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Category: Plants

Six easy ways to get a jump on spring

Posted on by Neal

Hyacinth
Tulips
Violets
Cyclamen

The days are getting longer, the sun is getting brighter, and everyone is looking to shake off cabin fever. Spring is almost here, but you can get a jump on the season by bringing bright color and natural beauty into your home.
Here are some easy and cost-effective ideas to get you started:
1. Blooms: Nothing says spring quite like flowering plants. Violets, begonia, kalanchoe, cyclamen and Phaleonopsis orchids are all easy care and just need a home near a bright window for cheerful blooms over an extended period.
Bulb plants such as hyacinths, daffodils and tulips offer an added bonus. In the fall, you can plant the bulbs outside so that they deliver a splash of color next spring.
2. Think green: Green foliage plants add oxygen and humidity back into the air that we breathe and remove some impurities. Rejuvenate and dust off your houseplants. Better yet, pick up a new plant to replace one or two that are tired or to fill a bare corner or tabletop. Add a new basket or ceramic pot cover to add color and enhance your décor.
3. Common scents: Candles aren’t just for the fall and winter holiday seasons any more. Vanilla and lavender are two of the most popular scents, but you’ll find plenty of fresh, clean fragrances and styles of candles that have increased in popularity and are perfect for year-round use. Try a fresh linen or spring floral scent.
4. Bring the outdoors in: Trees and shrubs are just starting to bud. Trim a few branches and bring the outdoors inside to force open the blooms in a vase. Some good choices are forsythia, pussy willow and flowering cherry or crabapple stems, each of which produces colorful blooms.
Becoming more popular are curly willow and red twig dogwood branches. Although these branches do not have visible flowers, they look great in a vase and give texture when you add a few fresh-cut flowers. When you’re at the florist, be sure to pick up floral preservative to add to the water.
5. Front and center: Don’t forget about the front door and porch. Hang branches or a nice door piece for instant spring. Bulb plants, pansies and primrose all do well on a porch or patio. You may have to cover them or bring them inside overnight in case of frost or low temperatures. A cheerful front door will put a smile on your face and on those of your neighbors.
6. Treat yourself: Studies show that flowers are a great weapon against the morning blahs, boost energy and workplace productivity, and improve emotional health. So pick up a mixed handful, a weekly special or even just a few loose stems of your favorites.

National Poinsettia Day is Dec. 12 and other facts about the most popular holiday plant

Posted on by Neal

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We typically think of the North Pole when it comes to Christmas, but the most popular holiday plant originates with our neighbor to the south.
Poinsettias are native to Mexico and were introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico.
In fact, Poinsett’s death in 1851 is commemorated every Dec. 12 as National Poinsettia Day.
Some other facts:

  • The colored parts of poinsettias aren’t flowers but bracts (leaves).
  • Poinsettias have been called the lobster flower and flame leaf flower.
  • Poinsettias are not poisonous, to humans or pets.
    • An Ohio State study found that a 50-pound child who ate 500 bracts (leaves) might have a slight tummy ache.
  • Poinsettias are commercially grown in all 50 states.
  • Ninety percent of all poinsettias are exported from the United States.

Source: www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/poinsettia
 

Mums the word year-round

Posted on by Neal

Many of us decorate porches and patios with hardy mums in the fall. But a little bit of loving and some attention to the calendar can help you get the most out of your mums and even keep them blooming in a garden for years to come.
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If you planted mums in the ground back in the fall, then the summer months are important in their growth cycle.
Feeding: From spring through July, nourish your mums twice a month with an all-purpose garden fertilizer mixed in water. Stop feeding in August.
Pinching: By July 15, you should pinch the top growth back 1 to 2 inches. This will ensure that your mums bloom in the fall rather than during the summer.
Controlling pests: Aphids are the most common pests that afflict garden mums. These are small soft-bodied insects about the size of a pinhead. They range in color from green to yellow to black. They make their livings by sucking the sap out of tender new growth. To control them, spray an all-purpose insecticide or insecticidal soap on the plants once a week for a couple of weeks. Take care not to spray plants in direct sun or when the temperature is above 90 degrees.
Now, if you are thinking about planting your potted mum for the first time, here are some steps to take:
• Be sure to water your potted mums daily as warm days will make them thirsty. At the same time, too much water can damage the roots; provide drainage in decorative pots or baskets.
• It’s best to plant the mums in October so their roots have time to grow before cold weather sets in.
• Once the mums are planted, water them thoroughly a couple of times each week through mid-November. This will encourage the roots to grow deeply. The deeper the roots, the stronger the plants will be.
• In late spring, cut the plants down 6 to 8 inches above the ground. This will give you bushy, compact plants with lots of flowers. As spring gives way to summer, follow the instructions above relative to feeding and pinching.

Poinsettia Care Tips for this Christmas and Next!

Posted on by josh

Tartan Poinsettia #
A 5+ bloom red poinsettia wrapped with a gold wrap and decorated with gold balls and a plaid bow.

Keeping your poinsettia looking great this Christmas takes two easy steps, but did you know with a few more steps you can have a wonderful poinsettia next Christmas as well?
This Christmas
1. When the surface of the soil is dry to the touch, water the plant.
2. Keep the poinsettia in a room with temperatures between 60 and 72 degrees. Keep the plant out of hot and cold drafts, such as those from a heating vent or open door.
 
Next Christmas
1. When leaves begin to drop, let dry slightly between watering.
2. In late spring (early May) cut back plant to 6 inches, shake free of soil and repot in new potting soil, then resume regular watering. Fertilize with a 30-10-10 fertilizer twice monthly. Stop fertilizing November 1st until December 30th.
3. Place outdoors in a warm sunny location when the temperatures are consistently over 60 degrees.
4. Pinch the tips of new shoots when they reach 6 to 8 inches long until late July. Continue to fertilize every two weeks.
5. Bring indoors before cold nights (early September) and place indoors in full sun. Three to six hours of sunlight is needed.
6. In order for poinsettias to bloom, they must have 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness each day for 40 days (late September through October). Place in a dark place such as a closet or cover with a bag from early evening and remove the next morning so that the plant is in total darkness.
7. When #6 is followed, your poinsettia will bloom at Christmas, but remember, it only takes 10 minutes of light per day during the time it was dark and your plant won’t bloom until January or February.

Learn How You Can Get The Most Out Of Your Freshly Cut Flowers

Posted on by josh

Having flowers in your home enhances your décor and livens up your space. Learn about caring for flowers and plants by reading through these resources. Visit us at Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts for the freshest, most beautiful floral arrangements, plants, and gifts in town. If you’d like to know more, give us a call at (614) 539-4000.

 

Why You Should Consider Having Foliage in Your Home

Posted on by josh

You don’t have to have a green thumb to keep some wonderful houseplants healthy and flourishing indoors. There are a large number of beautiful flowers and plants that do great with filtered light and occasional watering, such as the philodendron, a lovely plant with beautiful heart-shaped leaves. There are many great reasons to keep foliage in your home, including:
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Indoor plants do wonders for the air in your home—they release oxygen to improve the quality and help rid the air of carbon dioxide. In fact, certain houseplants are useful for purifying the air of certain common household pollutants as well; for example, English ivy, gerbera daisies, pot mums, peace lilies, and bamboo palms are excellent for air that contains trichloroethylene, a chemical found in paint, varnish, and ink. For air with formaldehyde, which is found in particle board and foam insulation, mother-in-law’s tongue, dracaena warneckii, peace lilies, dracaena marginata, golden pathos, and green spider plants can help to keep your air clean.
Brighten Up Your Décor  
Coming home to a house with lush, colorful plants can turn your home into a natural oasis that encourages serenity and relaxation. Bamboo is a great addition to a spa-inspired home, and vine plants are an excellent choice if you are looking to give your home a traditional interior design.
Feel a Sense of Pride
Taking care of plants can fill you with a sense of satisfaction at helping a living thing thrive in your environment. It’s also a great way to teach children responsibility. If you want to start small with your children, give them a cactus or a hearty plant that can thrive without daily watering.
Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts has the best selection of flowers, plants, and wonderful gifts. We offer birth flowers, wedding flowers, and holiday flowers as well as plants and flowers for other special occasions. Visit our website or give us a call at (614) 539-4000 for more information.

Houseplants for Health

Posted on by josh

Live plants can help to brighten up a room or business environment and usually create a sense of serenity wherever they are placed. Did you know, however, that houseplants may be beneficial to your health?
In this video, experts discuss how houseplants are extremely efficient at filtering toxins out of the air, providing better air quality indoors. Check out the video to learn why adding a few green plants to your home environment can make a difference.
If you’d like to order green plants for your home, contact us at Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts. Visit our website or call (614) 808-1693 to place your order for gift baskets or beautiful flowers.