Manitoba People and Plants News

Here’s the news for avid gardeners in Manitoba.

December 23, 2007

Greetings! 

Happy Holidays to you and yours!  I have a new, refined look to our newsletter this month to blend with our updated logo, and I hope you like it!

Caring For Your Christmas Poinsettia

Poinsettias are the most popular holiday plant to give and receive, but I’m often asked how to care for them once you get them home.  They aren’t too fussy, once you know their secrets. 

They prefer adequate water so they should be checked every two or three days.  Here’s the key… once watered, do not allow them to remain in standing water!  TIP:  An easy way to do this is by cutting the bottom out of the pretty foil or pot wrapper so that the drainage holes are exposed and setting the pot on a saucer with pebbles in it.  Let the soil surface dry out between watering.  The soil should be dry to the touch.

They also appreciate being kept free of drafts and extreme temperatures.  Keep them away from that window that ices up, and away from doorways too.  Cooler is better… a daytime temperature of 18 Celsius and nights around 16 will be perfect while it is blooming.

With just a little effort, you can derive pleasure from your poinsettia for months after your tree comes down!

New Shock Wave Petunias Will Knock Your Socks Off!

I’m betting that you’ve had multitudes of positve experience with Wave Petunias and their counterparts.  

The new Shock Wave series of petunias features loads of petite blooms in striking bold colors. There are five different colors and two mixes in the series, with each delivering the best season-long impact.

Well-suited for hanging baskets, small mixed and solo containers, and small garden spaces, Shock Wave Petunias provide the same great Wave performance in a tiny, but mighty, presentation!

Ivory, Pink Shades, Pink Vein, Purple, and Rose are the five vibrant colors of Shock Wave.

Credit:  Ball Horticultural Company; www.wave-rave.com

Garden Design’s Way Hot List

I love this list, even if it is one to dream on… the plants aren’t always zoned for us Hardy Northerners!

Iresine ‘Blazin’ Rose’ is one of the annuals sure to impress us, and even though ‘Razzmatazz’ Echinacea isn’t listed, its parent, ‘Doubledecker’ boasts to be one of the top 100.  ‘Razzmatazz’ is an improved ‘Doubledecker’ that stands up for itself.  (ie. Doesn’t flop over!)

Check out the list for yourself at www.gardendesign.com.

One Last Thing

P. Allen Smith has a page on Youtube now, so I have to take time this month to announce our newest presence online… Perennial Bliss Garden Centre has a Facebook page which so far has some of the new plants for 2008 posted on it.  If you Facebook, check it out here and tell me what you think!

Food For Thought

Last month I asked you what was the one thing (plant or otherwise) that you couldn’t do without in your garden.  Turns out, you’re sure about this one as I received more responses than ever before!  Here are a few…

The one item/plant I could not do without would have to be Hosta - I love these plants!

Lana

One thing!  Wow, that's hard.  But if I had to choose it would be lilies.  All different kinds of lilies from the early asiatics and martagons to the late blooming orienpets and orientals.  Properly planned, you could have lilies blooming in the garden from June to August!

BJ in SW MB

Our next topic of discussion is simply this… Where is your garden headed?  What are some of your gardening projects for 2008?  Click here to respond.  I would love to have your input and will post the results in the next issue of MPP.

Talk to you soon,

Nancy Heide

Perennial Bliss Garden Centre