Posts Tagged ‘flowers’

African Violets

To continue with our recent blogs about caring for indoor plants, today’s post provides a few simple and concrete suggestions for tending to African violets.

Where to keep the plant

• The plant needs a lot of natural or artificial light, but should never be exposed to direct sunlight
• African violets thrive when surrounded by plants of the same kind
• The plant likes to be kept in a small pot; it can grow to be three times larger than the pot.
• Once a week turn the plant around or change its place so that the light does not always fall on the same spot

African Violet

Watering

• Water the plant every seven days using water at room temperature.
• Do not overwater
• Pour water into the bottom plate three times out of four and into the pot from above once every four times, taking care not to moisten the leaves
• Be sure to check the watering: if there is excess water in the bottom plate an hour after watering the plant, you gave it too much water. Remove excess water
• The plant may need a bit more water during the summer

Nutrition

• You may nourish the plant with liquid vitamins (SCHULTZ brand for African violets) – except when in flower- giving the recommended dose of 7 drops per liter of water. Use vitamins once or twice a month except in August, a month during which the plant should rest

African Violet

Leaves and flowers

• Any leaves showing brown spots should be removed
• White pigmentation spots are not harmful
• Once the plant has flowered, carefully remove the dried stem and flower down by the root

Repotting

• Be sure to stir the soil well before repotting.  Once or twice a year, change the soil, taking care not to disturb the roots. Use the following mix: half of the mix should be FAFARD soil for indoor plants (no additives) and the other half FAFARD soil for African violets
• Always use clean pots
• Plastic pots are preferable to clay pots which retain too moisture.
• It is important to put the plant in a different place in the house

If you have more pointers to add, send them along!

Photos: http://www.creativecommons.org/

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

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

Colorful flowers in San Miguel de Allende

This is the third and last of three posts for this week, with pictures taken by a biofloris friend on trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico in August.  On Tuesday, we showed photographs of a lovely private garden in Los Frailes, on the outskirts of San Miguel de Allende and yesterday, attractive roof tops seen around the town; today:  photos of plants, trees, shrubs and flowers taken here and there downtown San Miguel.

Just a reminder: for more information on San Miguel de Allende, check out Wikipedia.  Another neat site is that of the Garden Club of San Miguel de Allende.

Enjoy the colors and please write to us with your impressions! Unfortunately, the biofloris friend who submitted the pics doesn’t know the names of all the plants; do you know them?

Bugambilia and other flowers in San Miguel de Allende

Colorful wall and flowers in San Miguel de Allende

Courtyard garden in a restaurant in San Miguel de Allende

More colorful flowers in San Miguel de Allende

Plants in the courtyard of a San Miguel de Allende restaurant

Trees on a Rooftop in San Miguel de Allende

This is the second of three posts for this week, with pictures taken by a biofloris friend on a recent trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.  Yesterday, we showed photographs of a beautiful private garden in Los Frailes, on the outskirts of San Miguel de Allende.  Today, we’ll be looking at attractive roof tops seen around town; tomorrow:  photos of plants, trees, shrubs and flowers taken here and there downtown San Miguel.

Just a reminder: for more information on San Miguel de Allende, check out Wikipedia.  Another neat site is that of the Garden Club of San Miguel de Allende.

Enjoy ! And let us know what you think! Unfortunately, the biofloris friend who submitted the pics doesn’t know the names of all the plants; do you know them?

Rooftop edge as seen from the street, San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende Rooftops

San Miguel de Allende Rooftop with Cathedral in the background

More rooftop edges seen from the street in San Miguel de Allende

View from one rooftop garden of another, San Miguel de Allende