(Chelsea Update would like to thank Jennifer Fairfield, owner of The Garden Mill, for the information in this column.)
January is a very difficult month for gardeners, in many ways. It’s too early to get seeds or to start growing things for the outdoor season, but it’s hard to do nothing at all, if you’re like me.
There are some things that you can be doing now, though.
Focus on indoor plants
Tending to your indoor plants at this time of year can almost make up for all the neglect they suffered while you were so busy outdoors. Take some time to clean off the leaves, which if they are anything like mine, are covered with a fine layer of dust. That layer of dust can keep the plants from getting sun, and they need all the help they can get in that area when the daylight hours are so short. Especially since what sun they do get is not very strong.
Moving your plants closer to the windows can also help, but be sure that their leaves are not touching the cold glass, or that they aren’t in drafty areas. Either can be really hard on tender plants.
Along with light, ample humidity is a challenge during the winter for indoor plants. If you don’t have a whole-house humidifier, and it’s not possible to have a room humidifier in every room where you have plants, there are still ways to increase the humidity around them.
One way is to put the plant on a tray of pebbles that is kept filled with water. The plant’s roots won’t be in the water all the time, but the evaporating water will humidify the air around the plant.
You can also put trays of water out around the plants to accomplish the same thing.
Don’t fertilize indoor plants for the next few months, as they need a resting period just like outdoor plants. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as African violets, which need to be fertilized regularly to keep blooming.
Poinsettia
Did you know that you can get that beautiful poinsettia you bought this year to look just as good next year? It is possible, if you follow these steps from MSU extension.
Christmas cactus
If you bought or were given a Christmas cactus, getting them to bloom again next year is pretty easy, as explained in this article from the University of Illinois extension.
Kalanchoes
Kalanchoes, like Christmas cactus and poinsettias, come into bloom as the days get shorter, so are often seen and sold at this time of year. The Clemson Cooperative extension has all the information you need to care for yours.
Norfolk Island Pine
Another plant often purchased at this time of year is the Norfolk Island pine, a lovely pine native to an island off the coast of New Zealand. This plant needs very little special care, but this piece from Purdue University’s extension office gives some good tips.
Happy Gardening.
