Growing Amaryllis

November 7, 2011 | Cactus & Tropicals

Potting

Choose a pot with a drainage hole that will allow 1-2 inches of clearance between the sides of the bulb and the pot.  Plant the bulb so that the top 1/3 of the bulb is above the level of the potting soil.  The soil level should be 1 inch below the rim of the pot.  Firm the soil around the roots.  After planting, water thoroughly with warm water.

Light & Water

Place the pot in a warm location.  Water thoroughly with warm water, and take care not to water into the top of the bulb.  The soil should only be slightly moist to the touch, and should never be soggy.  When shoots appear, place into a warm, bright location.  When flowering, move into indirect light to prolong bloom.  As the plant grows tall, gently push a thin stake into the soil and loosely tie a ribbon or string around the shoots to provide additional support.

Post Bloom Care

After your amaryllis finishes blooming, cut the flower stalk(s) to the base.  The leaves will continue to nourish the bulb and should not be removed at this time.  Return the plant to bright light and water regularly.  Fertilize once a month with an all-purpose fertilizer.

Reflowering

The potted bulb must be kept healthy by regular watering and monthly fertilizing.  In the fall, place your plant in a cool spot (around 50 degrees) for about 6 weeks.  Water sparingly, but do not allow to dry out completely.  After the cooling period, move your amaryllis to a warm sunny location.  Keep soil moist but not soggy.  Once the bulb begins to grow, it will take 6-8 weeks to flower.

If you would like a downloadable amaryllis care sheet, please click here.

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Why Go Green? The Benefits of Interior Plants

November 7, 2011 | Alicia Oberle

There is a multitude of ways in which plants are of vital importance to interior environments. Interior plants, or houseplants,  as they are often referred to, add esthetic appeal to any home or business. In environments that need a finishing touch, plants provide charming warmth and lasting comfort. For surroundings that call for a sense of visual serenity, blooming plants bestow peace with unmatched organic beauty. In the process of providing a welcoming esthetic value, plants are extremely beneficial to one’s health. They improve overall well being and cleanse the air of impurities such as mold, bacteria, carbon dioxide, dust, and airborne illnesses. They also stabilize environmental humidity and temperature; air is moisturized even in the driest of ventilation systems and is significantly cooled even in the hottest of climates.

The purpose of the Cactus and Tropicals interiorscape blog is to provide the public with expertise information concerning blooming and non-blooming plants. I will elaborate on the unique benefit, care, pest control, occasional history, and esthetic of each variety, ranging from hardy plants (such as pothos) to more temperamental blooming varieties (such as orchids).

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How to Care for a Haworthia Plant

November 4, 2011 | Shane Taylor

Adrian Hardy Haworth was a pretty lucky guy to have such an amazing genus of plants named after him. The nearly seventy known species that make up the genus Haworthia, are relatively small in stature, but huge in beauty and hardiness (after all, Hardy was his middle name). In the sixteenth century, it would have taken a great deal of effort to travel between England and South Africa to study these amazing plants in their native desert habitat.

It would have been even more daunting to have taken small starts of the plants, hoping they would survive the return journey. Many of the starts did survive, and slowly, over many decades, Haworthias began making their way into private plant collections across England and Europe.

Today, Haworthias make great, small indoor plants. In their native habitat, they are often found in rock outcroppings or tucked up underneath other plants. This means that a bright room or slightly shaded windowsill is the ideal perch. If you notice the green, succulent leaves turning red, that means it may be in too much sun. This is unusual because most succulents require full sun.

Watering Haworthia plants can be very simple. Let the soil reach the dry point, then water thoroughly. Make sure that the plant isn’t standing in any water (a common theme amongst most indoor plants). It’s better to let the plant get a little drier than it is to keep it too wet.

Haworthias are related to aloe. They can have a similar appearance and flower structure. The white, pink, or orange flowers will usually shoot up in the spring or summer and can last for several weeks. Feed them with a mild, all-purpose fertilizer during these bouts of growth and flowering, but lay off the food for the rest of the year.

Whether they have zebra stripes, pointy leaves, or mounding, transparent, ‘window’ leaves, Haworthias are sure to bring a spot of interest to anyone’s indoor plant collection.

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How to Care for a Maidenhair Fern

October 31, 2011 | Shane Taylor

You might not expect to find the delicate maidenhair fern on a list of plants that are native to the arid desert of Southern Utah. The Adiantum or maidenhair fern can be found in the cool grottos of the towering sandstone walls in Zion National Park. From the redrock deserts to the pacific coast and beyond, maidenhair ferns are opportunistic and, under the right conditions, down right hardy.

I know there are many people who have tried to grow these delicate ferns, only to come home one day to find that their prized specimen has turned from light and airy to dry and crispy. That was the case on my first attempt. But the delicate leaf structure and bright green foliage are irresistible, so I had to try again. This time around it has been nine months and my maidenhair fern is still alive and healthy!

Caring for this plant is actually very simple. Keep it in a bright room and out of direct sunlight. Water the soil before it has a chance to dry and make sure the pot isn’t standing in water. Those are the big ‘life or death’ considerations for maidenhair ferns.

Beyond that, trim off any dry or dead leaves; it’s normal for a few leaves to die from time to time. Keep it out of the way of heat or air conditioning vents. Dry air constantly blowing on it will dry the tips of the leaves. Don’t use pesticides or strong fertilizers as all ferns will burn when exposed to harsh chemicals. Resist touching the leaves very often because the oil from fingers can clog the delicate pores.

If you will be away from your fern for more than two or three days, water it well and place it in a cool, low-lit room. Doing so will help temporarily slow the growth of your maidenhair fern and minimize it’s need for water.

If you’re gone for longer than a week, make sure you trust the person in charge of watering your plants while you are away!

Posted in Indoor Plants | 2 Comments

What Plant Zone Are You In?

October 27, 2011 | Linda Solomon

When selecting a new and unfamiliar perennial, tree or shrub for your garden, how do you know if the plant will survive Utah’s sometimes harsh climate? One key piece of information about the plant you select is its tolerance to winter’s freezing temperatures as this is an important factor in limiting plant growth and life expectancy.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has developed plant hardiness maps that show the annual minimum low temperatures in all areas of the country. Most plants in the nursery will have an information tag that lists the range of hardiness zones in which the plant will be most successful. If the plant is lacking a tag, ask one of our nursery personnel for the hardiness information.

Generally, plants that grow in zone 5 or less will survive in the Salt Lake Valley. Plants that grow in zone 3 or less will survive in Park City. However, the hardiness information is not an exact science and there are many zone 6 plants that grow in the Salt Lake Valley and many zone 4 plants that grow in Park City. Many of our yards have microclimates with small protected areas that stay warmer or receive less wind than the rest of the yard. Such areas allow plants from a higher numbered zone to survive.

Cold tolerance is not the only factor to consider when making plant selections. Some plants such as azaleas, listed in zone 4, struggle to survive in Utah because they prefer acidic soil. Even the sub-alpine fir, listed in zone 2, can’t tolerate heat or pollution and struggle in the Salt Lake valley, especially when planted near a street. So when you find a new perennial, shrub or tree, read the tag, and ask questions at the nursery to see if it has a good chance of thriving so that you can end up with a plant that will add beauty and life to your garden.

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Fritillaria Crown Imperial Spring Bulbs

October 24, 2011 | Linda Solomon

Now is the time to plant bulbs for a colorful beautiful garden next spring. Tulips and daffodils are always popular, but there are other bulbs that will add interest to your garden. One such bulb is Fritillaria Imperials, the common name is Crown Imperial or Kaiser’s Crown. It is native to Turkey, Iran and Pakistan. The bulb has a distinct odor that you will notice as soon as you pick it up, and it even repels rodents. It will need full sun and is hardy in zones 5-9. Plant the bulb at 4 times its own depth and put it on its side to prevent water from settling in the depression where the stem emerges.

In the spring large bell shaped flowers in shades of red, orange or yellow will dangle from tufts of leaf bract on top of a 1-3 ft. stalk.

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Baby Your Plants

October 23, 2011 | Kathy Harbin

In their natural environment (outside) rain and wind keep plants clean, but it’s our job to clean indoor plants. Today I am using baby wipes to clean the leaves on a philodendron congo. Yes, baby wipes. This is one of the best plant care discoveries I’ve made over the years.

Keeping houseplants clean is crucial to their health and their appearance. It’s sad to see a plant covered with dust and struggling to breath. Instead of using harsh chemicals, baby wipes or a mild soap and a soft cloth are easy ways to remove dust and restore natural luster to a plant’s foliage.

Keeping plants clean is also the best insect prevention method. If you see spider mite webs or cottony mealy bug on leaves, get some baby wipes and wipe them off. Sticky “honeydew” from hard scale can also be easily removed this way. You do not need to get a harsh chemical to manage pest problems if you keep leaves clean. You should also remove any dead foliage from the pot and away from the soil.

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Welcome!

October 22, 2011 | Cactus & Tropicals

Not only have we redesigned our site, we’ve launched a blog, too! Written by our staff, it’s the place to get tips on plant care, updates on what’s new in the stores and a closer look at our passions—growing and gardening.

Everyone on our staff will contribute a post now and then. Whether it’s the history of cultivating Haworthias, pruning tips or advice on planning your garden next year, there should be something for everyone.

Check back for more posts, and feel free to join in the conversation. If you share our passion for growing things, you’ve found the right place!

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