Montreal Flowers, Online florist and flower shop in Montreal-Flowers From The Heart

Home
About

1

2

3

4

5

Garden Petunia

February 24th, 2010

Don Belvedere Team

The petunia is among the most popular bedding plants purchased each spring and summer, In fact, some people may argue that it is the most popular. If you drive around in the warmer weather, it certainly may seem like this is so.

This favorite annual flower was first discovered in South America more than two centuries ago. The earliest petunias were small-flowered and lanky and were found in only two colors, white and purple. But even as early as the beginning of the nineteenth century, European breeders were experimenting with crossbreeding to develop larger flowers and more colors.

pink_petunia

Today, petunias are available in shades of white, yellow, pink, blue, purple, and red as well as bicolors, and as single or double flowers.

Many have a light, sweet fragrance, especially the blue petunia varieties. Petunias make excellent cut flowers and will last for four to six days.

Petunias are members of the Solanaceae or nightshade family, which includes tomatoes, peppers, and Salpiglossis (which the early petunias closely resembled). They are suitable for hanging baskets, containers, and window boxes, and as edges for flowerbeds or to add color to vegetable gardens.

Most gardeners buy bedding plants, but you could grow your own petunias from seed. Sow seed indoors eight to 12 weeks before the average last-frost date in your area. Double-flowered varieties may require more time to bloom, so start them at least 12 weeks before transplanting time.

When buying bedding plants, look for plants with healthy foliage and plenty of buds. There should be no signs of dried out or spotted leaves or powdery mildew.

For container planting, use a soil-less mix. If you’re planting petunias in the ground, choose a location with light, rich soil and good drainage. (Petunias will grow in almost any kind of soil but do best in this soil.) Work in some peat moss or compost before planting. Mulch to help keep down weeds and retain soil moisture.

Petunias like full sun (at least six hours a day) but will do fine in partial shade. However, in part shade the plants will flower less and the stems will stretch more.

These summer annuals are drought-tolerant, so don’t worry about watering unless there are prolonged periods of drought. Window boxes and containers, especially those located under overhanging eaves, should be checked every few days, however, and watered as needed as the soil tends to dry out more.

Petunias require little care but will benefit from a monthly dose of fertilizer. Double-flowered cultivars will flourish from biweekly fertilizing.

By midsummer, your petunias may have stretched out stems and fewer flowers. Prune them back severely to encourage new shoots and flowers to develop. Don’t cut back trailing petunias.

Care For Cut Flowers

February 17th, 2010

Don Belvedere Team

Starting leeks from seeds, properly keeping snow off shrubs, and giving cut flowers the right care are some of the gardening tips for this month.

Long-season alliums, such as leeks and onions, should be started from seed now. They need 10 to 12 weeks of growth indoors before they go in the garden. Sprinkle the seed on top of seed-starting mix, keep it moist, and as soon as the seedlings emerge, place the flats under grow lights so they grow strong. Begonias and pansies are couple of flowers you might start now too.

Daffodils

Although a sunny windowsill is an ideal spot for sun-loving houseplants, be sure the plants aren’t too close to the glass or they could be damaged by the cold.

Also, since heating vents are often located underneath windows, plants are prone to drying out quickly. You may want to move plants to a different location until the weather moderates.

When tree and shrub branches bend under the weight of a new snowfall, use a broom to gently brush off the snow. Don’t try to remove ice or you might break the branch. It’s possible to save a large branch that partially splits from the main trunk if you tie it in place and use long screws (coming from each direction, if necessary) to secure it. If done right away, the tree may callous over the wound and heal itself.

For seeds that need warmth to germinate, a heat mat underneath the flat can make a big difference. Once the seedlings are up, move them off the mat and grow them on at a cooler temperature to encourage strong, stocky growth. You can find inexpensive mats at some garden stores and online seed firms. Try putting a piece of reflective foil insulation underneath the mat to direct the heat up towards the flat.

Arrange cut flowers in a vase of warm water, and add commercial floral preservative. Or, you can make your own preservative with one cup lemon-lime soda (regular, not sugar free), one cup water, and a half teaspoon of household bleach. The sugar in the soda provides energy for the flowers, and the bleach controls bacteria. If you need more liquid, just increase the amounts proportionately.

Change the water in the vase every couple of days. In mixed bouquets, some of the flowers may give off sap that is toxic to other varieties in the vase and shortens their vase life. Daffodils are one such flower. You can reduce this effect by frequently refreshing the water or keeping daffodils in a vase by themselves. When you change the water, recut about a half-inch off the bottom of flower stems.

This helps ensure the conducting vessels don’t get plugged.

If you are preparing to start seeds under grow lights or fluorescent shop lights indoors, check the tubes for signs of age. Tubes that have been used for two to three seasons probably have lost much of their intensity even though they look fine. Dark rings on the ends of the tubes signal they need to be replaced. If just setting up such tubes, try the slimmer and more energy efficient ones. Alternate ones giving off warm and cool colors to provide the best light.

February Gardering Tips

February 9th, 2010

Don Belvedere Team

Mother Nature may be taking a snooze this time of year, but that doesn’t mean you can. February brings its share of challenging chores for gardeners, many relating to the weather.

valentine bouquet

If snow cover is light in your area, you may need to add extra mulch, such as a thick layer of straw or evergreen branches, to protect landscape plants.

Just make sure you don’t put straw around woody plants if mice are nearby as they’ll nest in the straw and strip the bark off the plants, which often results in the death of plants. You also can place wooden teepees over precious perennials or windbreaks around trees and shrubs for protection.

If snowfall is heavy, keep your roof raked between snow storms to prevent problems with ice build up that may not only damage the roof but the landscape plants growing under the eaves.

When raking the roof, try not to pull that load of snow directly onto landscape plants below the eves as the force of the falling snow can crush plants and break branches unless already covered by a deep layer of natural snowfall. Again, teepee-shaped wooden frames may be your best protection.

To prevent injury to plants from the settling snow, gently scoop the snow away from the plant with a shovel. Then, with gloved hands, carefully remove the snow from the branches.

When shoveling your walks and driveway, put the snow on your perennial plantings as this is a good insulator. Just avoid, if possible, piling several feet of snow on them when plowing since it will take so long to melt in spring. And don’t dump snow on them if harmful salt is mixed in.

Pay extra attention to the needs of winter birds. If you are feeding them, check feeders every few days and fill as needed. Black oil sun flower seed and white millet will attract cardinals, goldfinches, black-capped chickadees, purple finches, white-breasted nuthatches, and other birds to your yard.

Corn on the ear, shelled, or cracked is a favorite of many other species including blue jays and mourning doves. Put out suet cakes for the woodpeckers.

Don’t forget to clean the feeders periodically as moldy seed can make birds ill. Flush out old seed and debris then scrub with a mixture of water and chlorine bleach (one ounce of bleach per gallon of water). Rinse well and allow to dry before adding new seed.

In between cleanings, when refilling hanging feeders, shake to dislodge compacted seed. Dump out wet clumps of old seed. Sweep hulls off platform feeders daily.

If possible, provide a source of water for the birds. A heated birdbath is ideal. Purchase one with an automatic shut-off valve or heat cycling on-off switch, which will prevent damage to the birdbath if goes dry. Use a grounded, three pronged outlet to prevent the possibility of electrocution.

Valentine Flowers

February 2nd, 2010

Don Belvedere Team

Although traditional, red roses aren’t the only way to say “be mine” this February 14. Tulips, carnations, azaleas, and exotic flowers such as cineraria are catching up with roses in popularity as flowers for St. Valentine’s Day.

valentine red anthurium

If you want to give roses, but can’t afford the high price tag for long-stemmed reds, why not choose sweetheart or miniature roses. They’re less expensive, just as lovely, and are available in the same range of colors including red, pale pink, white, lavender, yellow, and peach.

Or select red and white carnations or a mixed bouquet of red, white, and pink flowers. For example, you could ask your florist to make up a bouquet of white tulips, pink carnations, and a few red roses with sprigs of baby’s breath for the finishing touch. Or include a few specialty flowers such as red anthurium, ginger, alstroemeria, and freesia.

If you select your own blooms, choose ones that are just beginning to open. Wrap the flowers well to protect them from the cold on your way home. Once you arrive home, recut the stems and immediately place in warm water with floral preservative.

A flowering potted plant will provide enjoyment for many weeks to come. Potted tulips, azaleas, chrysanthemums, and cyclamens are all easy to care for and are available in shades of pink, white, and red.

For something a bit more unusual, choose a kalanchoe with its small clusters of scarlet red flowers set on spikes high above the leaves. Or how about a cineraria with its fuzzy leaves and mound of vivid red, blue, or purple flowers.

When buying a flowering potted plant, look for one with many buds about to open rather than one already in full bloom. Inspect buds, flowers, and undersides of leaves for signs of disease or insect pests.

You may want to enclose a note with your gift to ensure that the plant will be given proper care. Mention that the plant needs to be kept well watered, but not overwatered, and out of drafts. And that the foil or paper covering the pot should be removed to allow adequate drainage.

Tulips, cyclamens, azaleas, cinerarias, and kalanchoes all like it cool at night (45 to 55 degrees F) and warm (70 degrees F) during the day. Finally, don’t forget to say “Happy Valentine’s Day!”

Jenuary Gardening-African Violets

January 26th, 2010

Don Belvedere Team

Testing seeds you’ve saved, making cuttings of African violets, brushing snow from shrubs, and watering properly are some of the gardening tips for this month.

African Violets

Once you’ve trained birds to come to your feeders, make sure and keep them stocked with high quality bird seed and suet. Poor quality seeds, which are often cheap, often don’t provide birds sufficient energy to survive our cold winters.

Birds also need water, which you can provide throughout the winter by using a plug-in birdbath heater. This plugs into an outdoor outlet, which should be grounded for safety.

African violets make great houseplants and will flower in winter if given supplemental light or bright northern light. To propagate new plants, take a leaf cutting, dip the cut end in a rooting hormone powder, and stick the cutting in a pot filled with vermiculite or sand.

Cover the pot with a perforated clear plastic bag and keep the soil moist. In a few weeks you’ll have new plants.

As with any houseplant, don’t overwater African violets. A good way to water them is to put some water in the saucer, which can then be absorbed through the holes in the bottom of pots. This also helps keep water off the leaves of these plants, avoiding spotting. Just make sure the plants don’t sit in the water for more than an hour or two.

Remember when watering to feel the temperature of the water. Often in winter it may come out of the tap quite cold, which can then shock the roots of your tropical houseplants. Ideal for watering your plants in winter is water that is lukewarm, or just slightly warm to the touch.

If you save seeds from year to year, it’s time to do a germination test so you’ll know if they will germinate well this year, or if it’s time to order new seeds. To do this, place ten seeds between two sheets of moist paper towels and tuck into a loosely tied plastic bag. Place in a warm area, and check every few days. If germination is less than 80 percent (8 seeds), consider purchasing new seed of that crop, or sowing more if you have them.

Snowfalls can be tough on trees and shrubs by weighing down the branches. Gently brush off most of the snow with a broom or by hand. Don’t use a shovel, which can injure the branches. If there is ice buildup, it’s best to let it melt because it’s easy to break off the brittle branches if you try to remove it.

If you’ve noticed tiny black flies in your house, especially when you brush your houseplants, it’s possible they may have fungus gnats. Though annoying when they flit about, the 1/8-inch long adult insects are harmless. Their tiny, worm-like larvae live in moist soil, and also cause little or no damage to plants.

To control them, allow soil to dry out between waterings, cover the soil with a layer of sand, use sticky traps which you can buy at complete garden stores, or drench the soil with a biological control.

If your holiday flowers and foliage have white streaks on them, your plants may have thrips. These tiny, straw-colored insects feed by sucking the plant juices, causing the discoloration. If you see signs of thrips, begin spraying plants with insecticidal soap every three days for about two weeks. As with any pesticide, be sure and read the label and observe precautions (even for least toxic controls).

Before the main pruning season starts, take apart hand pruners and shears, sharpen the blades, oil the levers, and remove any rust. Pruning trees will go much faster and be easier on your hands when you use sharp, well-maintained equipment.

Speaking of tools, if the handles of your small tools are faded or wood, why not paint them so you can easily find them in the garden? Among other tips for January, order seed catalogs and check sources online, then place orders early. It’s easy to get carried away, so only order what you can realistically handle.

Early in the month, if disposing of your Christmas tree, why not put it out for the birds to use over winter. Sweep up any needles for fragrant potpourri. If disposing of wreaths and other greens, lay them on newspaper to dry, then collect their needles for potpourri as well. You can then enjoy the smells of the holidays all through winter.