Poinsettias can show readjustment woes after summer outside
Dear Helen: I cut back my poinsettias in early March and put them out for the summer on a north-facing deck, where they grew very well. About mid-September, I returned the plants to the house, and about one week later, began their long-night routine. They have all begun to show red at the tops, but some of the lower leaves are turning yellow and dropping. Why? V.E.
Dear V.E.: This is a common complaint, with a number of possible causes that include insufficient light, wet soil, dry air and temperatures that are too warm or too cold. Temperatures between 15 and 21 C are ideal for poinsettias.
House plants that have spent a figure-plumping summer vacation outdoors sometimes have a few readjustment woes when brought back indoors. The adjustment problems most often take the form of a few dropped leaves. Careful timing of the return indoors is the best way to smooth the transition.
Bring the plants back into the house at a point when overnight low temperatures are about the same indoors and out. Don’t wait until outdoor overnight lows dip far below what they are in the house.
Dear Helen: I have recently moved back to Victoria from the Niagara region, where I grew many different varieties of heirloom tomatoes. Where will I most likely be able to find a broad selection of interesting tomato plants in the spring? G.M.
Dear G.M.: An Island wholesale producer that grows more than 30 heirloom tomato varieties is Outrageous Edibles. Their plant stands can be found at various garden centres and grocery stores from Victoria to Campbell River.
When I contacted Jesse at Outrageous Edibles, he was kind enough to recommend outlets that would be the most promising for your purpose. He said the store that will probably have the largest selection of his heirloom tomatoes in spring will be Cannor Nursery/Wildwood Outdoor Living Centre on Elk Lake Drive.
“My tomatoes will also be at the Red Barn Market on West Saanich Road, Buckerfields on Keating Cross Road and Country Grocer in Esquimalt.” And visit the website outrageousplants.ca. It has a “relatively recent list of heirloom varieties that I grow as well as a list of stores that carry my plants.”
Dear Helen: During the past summer, I encountered far more lovely butterflies than usual in the garden. Is there anything I can do to keep them around and make sure they winter over? J.S.
Dear J.S.: I heard from many gardeners marvelling at the beautiful butterflies in gardens last summer. I noticed this in my garden, too.
Keep in mind that the larval (caterpillar) forms of some butterflies can be troublesome in gardens. An example is the white cabbage butterfly, source of the green worms that feed on broccoli, cabbage and related plants.
The easiest way to encourage butterflies to lay eggs and overwinter as larvae or pupae is to keep a garden that is not too neat. To sustain their entire life cycles, butterflies need uncut sections of grass, leaf litter on the ground and undisturbed areas. A broad diversity of plants, patches of wildflowers and areas left wild and weedy all help to support butterfly life, as do sunny, sheltered sites with mud puddles in spring and summer.
A garden free of pesticides and herbicides is critical for the health of butterflies.
GARDEN EVENTS
Sooke anniversary. The Sooke Garden Club invites past members and the public to their 45th anniversary celebration tonight at 7 in St. Rose of Lima Church, 2191 Townsend Rd. in Sooke. President Ron O’Brien will speak about Therapeutic Aspects of Gardening. Door prizes and wonderful refreshments will conclude the evening. View Royal meeting. The View Royal Garden Club will meet this evening at 7:30 in Wheeley Hall at Esquimalt United Church, 500 Admirals Rd. Lana Popham, MLA and past president of the Vancouver Island Grape growers Association, will present Best Practices for our Home Grown Grapes. A judged mini show will feature exhibits from members’ gardens and there will be a sales table with plants and garden items. Visitors and new members are welcome. Drop-in fee is $5. Urban garden conference. Victoria Master Gardeners are holding a one-day event focusing on Our Gardens of the Future on Jan. 28, 2017. Speakers, vendors and more will inspire fresh ideas to help gardeners anticipate gardening in the years to come. An early bird price is in effect until Oct. 31. Full information at mgabc.org. This event fills up quickly every year.