you can have beautiful spring bulb containers to greet the warmer weather. Remember to allow for time to chill and monitor the moisture in the containers well so that the bulbs do not rot. What are your favorite spring bulbs? Do you have any container recipes you have found successful?

Plants B/W by dailyinvention

You  have been enjoying lovely indoor plants growing in your windows all winter long. With spring a bit closer you may be antsy to get your hands dirty again and now may be the perfect time. To grow and thrive, plants need to be in a container that allows their roots to take in moisture and nutrients from its growing media.  Your plants may have out grown their living environment and be ready for a change.

How do you know it is time to repot?

It is a good idea to check your plants before the longer days and more sunshine trigger a spring growth spurt. If you see roots poking through the drainage holes, if water runs quickly through the pot because there is no soil left to retain it, if the pot is very light and the plant is top heavy, then it is time to repot.

To get started, a few hours before you plan to transfer the plant, water your plant so that the roots will be less voulnerable when they make the transition. 

Choosing your pot

Next, you need to choose your new pot. Containers are typically measured in diameter, the distance across the top opening. According to Guide to Houseplants, you want to find a pot that that is only one or two  inches larger than your old pot. So, if your plant had been in a four inch container,  the largest container you should transfer the plant to should only be six inches.  If you use a pot larger than this your soil may retain too much water, causing root rot and hindering your plant from thriving. 

 If you are reusing any previously used pots, be sure to disinfect the pot before transferring. This will reduce the risk of transferring pests and diseases from plant to plant.

Now that you have your container and your plant ready for repotting, you can choose your soil mix. You can purchase a  potting mix made specifically for your variety of plant from a landscape or garden store, or you can mix your own. For potting mix ideas see this previous post.

Making the transfer

Now it is time to remove your plant from its old container. Gently tip the container and tap the sides to loosed the soil and roots. Pull the plant out and shake loose any soil. Roots that are coiled on the bottom can be gently pulled straight out or pruned. Plant Care suggests you,

 ”score the rootball vertically with a sharp knife in several places, cutting into the rootball about an inch as you slice from top to bottom.”

These actions will help the roots adjust quickly and begin growing in their new medium.

Next, place a few inches of the potting soil in the bottom of the new container. Now check your plant to make sure it will be at a depth equal to what it was in its old container. You do not want the plant too deep in the container, but you also do not want the root ball to be exposed over the rim. Once your plant is situated correctly fill in the potting soil around it, tamping it down to remove any air pockets.

To finish, water your plant thoroughly.  Guide to Houseplants advises that you not fertilize your plant for the first month in its new home. This will allow the roots to become established and protect them from fertilizer burn.

Now that you know when and how to repot your plants, it is time to find the perfect container. NewPro Containers has an excellent selection of decorative containers perfect for any indoor plant.

Have you repotted any plants lately? What tips and trick do you have for a healthy repotting?

Photo “Plants B/W” courtesy of dailyinvention

Christmas Tree Dropoff 3 by sidminor81

Many people dread the day when Christmas is past and we have to take down our tree. Living rooms, shopping malls, and office building foyers are transformed from magical and festive, back to their normal pre-holiday state. Many of those trees that are taken down are live pines, spruce or firs, so, where do all those once living trees end up? According to “RecycleYour ChristmasTree.com” 93% of live trees nationwide are recycled. The following are a few ideas for what to do with your Christmas tree after the lights and ornaments have come off.

Bird Feeder

Purdue Extension suggests recycling your Christmas tree as a bird feeder.  Remove all the ornaments and lights from your tree and place it outside. You can hang edible ornaments from the branches to attract winter birds.  Some things that birds will love are pieces of stale bread rolled in peanut butter and bird seed, strings of popcorn, pinecones rolled in peanut butter and bird seed, cakes made with suet, and any other disposable bird feeder that can be found in stores. You will need to make sure the tree is secure so that it will not be knocked over by the wind or other creatures. You can use twine to secure the tree to something fixed in the ground, or you can use twine and tent stakes to stake the tree in place. When your tree is dry, at the end of the season, it can be mulched.

Wood Chips or Mulch

Another option is to chip or mulch the tree. Ask around to see if any of your neighbors have a chipper you could borrow. You can use mulch around flower beds, and larger wood chips in landscaping or play areas. Some communities also have locations that will chip your tree for you. Other communities have a service that will pick up your tree and chip it, using the mulch and wood chips in community spaces such as parks. Pickyourownchristmastree.org Has an updated list by state and city for various community tree recycling programs. You can also call your garbage removal service, some companies participate in tree recycling programs and will pick up your tree for you.

Erosion Control

Some states have programs that use  recycled Christmas trees for erosion control. Recycleyourchristmastree.com points to Louisiana as one of the pioneers of this sort of reuse. They collect used Christmas trees and place them in specialized fences along marshes to prevent the loss of the coastal wetlands. More that 600,000 trees have been used for this purpose.

Container Arrangements

Some tops or branches that have retained their needles well can be used in container arrangements. These arrangements of colorful twigs, dried berries, and evergreens can be kept outside throughout the cold season.  To find attractive outdoor containers, visit NewPro Containers.

Tips for Next Year

It may be too late for this year, but next year, use this tip from pickyourownchristmastree.org. Place a Christmas tree bag underneath your tree and cover it with a tree skirt. When you are ready to remove your tree simply pull the bag up over the tree and take it outside. You can remove the tree stand after the tree is outside. This will save your floors from being covered in needles, and significantly cut down on clean-up.

You can also purchase a tree that still has a root ball in tact so that it can be planted outdoors when you are finished. It is important to plan ahead and dig your hole before the ground is too cold and firm. Trees planted in a milder climate have a better success rate.

Your Turn to Share

There are many ways Christmas trees can be repurposed to cut back on waste, reusing a valuable resource. Have you used any of the methods above? Have you done something different with your old Christmas tree?

Photo “Christmas Tree Dropoff 3″ by sidminor81

"Christmas Cactus" by anna.baba

If your Christmas Cactus is blooming just in time for Christmas, you are either very experienced or very lucky. It is rare that the Christmas Cactus puts on its show at just the right time, often it will bloom early or late.  With the right care and some practiced timing, the Christmas Cactus can bloom beautifully for the holidays.

Origins

The Christmas Cactus is a succulent that originates from Brazil. In its natural habitat, it grows in the forks of trees and rock outcroppings in Southern Coastal Forests. In the Southern Hemisphere, the conditions are right for the Christmas Cactus to bloom in May. That’s why Brazilians refer to it as Flor-de-Maio, Flower of May. It’s flowers come in a variety of colors including pink, purple, peach and cream.

Blooming

The budding and blooming of the Christmas Cactus are determined by light and temperature. Continuous nights of darkness for at least 12 hours are needed for the cactus to bud. According to Purdue Extension, if you start moving your plant somewhere dark (a closet for example) for twelve hours during the night around mid-October, it will put on buds in time for the holidays. Alternatively, lower temperatures will induce buds. If you expose your plants to 50-55 degree temperatures starting in November it should be ready to bloom by Christmas.

While Christmas Cacti like dark nights to bud, they also like bright light during the day. A sunny location in the house will encourage more blooms. However, do not let the name cactus fool you, they do not endure high temperatures. They can be brought outdoors for the summer, but take care to leave them in a shaded or partially shaded area. If the leaves, which are truly modified stems, begin to turn red you know your plant has been exposed to too much light.

Water

Watering your Christmas Cactus is also vital to its health. Like other cacti, it can tolerate drought, but unlike other cacti it doesn’t thrive on it. The Christmas Cactus must be watered regularly, but not over watered. It does not like to be soggy. Check the soil to make sure the top two inches are dry before your add more water.  According to “The Complete Christmas Cactus Guide,”  the plant needs less water in the fall and winter and more in the spring and summer. In order to keep water moving through the potting soil, use a mix that provides plenty of aeration. Clemson Extension suggests using 60-80% potting soil and 20-40% perlite.

Propagation

The Christmas Cactus doesn’t mind being pot bound and can live in a relatively small container.  It is also easily propagated.  Simply, pinch off portions of the stem containing three to five segments in May or June. Allow the cut end to form a callous for two days in the open air. Then plant  up to three cuttings, one inch deep, in a four inch container. Clemson Extension then recommends thoroughly watering the pot, and placing a plastic bag over the top of the plantings. This will create high humidity that will encourage root growth. The bag can be removed after roots are established in three to eight weeks.

A Christmas Cactus can be a beautiful decoration just for the season, or an interesting long-term addition to your collection.As you help your new Christmas Cactus grow and blossom on time, you can find the perfect container for it at NewPro Containers.

Have you grown a Christmas Cactus? Do you have any tips for helping it bloom during the holidays?

Photo “Christmas Cactus” courtesy of anna.baba