Posts Tagged ‘bloom’

Hyacinthus (Hyacinth)

Hyacinthus (Hyacinth)

Hyacinthus (Hyacinth)

Hyacinthus (Hyacinth)

Poinsettia at Botanical Garden of Montreal

Before Christmas, we posted a blog on the history of the poinsettia plant.  Today, we’re going to address the dilemma of whether or not it’s worth keeping this plant or it should simply be discarded.

The following paragraphs are but general guidelines.  At the end of this post we suggest a couple of very good links with more detailed instructions on how to treat a poinsettia during the year in order to get it to bloom again.

A poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is particularly beautiful when its red bracts (a leaf with a flower in the angle where it meets the stem) appear, around Christmas time.

These bracts are not flowers, but leaves.  Its real flowers, are clustered structures (type of seeds) located in the center of the bracts.  The plant blooms for a longer period when placed in sunlight, away from wind draughts.  Water it well.  After it blooms, the poinsettia loses many leaves and tends to become less attractive.  Because it is rather difficult to get it to bloom a second time, many people prefer to simply get rid of it once it has bloomed once. 

If you do, however, decide to keep it, keep watering it well after it has bloomed.  Be sure to prune it a lot, in the spring, and plant it in the garden in the summer.  Around September 1^st, bring it back indoors. From the beginning of October through the end of November, make sure it gets very long nights (complete darkness from 5 PM until 8 AM), in order to allow new bracts to form.

Source: Joan Lee Faust, Le guide complet des plantes d’intérieures

Poinsettia in Oaxaca, Mexico

Please let us know how you have fared with poinsettia plants.

The following websites provide step by step instructions on what do to get your poinsettia to bloom next Christmas time.

http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/en/info_verte/poinsettia/refleurir.htm

http://gardening.about.com/od/winterinthegarden/a/Poinsettia.htm

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/flowers/poinsettia.html

Christmas Cactus

The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) usually blooms just before or during the holiday season.  Contrary to what most people think, its earth must be kept moist while the plant is growing, and dry during its time of rest.  

To get the most out of this beautiful plant, put it in the direct sun, at room temperature.  In order to flower, the Christmas cactus requires a short “day”.  Starting September 1^st, arrange for it to have long nights (at least 14 hours) of complete darkness, between 6 PM and 8 AM, until new flower buds form.  If the plant is placed in a cool room (53 ⁰ F or 11.6 ⁰ C) from mid-September through mid-October, buds will form, no matter that the length of the plant’s “day”.  A lack of light during the day or a room that is too warm can cause the buds to fall off. 

Christmas Cactus

It’s a good idea to repot your Christmas cactus in the spring. 

If you want to fertilize, the biofloris team suggests using a small dose of  bioprotic fish- fish fertilizer once a week. 

Christmas Cactus

The Christmas cactus will bloom again in March, although with a smaller number of flowers. 

Source: Joan Lee Faust, Le guide complet des Plantes d’intérieures 

A biofloris team member on quickly preparing a few October flower vases.

I October Flower Vase with Campanula, Osteospermum, Salvia and wild growing Asters

Last week Canadians celebrated Thanksgiving. I was cooking a 22 pound turkey (to be served along with stuffing, squash, green beans and mushroom sauce, of course) for friends and family. I wanted to decorate my table a little so I headed into the garden to pick up some golden and red leaves…but, could not find any! Is fall later than usual this year? 

II October Flower Vase with Campanula, Salvia, Osteospermum and wild growing Asters

I did, however, notice that many of my flowers were still in full bloom.  So I quickly cut a few flowers here and there placed them in vases. I then got my camera because I was so delighted by the bright colors. You may have gotten a sneak-preview of some of these pics last week on Facebook but I thought it was worthwhile showing the rest of my little album, along with the names of the flowers.  This may even help some of you with your shopping next spring! By the way, I would love to hear from you on the art of making vases and flower arrangements.  After all, it is a perfect way to enjoy the fruits of our organic gardening efforts.

III October Flower Vase with close up of Osteospermum

IV October Flower Vase with Zinnia (white) and Surfinia (red)

V Hydrangea in a vase and Chinese Lanterns

In this link, Marie Iannotti of “about Gardening” suggests some fall bloomers and she provides the zone codes which are very useful:

http://gardening.about.com/od/fallinthegarden/tp/Top-10-Fall-Bloomers.htm

I was in a bit of a rush that day.  Next year, I think I’ll plan ahead and give real fall flower arrangements a try. The following link inspired me greatly but I guess it’s hard to find flowering delphiniums in Eastern Canada in October.

http://www.howdini.com/howdini-video-6658006.html

And, if you want more info on each specific flower I posted here today, just check out

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

For you artists out there:

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/fall-arrangements

If you don’t have any flowers, you can try this – easy to do and attractive:

http://entertaining.about.com/od/flowersandcenterpieces/ss/autumnarrange.htm