JANUARY GARDENING

After a busy holiday season, all you might want to do now is curl up in front of the fireplace with some hot chocolate and a book.  So, go ahead and enjoy!  The rush of the holidays is over, so relax and enjoy the beauty of winter and those holiday plants.

And speaking of those holiday plants, would you love to keep them beautiful all winter or longer but think only truly green thumbs can achieve that?  Not so! Instead, holiday plants might open the door to the enjoyment and pleasure of nurturing other plants indoors throughout the winter.  Just remember a green thumb is simply a positive state of mind.  Learn the plant care needs of your plant.  Most care tags will include the light, temperature, humidity and watering needs.  For example:

POINSETTIA CARE:

•  For the best coloration and health, place in a sunny window (west or south exposure).

•  Avoid both cold drafts and drying heat from vents or fireplaces.

•  Maintain the temperature range of 55° F to 70° F.

•  Maintain a moist, not soggy, soil and check every day.

•  When the soil surface feels dry, add water until it begins to collect in the plant saucer.      Discard any excess water to avoid root rot problems.

•  Do not let the soil complete dry out.

Enjoy your holiday plants and remember, don’t panic!  With a little forethought, preparation and observance on your part, a new plant can become a challenging project rather than a predetermined failure.  No matter the color of your thumb in the past, with proper are, several holiday plants are capable of ringing in many new years to come.

But wait, there’s more!  While you are relaxing in front of the fireplace, pick up that new seed catalog!

Now is the best time to plan for your new bigger and better spring garden.  If you have saved photos from last year’s garden, dig them out and use them to help lay out any changes you talked about making last year.  Make a sketch of last year’s planting areas and add to them with your pencil what you would like for this year and make a list of what you need to buy.  This effort will help tremendously as you peruse those catalogs.  Do remember to order from catalogs that originate from your area.  You will achieve much better results from seeds and plants that are propagated and grown in and for your area.

TOM’S TIMELY TIPS FOR JANUARY

• When using salt to melt ice on walks and driveways, spread it carefully to avoid

damage to nearby shrubs  consider using sand or sawdust instead.

•       Brush snow from evergreens in an upward, sweeping motion.  Serious damage may be caused by heavy snow or ice accumulating on the branches.

• Turn and prune house plants regularly to keep them shapely. Pinch back new growth to promote bushy plants.

• Houseplants should not be placed on top of the television.  This location is too warm and in most homes too far from windows to provide adequate light.

• Now is the time to feed the birds in your landscape for natural food sources are scarce at this time of years.  Use suet cakes along with birdseed to provide protein and fat for birds.

Tom McNutt is a professor emeritus at The Ohio State University and a retired TV garden expert.