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Tips Archive |
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Check back from time to time as we add new tips gathered from online sources, seminars, and our own in-house experts.
Our Featured Tip is Below
Following are links to a few of Ward's Tip Sheets, also available at the Front Desk.
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Watering Details
New Landscape Plantings
Watering practices are critical to the successful establishment of landscape plants and more so during drought. The following checklist will make plant-care easier.
F R E Q U E N C Y
While potted plants and window boxes in sunny locations need daily watering, most other plants do not. Heavy watering every second or third day is better than frequent light waterings. A light watering daily will evaporate quickly and will not soak into the soil to the root zone. Keep up weekly waterings throughout the first and second growing season for new plantings.
T I M E O F D A Y
Sunlight does not burn foliage of freshly watered plants. Watering should be done during daylight hours. Water left on leaves after sundown increases the potential of fungal spores developing on leaf surfaces.
C O N S E R V I N G W A T E R
Use soaker hoses, drip irrigation systems, timers or tree gator bags to reduce water use. Mulches 1-2 deep will reduce evaporation and cool soil temperature. Water absorbing polymers grab excess water and slowly release it back to the soil as the plant requires it. Implementing these practices will keep plants healthy and reduce your water bill.
Watering FAQS- Frequently Asked Questions
What if I cant plant right away?
If you cant plant, then you must water plant containers or burlapped balls DAILY.
How much water is adequate?
As a general rule, large trees should get 10-20 gallons of water 1-2 times a week. Smaller shrubs should receive 5-10 gallons of water 1-2 times a week. An open-ended hose running at the plants base for 12 minutes in a slow, steady stream is about 5 gallons. Running for 25 minutes would be about 10 gallons.
When should I use my sprinkler?
Sprinklers are for shallow-rooted plants, such as grass, ground covers, newly planted annuals, etc. but not trees and shrubs.
How will I know when to water more often?
If there is a drought, then water deeply 2 times a week. If conditions are windy, water 2 times a week.
Do I need to water even if it rains?
If you received a sprinkling of rain today, that does not count as watering. If it poured outside for five minutes, this does not count as watering. (This rain is generally too fast to soak in and usually runs off.) A FULL day of steady rain is equal to 1 watering. Rainfall alone rarely provides adequate consistent moisture for new plantings.
Is it okay to stop watering in spring or fall?
If conditions are dry, watering may have to start as early as April or continue into October.
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Blueberry Shrubs - Bright Red Fall Color + Berries!
Make your landscape do double-dutylooking great while tasting great, too! The blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is an easy-care, multi-use shrub.
These attractive, well-behaved shrubs are rarely bothered by insects or diseases. In the spring, they are covered with white, bell-shaped flowers. Between July and September, depending on variety, mature plants produce hundreds of delicious berries. Then in the fall, the leaves turn a rich scarlet, orange or purple.
Blueberries grow wild over the eastern United States and are an important food for wildlife. No need to worry about them invading the forests from your garden! If you are interested in harvesting a crop of berries for fresh eating, baking or canning, you can choose varieties with different ripening dates, flavors and sizes. It is possible to pick fresh blueberries over a two or three-month period. In any case, plant several varieties to ensure good pollination. Wards offers, in order of ripening time, these high-bush varieties:
Earliblue, Blueray, Patriot, Bluecrop, and Jersey. Or, you might like the low-bush type, Vaccinium angustifolium--suitable as a groundcover!
Plant them in full sun for plentiful yields and plan for a mature size of 4 feet wide x 10 feet tall. Blueberries require acid soil below 6.0 and as low as 4.5. Have the pH of your soil tested. If the pH is greater than 5.5 but less than 7.0, you can increase the acidity by amending your planting bed with sulfur (SO4). Check the pH annually and amend as needed. It is generally impractical to modify alkaline soils (pH greater than 7). Your soil type will affect the quantity of sulfur needed. In short, a light sandy soil needs less sulfur than a heavy clay soil, even if the starting pH is the same. If youre not sure how much to add, stop in to Wards with the pH results of your soil. We can help you determine the correct amount of additives to reach the ideal growing conditions for your blueberries.
Blueberries have shallow roots and appreciate a steady supply of moisture. Prepare the bed for them by amending 12-20 down and 3-5 feet across with plenty of organic matter and compost in the root zone. Add sulfur if required by your soil test. Space them about 6-8 feet apart. To keep them moist through the summer, mulch with wood chips, sawdust, oak leaves or shredded bark.
To protect your scrumptious berries while they are ripening, you should plan on covering the plants as soon as the berries start to turn blue. Birds have more time to check on the progress of the berries than we do and will eat many or most of them as they ripen! Your cover can be as simple as netting wrapped around each bush, or you can build a cage over many plants. Wards blueberries will fruit this summer and bear a full crop after four to six years. With proper care, this shrub can produce berries for decades!
Updated May 2006
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Indoor Bonsai Care
Most indoor bonsai are plants native to warmer climates. Some of the more common indoor varieties are Serissa, Brush Cherry, Okinawan Holly, New Zealand Tea, Sub-tropical Elms, Fukien Tea, Ficus varieties, Dwarf Myrtle, Portulacara, Dwarf Boxwood, Barbados Cherry, Olive, Natal Plum and many others.
W A T E R I N G
Proper watering is critical. The basic rule is allow the soil to dry down between waterings, but never allow it to become bone dry.
Under-watering and over-watering are both problems. Under-watering is not watering often enough or well enough. Over-watering is watering too often. Under-watering is most likely to occur in the summer while over-watering occurs most often in the winter. Feel the surface of the soil regularly. If the soil is dry (or you think that is will become dry before you have a chance to check it again) then it is time to water. Water from above until the soil is well soaked. During hot dry weather you r tree will need frequent watering. Direct sunlight and wind can cause the soil to dry out rapidly. Very small bonsai in small pots can sometimes dry out in a day or even hours. Be alert to changing conditions.
Remember: Allow the soil to dry down between waterings, but never allow it to become bone dry.
T E M P E R A T U R E
Most indoor bonsai love the summer heat (with ample water). Most do best with winter temperatures between 50°F and 65°F (some true tropicals like it a little warmer). Freezing or near freezing temperatures should always be avoided.
L I G H T
Most bonsai need to be grown in very good light. If you can, put your indoor bonsai outdoors in the late spring, summer, and early fall. Filtered sun, or morning sun is best for most varieties though some (especially larger ones) can thrive in full sun. When indoors keep your bonsai in a window or very close to one. If you cannot provide enough light in the winter, we suggest supplementing with grow lights.
F R E S H _ A I R
Air circulation is very important. Open the window or get your bonsai outside on warm days. When you cannot open windows, we suggest using an oscillating fan for several hours a day.
F E R T I L I Z I N G
Your indoor bonsai does best with frequent feeding during the growing season (February through October). We recommend organic rather than chemical fertilizer. Dilute Neptune's Harvest liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength and incorporate into your regular waterings.
P E S T _ P R E V E N T I O N
Clean your bonsai once a week by removing dead or unhealthy foliage. Wash each time you water by running the water through the foliage. Misting is useful when the air is dry as it provides extra moisture and helps keep the foliage clean. If you detect pests treat with a mild insecticide every three or four days until the infestation is cleared up. For serious infestations consult a professional.
R E P O T T I N G _ A N D _ S T Y L I N G
Most bonsai need to be repotted every two or three years. Occasional trimming will also be necessary to keep your bonsai looking good. We recommend consulting a good book or a bonsai professional (or competent enthusiast) for advice.
Thank you, enjoy your bonsai and dont forget to water.
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Container Planting & Care Guide
Maybe youd like to try a new flower combination but starting up a full-sized specialty garden sounds like too expensive and then, ugh, what if you dont like it?
For something more manageable, consider a few containers to add new definition to your sidewalk, deck or patio. Anything that holds soil and drains can be a container--let your imagination go! You can do a series where each pot has plants of similar colors but different shapes, all the same arrangement or unique specimens to balance each unique pot.
Sun-loving plants need a minimum of 6 hours of sun but for shade lovers that can be too much. So choose your plant combinations wisely. Beyond that here are some basic guidelines for success:
1. Choose a container that can hold the plant. Annuals can handle crowding as long as you water and fertilize regularly. Large annuals, like cannas, elephants ears, or dahlias need a pot that is 20 inches high and from 18 to 24 inches in diameter, but there will still be room for a few small flowers to trail out around the edges. For a smaller centerpiece (say tuberous begonia, coleus or small trio of impatiens, begonias or marigolds) with trailing ivy or sweet potato vine, you can use a container 10 to 12 inches deep and across.
2. Plant in lightweight potting soil. Your container plants will need to stay moist but not waterlogged. Potting soil mixes are formulated to retain moisture while still draining well. Garden soil is usually too high in clay content and will hold too much water. Remember that your container needs to drain. You can put screening material over the hole in the bottom so that soil does not run out with the water.
3. Establish a watering and fertilizing routine. The real trick to beautiful healthy containers is monitoring their moisture. A daily dose of water will be required in hot sunny weather and maybe even two dosesone in the morning and again at middayduring extreme heat. The kind of container you choose will make a difference. Small terra cotta pots holding a quart of soil dry out quicker than a large plastic pot with 2 gallons of soil. Water slowly and gently allowing the water to reach all the soil in the pot and to begin draining out the bottom. Be sure to empty the saucer if you have one. Roots left in a puddle of water will rot. To manage the fertilizing, mix a slow-release fertilizer into the surface of the soil at planting time. This fertilizes your plants every time you water for over 3 months. With the slow-release system, youll know your soil has the nutrients to keep your plants healthy. For fuller blooms, add a blossom-booster fertilizer (10-50-10 ratio) in your watering can every 2 weeks. When watering, nip off the spent flowers to prevent them from going to seed. This will encourage new growth and flowers.
So, try something a little different this summer without spending a fortune.
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Cyclamen
These colorful house plants are native to Greece, Syria, Southern Europe, and Asia Minor. Should you buy or receive one of these striking plants, it will reward you with many weeks of bloom provided you follow a few simple guidelines.
Watering:
Keep the soil constantly moist but not soggy. Dont let water sit directly on the corm or rot may occur.
Temperature:
Cyclamen prefer cool temperatures of 40 - 50◦F, particularly at night, but they will tolerate a warmer situation.
Light:
During the winter, a sunny east or west window is fine.
Fertilizer:
Select a low Nitrogen blend, such as Peters or Miracle Gro.
Rest Period:
Cyclamen can be kept from year to year if they are given a rest period during the summer. When they stop flowering, discontinue fertilizing and place them in a shaded spot. Reduce watering so the soil dries out somewhat. In September, repot the corms at the same depth that they were growing but no deeper. The plant will sometimes hold its old leaves as the new ones form.
Problems:
The most common problem is the yellowing of older leaves, which could be caused by too much warmth, soggy soil, or soil that has dried to the point of wilting. Clean up yellow leaves and adjust care as needed.
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Lawn Strategies for Spring, updated April 2007
The moles and skunks have been ripping apart your property and it feels past time to do something about it! First you should spread some repellent or even some baited poison to get them out of your property. However, those critters are visiting you for your grubs and their friends will show up eventually. So until you get rid of the grubs, you will be hosting moles and skunks. Once you get rid of the grubs, then you can go about repairing and improving your lawn.
Luckily there are many methods for grub control. The first is a 24-hour control that will kill them as they move through the soil. It becomes ineffective after about a week. In May, the grubs (larvae of the Japanese and Asian beetles) are big, strong and just about to emerge as adults. After stopping those first ones, invest in a season-long control to put down in June. This product is taken up by the plants and infects the larvae as they feed. The season-long control gets the grub in its early stages and will prevent grub activity next spring.
For an organic control, use Milky Spore in zones where the soil temperature stays above 65 degrees for 8 weeks. Milky Spore is a bacteria that infects only Japanese Beetles so is highly specific. Milky Spore bacteria needs to be applied 3 times a year and will multiply. Control can be achieved in a few years.
After the grub population is diminished, consider your grass seed and your lawns soil. Spread a pre-emergent weed control to prevent annual weed seeds from germinating. You can do this while forsythia is still blooming but after that, the annual weeds have already germinated. Then you will need to go to a more synthetic solution, hand pull, or just work diligently to improve the vigor of your current lawn grasses and get them to crowd out the bad guys.
After the pre-emergent weed control program (about 4-8 weeks depending on the control you choose), you can spread fresh seed over your existing lawn. First, improve the soil by spreading a thin layer of compost in the problem areas where the ground is compacted. Rake the area to loosen the soil and make it easier for new roots to reach into the soil. Spread a seed mixture recommended for your conditions whether they are full sun, part shade or dry. After seeding, keep the area moist until the seeds have germinated. And as a final reminder, dont use any product on your property until you have read and understood the label thoroughly. Good luck!
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O R G A N I C__ G A R D E N I N G
Organic Gardening is not that difficult or mysterious, it just takes some planning, attention and patience. Organic Gardening depends on natural processes to maintain a healthy balance in your immediate garden ecosystem. However, biological and organic processes take more time. So theres no time like the present to get started.
First, get a complete Soil Test. This will tell you the organic and nutritional health of your soil. From this basis, you can make informed decisions about which plants to choose and which organic amendments you need. You can do a pH test yourself but for the complete test, contact the UMass Soil Test Lab at (413) 545-2311 or visit online at http://www.umass.edu/plsoils/soiltest/.
Next, make a garden Plan based on the actual environment. Is it shady and moist, shady and dry, sunny and dry? How much direct sun in a day and how long does water stand before soaking in or running off? Sheltered or pounded by winter winds? Does the snow get piled there in the winter? What about kids ball games or the ATV they use? By knowing your gardens environment, youll choose more suitable plants that will thrive in your conditions and require less attention.
Compost is the next vital ingredient to successful organic gardening. Whether you purchase it or make your own (its pretty simple if you have a 3 x 3 garden space for a compost pile), compost is the best soil amendment for any plant. Mix your topsoil one-to-one with compost and your plants get a great start.
Read up on current Organic Information. Know the current organic methods and materials such as biorationals which are a very selective type of organic pest controlmore effective and safe for the environment. Other products and methods are continuously tested for effectiveness and safety. Be open to new ideas.
Learn about Weeds, especially invasive plants. Learn how to identify and how to manage them. Maybe pulling them up in spring is all thats necessary to keep them controlled.
Create an ecosystem that Allows Beneficial Insects and microorganisms to thrive. Plan to have a variety of plants and something blooming all season long. Not only is it lovely but youll provide a better habitat for all your gardening partners.
What Next?
Visit us at Wards Nursery & Garden Center with your plan and your needs. We have experienced gardeners to help you. We carry organic soil amendments, native and organic plants, informative books and organic pest controls to start you off on a good, green foot.
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Poinsettia Reflowering
Getting poinsettias to reflower is not easy, but with some patience and care it can be done.
Late Winter - Early Spring
Cut back each of the old flowering stems to 4 to 6 inches in height. Do this in February or early March. This will promote new growth.
Late Spring - Summer
Repot into a 2-3 inches in diameter larger pot. Make sure the soil mass is moistened and place in a sunny window. When all danger of frost has passed and night temperature are above 60F the plant can be placed outdoors. Place the poinsettia in a shady location for two to three weeks to allow it to become acclimated to the new environment. Then sink the pot in a sunny protected outdoor flower bed. Light shade during the afternoon is okay.
Turn the poinsettia pot regularly to prevent rooting through the bottom hole. It is suggested that a quarter turn each week will prevent this and will also help to keep the plant growth even all around the pot. If the pot is not turned, one side may get more sun than the other.
If you prefer a short plant with many flowers, pinch out the growing shoots to encourage branching. Pinching should produce more flowers and a nice bushy plant. This should be done at 3 to 4 week intervals, according to the speed of growth. Pinch out the top 1/4 inch by hand. Two or three large fully expanded leaves should be left below the pinch; this serves as a guide for knowing when the shoots are ready for pinching. Continue this practice until mid- August, when the plant should have a satisfactory shape and number of shoots.
Keep the plant growing actively all summer by regular watering and feeding every two weeks with a complete soluble fertilizer (20-20-20).
Fall
Before night temperatures fall below 55-60°F at night, bring the poinsettia indoors to a sunny location. Check for pests and diseases and place poinsettia in a south window.
Flowering is "photoperiodically" induced in the poinsettia. This means that flowers begin to form when the days are a certain length, or, more accurately, when the nights are long enough. The poinsettia is a short-day or long-night plant. Without long nights, this plant will continue to produce leaves and will grow but will never flower. You must make certain it receives no light from any source.
Very short periods of lighting at night may be enough to prevent or interfere with flowering. Even light from a street light can stop flowering. If the plant is to be grown in a room that is lighted nightly, cover it completely at dusk (5p.m.) every day with a heavy paper bag, a piece of opaque black cloth, other light-tight cover or place in a dark closet.
Flower initiation begins in late September and early October. Dark periods longer than 12 hours are necessary for flower set. Flowers mature in from 60 to 85 days depending on varieties, temperature and light intensity.
Because flower initiation depends upon the length of the dark period, your poinsettia must be kept completely dark from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. The time to give this treatment is from the end of September until December 15.
Once you can see the flowers developing in the growing plants, i. e., when the floral bracts start to show definite color, it is not as important to continue giving the dark period, though it is advisable to continue until the bracts are almost fully expanded.
Temperatures should be no less than 55°F at night, but not more than 70°F. During the day give the poinsettia as much sunlight as possible.
Reduce the amount of fertilizer given after bringing the plant indoors. Growth is slower in the lower light intensity inside the house.
High night temperatures, coupled with low-light intensity, low nutrition, dry soil or improper photoperiod may delay maturity.
From: University of Illinois Extension--http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/poinsettia/reflowering.html
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ROSE PLANTING & CARE, updated May 2007
1. Water the rose thoroughly before planting.
2. Dig a hole AT LEAST TWICE AS DEEP and as wide as the root ball or container.
3. Make a mixture of 1 part soil, 1 part peat moss and 1 part composted cow manure for use in the planting hole.
4. Carefully remove root ball from the plastic pot. Place one hand on top of soil; turn pot upside down; grasp bottom of pot and lift up, cleanly removing pot from soil.
5. Set rose in the hole deep enough for the soil to cover the bud union by 1 to 2 inches. Backfilling with prepared soil to raise the plant to the proper depth may be necessary.
6. After planting spread ¼ cup rose food or other general purpose fertilizer like 5-10-5 in a circle around the plant, scratch in slightly. Do this monthly, up to 3 times, through July.
7. Spread 1 - 2 inches of mulch around the plant.
8. Soak planting area with water so that water is absorbed to the depth of the root ball. Water deeply once a week thereafter through October.
9. Spray if necessary with general purpose rose fungicide 2 or 3 applications 10 days apart (follow label directions).
10. Cut off the faded blooms. This will greatly increase the production of more flowers.
Keys to Winter Success:
--In October, weed and clear debris from around the plants. Carefully prune dead, broken or diseased canes to prevent over-wintering of pests and disease.
--After several frosts but before the ground freezesgenerally by late-November, mound the soil to 8 inches or more around the base of the bush.* Be sure to cover the bud union (where the stem meets the root stock). This prevents root injury that results from rapid temperature changes in winter. These fluctuations heave plants out of the ground and expose roots and plant crowns to the drying winds of winter. Soil for mounding should be light garden soil or topsoil-- not heavy and compacting. Do not use mulch or other non-soil material.
--Next to protect the canes from animals and winter damage, mulch and cover the canes by wrapping them into Styrofoam or cardboard cones or bushel baskets.* Canes can be cut back to 18 inches to make things easier. Large shrubs or grouped plantings can be mulched within a cylinder of chicken wire and burlap according to their size.
--In mid-April, begin removing the deep mulch and carefully remove the mounding soil and haul away. Spring pruning to a swollen, outward facing bud should be done now.
*Rugosa roses are winter hardy and do not require soil- mounding or winter cones.
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Bring on the Spring! Plants Wake Up Hungry...
Now that the sunlight is stronger and stays around longer, your houseplants (and landscape perennials, too) will break dormancy and start to stretch.
Some new growth brings flower buds with it immediately for early color. Others, like rex begonia indoors or epimedium outside, send up leaves of a more vivid color, perhaps laced with pinkish-red before settling into the darker green of maturity. Once you see new growth, these plants will be tapping into nutrient reserves and need an infusion of balanced fertilizer now.
But how much? Plants growing in full sunlight need more fertilizer. They undergo more photosynthesis and require more nutrients. Plants in shade or low light require less fertilizer but more often.
Mix a balanced (ie 10-10-10) water soluble fertilizer at a ratio of ¼ teaspoon to 1 gallon of water. An organic fertilizer might have a lower numbered ratio like 7-9-5. With the organic fertilizer, you can increase the ratio to ½ teaspoon to 1 gallon of water. Water regularly as needed with this fertilized solution for a week to 10 days. Brighter situations will probably require more watering. After this time, switch to clear water for 2 waterings. Your plants in low light situations can be watered as often but reduce the ratio of fertilizer to water by half.
Youll notice robust new growth within a couple weeks. Continue this rotation through the growing season as long as light levels are high and temperatures remain above 60 degrees F.
Not enough time to mix your solutions? A top-dressing of granular or slow release fertilizer scratched into the soil surface around the plants will release nutrients over time, from several weeks to 3 months depending on brand or composition. Just check the fertilizer label for proper amounts. But, its still a good idea to water in a more immediate-action fertilizer for the first spring feeding.
Youll see growth above, but dont forget about the growth below! Houseplant roots also start actively growing and you might want to consider repotting. If the plant requires excessive watering, growth above has overwhelmed the container, or growth is pale and thin even with the regular feeding, your plant may be pot-bound and need repotting.
When changing pot size, increase your pot by only one inch in diameter. Too much space will waste water and cause too much moisture around the roots. As long as you have the plant out of the pot, check over the roots for damage or discoloration. Roots should be white with small root hairs along the larger lengths. The root ball should be full of roots with no mushy or moldy pieces. Trim out any bad or unhealthy sections and rinse with clear, cool water before repotting in fresh soil.
Even in containers indoors, your plants change with the seasons and wake up to spring. Be sure to give them a healthy start with a good breakfast and a suitable environment.
-updated April 2007
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General Tips For Winter Houseplant Care
By thoroughly inspecting the tops and undersides of plants, the stem, and soil at least once a week, you can catch the first signs of insect or fungus problems.
If your plants are losing leaves or are turning yellow, dont necessarily blame insects or fungus yet. Drastic humidity swings could be the problem. Bring up the humidity without over-watering by placing trays filled with gravel under your pots. Keep the gravel moist and you create a humid environment for the plant. Investing in a small electric humidifier will benefit not only the health of your plants but your health as well. Only water when the soil is dry to the touch.
Plants still looking blah? Common pests include aphids, white fly, fungus gnats, powdery mildew, and spider mites. The white fly lays its eggs under the leaf in the shade of the plant. Dont forget to inspect thoroughly. Youll find a magnifying glass is a great help. A little reflective foil placed around the base of the plant will help prevent the white fly from laying eggs there. To get rid of them as well as aphids, give your plants a thorough bath in the shower. Spray insecticidal soap or horticultural oil to coat the leaves including the undersides. When plants are dry, return them to their usual location. Inspect in one week and repeat the process two more times, about 7 days apart for a total of 3 applications. This will break the lifecycle between egg stage and adult. Using a yellow sticky card will help monitor the flying insect population and also give some control.
Powdery mildew, the white dusting on plant surfaces, occurs from dramatic swings in moisture and lack of air circulation. Treat with a fungicide spray labeled for powdery mildew. Home remedies include baking soda and water about 1 tablespoon soda per gallon and chamomile tea applied at room temperature at weekly intervals until all signs are gone. Coat undersides of leaves, too. To prevent the mildew, again keep your humidity around the plants stable and dont pack plants too close together. Light pinching will also allow better air circulation.
Spider mites love the dry air of winter. Yellowing, stippled leaves indicate this parasite may have moved in; wispy web strands between leaves and leaf stems confirm them. Still not sure? Hold a white piece of paper under the plant leaves and tap the stem. Dust specks that land on the paper and move under their own power are mites. Again, give your plants a thorough shower and use insecticidal soap or horticultural oil to coat the leaves and soil surface. And try to increase humidity or mist daily!
Continue to fertilize "weakly". That is, use half-strength to quarter-strength fertilizer. Plants indoors will start to react to the longer days and may put out new growth. Pinch this growth back to prevent long legs and to make a bushier plant. Youll want to continue this practice until at least April.
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