… And you know what that means, Fall is fast approaching. I am hoping for an extended summer throughout September! Let’s keep this weather (in the low 70s) going!
What is happening in the garden you ask?
Consistent checking of water, moving sprinklers around in areas with new plantings, cutting back roses, mowing the lawn, picking tomatoes from the veggie garden, digging up and moving things around (I know! BAD!), and buying new plants. I just purchased a Tea Camellia, Camellia sinensis, from Valley Nursery in Poulsbo. This plant is actually used to make true black and green tea, depending on whether you want to cure for longer or just pick and dry. I also picked up a Fuyu persimmon (it had 4 fruits on it, but one fell off :( sad panda) from Bainbridge Gardens. I potted it up to a larger pot, but it came in a 1 gal pot so it felt like a great deal!
Come to think of it, Now is a good time to spruce up your houseplants. Wipe the leaves to remove dust. The dust can collect so much in my house! This helps keep the leaves pores clear for gaseous exchange. I’m sure it helps improve photosynthesis.
Refresh your houseplants by upgrading the pot they live in. This introduces new soil and space for the roots to grow and be happy. First, when selecting a pot ensure it has proper drainage with a hole in the bottom. Fill the pot using all one soil medium. Do not place rocks or other soil media because that can create drainage problems and provides less space for the roots to grow. Scratch up the root ball when transplanting and heavily water in when you’re finished potting. The first watering in is the most important. It helps settle the soil and remove air pockets. It is best to make sure water is dripping out the bottom of the pot to ensure proper hydration.
Another easy way to jazz up your houseplant game is to fertilize. I use Jack’s houseplant food, which is a water soluble fertilizer that dissolves super fast making it quick to mix. I must admit, I am not the most consistent at applying fertilizer but for any houseplant living in a pot, it requires food! It is wise to mark on your calendar when you feed your plants so you can reference when you need to fertilize again.
