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Show Friday. January 22. Winter-bloomin- THE DAILY HKRALD. Home Magazine plants bring a bit of sunshine inside g By ROSALYN DUNN Knighl Ridder Newspapers with marbles and water just to the base of the bulb. The marbles will anchor the flower, which may need staking as it grows. Fragrances' effect on mental wellness is largely subjective, depending on personal prefernotence, said Goulding-Davis- , ing that the sweet hyacinth is a popular choice. g If cold, dreary weather has the gardener in you feeling trapped inside, try bringing your hobby indoors. A variety of plants bring a bit of sunshine inside without too much effort. "Flowers carry chi (Chinese for energy) and carry more positive energy than silk or artificial flowers," said interior winter-bloomin- I W9, g designer Shauna Goulding-Davis- , who practices the Chinese art of feng shui of placement that promotes harmony and balance. "It energizes you and can relieve winter doldrums and blues." You can buy plants from the store already in bloom, such as kalanchoes, or those forced into bloom early, such as azaleas or hydrangea. But you have to adjust your expectations with some of those choices, said Steven Hoy, a landscape designer with HarrelFs Nursery & Greenhouses in Warner Robins, Ga. "(The azalea) is not a good houseplant," he said. "It's like a mum; you either throw it away or take it outside and plant it." To please the nose If you are interested in growing plants for fragrance, read "The Essence of Paradise: Fragrant Plants for Indoor Gardens" by Torah Martin, Hoy suggested. "Scented geraniums do bloom and can be grown on the windowsill and treated like an herb," Hoy said. There are apple, lemon, lime, peppermint and rose varieties; "The Southern Living Garden Book" says that fresh leaves can be used to flavor jelly and iced drinks, while dried leaves are good for potpourri and sachets. narcissus The paper-whitalso has a distinctive aroma; try placing bulbs in a jar filled e Shapes and colors Instead you might consider the shape of leaves. Rounded leaves give a more graceful, friendly appearance while jagged ones are uninviting, suggest "don't touch me" and look as if they might bite. Colors are important, too. The amaryllis can be forced indoors for dramatic red blooms. Plant the bulb two inches from the edge of the pot. Keep the soil watered well, and the rapid grower will bloom in four to six weeks. That red color, as do pink and white, are beneficial for said; romance, Goulding-Davi- s purple, blue and red are good for finance; white and pastel tones promote creativity; and white guards health. "The three colors have more impact," she said. "If your pot is one color and the plant another, you've got a double whammy." If you're gifted If you have more of a green thumb, there are several other plants to try. Just be careful not to over water, and make sure not to display plants too close to heating vents, which can sap too much moisture from tender plants and pots. "To maximize energy the plant has to be healthy, not dying or with lots of brown leaves," Goulding-Davi- s said. "That zaps it and you." African violets come in dif- ferent species that combine huge blooms and foliage. They're relatively easy to grow and get to bloom this time of Hoy said, but "The Southern Living Garden Book" notes that watering the plants "is an art." The book suggests using water, waiting until the soil is dry to the touch before watering again and not allowing water to stand in pot saucers for more than two hours after year, room-temperatu- watering. "Keep where temperatures average 60 degrees to 70 degrees. Humidity should be high; if house air is quite dry, increase humidity by setting each plant on a saucer filled with wet gravel," the book says. "Don't use too large a pot; plants bloom best when rxts are crowded." The cyclamen is valued for its delicate white, pink, rose or red flowers. The plants are sold already in bloom; if you choose to grow your own, plant bulbs in rich, porous soil. Make sure that the bulbs you're buying are commercially grown (labels should read "Holland" or "cultivated"; avoid species Narcissus, Eranthis, Galanthus, Leucojum) and not harvested from the wild, cautions the Southern Living book, because many species are endangered and disappearing in their native habitats. Choices, choices Gloxinia has great, huge flowers, Hoy said. The ruffled, flowers come in purples, pinks and white. Water gloxinia around the base of the plant, not on the leaves. Once the bloom is finished, says Southern Living, dig up the tubers, and store bell-shape- d them with just enough moisture to prevent shriveling in a cool, dark place (or store the entire pot in a similar way) until new growth starts. There are a variety of jasmines that grow indoors, Hoy said, and have the additional benefit of a distinctive sweet scent. Pink jasmine, for example, can be grown in containers 1 Home Only Land Std Garden Tub fill appliances incld 2x6 construction fill gas SPRINGVILLE 801-489-61- 44 & Home .. mk 11 m or hanging baskets. Just be aware of what variety you're buying. "Carolina and Confederate jasmines aren't true jasmines," Hoy said. "They are called that because they smell like the keep compost seeds from sprouting true jasmines." is another plant with a great smell. Hoy said. Kxacum (sometimes called, has pale lavender-bluflowers with bright yellow stamens against shiny, leaves. The plant prefers humid conditions, so place the pot on a saucer full of wet pebbles and lightly spray leaves. Kxacum g tiddley-winks- ) e dark-gree- n Most begonias make good house plants, Hoy said, Some, like the rhizomatous variety, flower from winter through summer and need only bright light through a window and water when the top inch of soil is dry. The upright varieties have large, beautiful foliage, Hoy said. Others, such as the begonia solanathera, are suited to hanging baskets. According to "The Southern Living Garden Book," begonias need moderate humidity, so you might want to set pots in saucers filled with wet pebbles. Many orchids are in bloom this time of year and are sold in nurseries and some supermarkets. Orchids need humidity. The Southern Living Book suggests filling a metal or plastic tray with gravel and enough water to reach almost to the top of the rock layer; stretch hardware cloth over the tray with one inch between wire and water for circulation. Set potted orchids on top and maintain a constant water level. Abutilon is often called flowering maple (or parlor maple), because its leaves afe a dead ringer for those on the tree of the same name. It needs a sunny growing area and moist, soil. It may grow tall and needs to be pinched for bushy growth. well-draine- d By MICHAEL MARTIN MILLS knight RidJer Newspapers Q. How can I prevent melon, tomato, etc., seeds from sprouting in my garden after adding compost, which is over a year old? A. Total prevention is unlikely; tomato seeds are remarkably tough. If your compost pile gets hot enough during the decomposition process, many seeds will iose viability. To encourage heat, make sure the pile is turned and has a good mixture of green and dry matter. When adding compost to the garden, you might experiment herbicides. with These are most often used in lawns in spring to kill crabgrass just as the seeds germinate. Read labels carefully to choose a that is listed ( for your circumstances (perennials, vegetables, etc.). It is a good idea to test a small area first; cide means killer, and it is possible to kill more than you want. (Do not, of course, use where you plant any seed.) When you do get unwanted compost tomato seedlings, cultivate the surface lightly with a hoe or iron rake. At that fragile stage, most will die. ts 'l&l CENTERS HOME -- 16, 20, 24, 28 Wides 20 yr roof 110 CC !fer ' Upgraded insulation y window Set & delivery within walk-d-Ba- J ;p. Less Than $300 Per Month Page 7 Herbicides American "Modern - local area OAC NX |
