Tampa Home and Garden Show save the date April 19-21 2013
Yours truly will be giving talks at the Tampa Home and Garden Show on April 19-21 2013 at the Tampa Bay Convention Center. All are welcome please come out and support local businesses.
Contact me if your having trouble purchasing tickets as I will be giving a few a way.
2/7/2013
Houseplants are part of American history. Everyone likes the idea of having houseplants in their homes for their soothing effects and the added benefit of ridding pollutants. NASA has done research to prove that ammonia and formaldehyde, and a number of other toxic chemicals can be taken out by some of our botanical indoor buddies. Indoor plants have been a part of our home for a long time, although plants in our homes are relatively a new thing. In the old days before glass windows were ubiquitous, people had to think of other ways to keep their plants safe from the elements. They would board up and/or use bricks to cover openings in their homes, and not until the early 16-century did people start developing glass windows for the masses; this shift caused folks to start growing plants indoors. What were they growing? Philodendrons, pothos, and sansevierias also called mother-in-laws tongue are easy to grow. Almost anybody can grow indoor plants. That being said I’m amazed at the number of people who say: “I kill every plant I come in contact with.” If you try these tried and true plants you’ll almost always have success.
Water is the key to life not only for us but also for plants. How often should you water? Well it depends upon the plant size, the larger the container the longer you can go between watering. If you’re not sure about the moisture content use a moisture meter or your index finger, if it’s dry you probably need to water again.
One other factor that’s keys to having successful indoor plant growth is the light level. Most plants need a good deal of light. So how can one tell? If you put your hand out and you can’t see the shade or the silhouette of your hand you probably don’t have enough light for the average indoor plant. Remember that most indoor plants need a good deal of light, so make sure your plants are within 2 to 3 feet of a bright window.
Fertilization is something everybody worries about and yet if you’re going to give it a water-soluble plant food during the warm months or in the growing months, use half strength once a month for your indoor plants. If you use a time-released fertilizer, which looks like little bb’s, these will feed for 3 to 6 months. No extra fertilization will be needed for your indoor plants. They truly are easy to grow. Just remember like your family and friends you will lose them on occasion, it’s a normal part of life, except it, embrace it, and move on.
Please save the dates for January 25, 26 and 27, 2013 for the Tampa Bay Times Home Show. Stan will be out at the Home Show to answer your questions and provide advice for the best Florida lawn or garden. Please always remember to bring your soil samples for testing or a specimen for analysis by Florida’s Mr. Greenthumb, Stan DeFreitas. Parking is Free.
After two successful seasons of the Ask Mr. Greenthumb television we’re busy working on new ventures and broadening the offering from Ask Mr. Greenthumb. Be sure to be on the look out for all new site content and features too.
We’re in the process of adding all our episodes here on the site where you’ll be able to access them anytime you need some quality advice from the experts on southern gardening. We hope you enjoyed the television show and that you’ll enjoy some of the new offerings we’ll be featuring in the coming months.
If you have comments of suggestion please don’t hesitate to drop us a line. You can contact us here.
Cassandra H. wrote:
How do I prepare for rose bush cutting?
Dear Cassandra,
You can take rose bush cuttings but there is a reason why most roses are grafted. This is due to
nematodes (micro-scopic eelworms) insects and diseases. If you do get cuttings to take, plant
them in a good potting soil in a sunny area. Good luck.
My Best,
Stan
