In the winter, we have different plants available to us that we do not have access to in the warm season months. These plants can be specific to the Christmas season or ornamentals used outside to add color. Proper care is essential to keep these plants looking their best.
Pansies
Pansies are the most popular winter annual flower grown in Arkansas gardens. Pansies come in a variety of sizes, colors, and types. Colors can include blues, reds, yellows, whites, and everything in between. The flowers can get as large as 4 and a half inches across on lovely green foliage. The flowers bloom over a long period of time. They thrive in cool weather and will bloom until they decline due to hot weather.
October through early January and March through April are the ideal times for planting. Spring-planted pansies will have a relatively short life in the garden. Plant them in a well-drained location with moderately rich soil or in containers. They prefer full sun to partial shade. Those planted in full sun will not last as long when we get to warm weather, but there are many other options to replace them at that point. Fertilize at planting and during any warm spell throughout the winter.
Christmas trees
When selecting a live Christmas tree, make sure you select a tree that does not appear to be dry. A dried tree will often lose its needles. When placing the live tree in a stand, you should cut approximately a half-inch off the base of the trunk. This will help your tree in taking up water. You should fit your tree to your stand, and then fill with water. Make sure to keep your stand full of water throughout the season. A Christmas tree may take up a gallon of water the first 24 hours and several pints each day thereafter. Keeping the tree in water is the most important part of Christmas tree care. Special preservatives such as sugar, aspirin, or cola are not needed to preserve freshness. All that is needed is to keep the base of the tree covered at all times with plain, clean tap water. Never place trees near any source of ignition such as fireplaces, heaters, or furnace vents. Cords and connections used on the trees light must be in good working order. Lights should always be unplugged when leaving home or going to bed.
Caring for poinsettias
The length of time your poinsettia will give you pleasure in your home depends on a few key steps and with good care should last six to eight weeks or longer in your home. Make sure it is wrapped up properly if outside temperatures are low. Exposure to low temperatures, even for a few minutes, can damage the bracts and leaves. Unwrap your poinsettia carefully and place in indirect light. Six hours of light daily is ideal. Keep the plant from touching cold windows. Keep poinsettias away from warm or cold drafts, air vents or open doors and windows. Ideally, poinsettias require daytime temperatures of 60 to 70 degrees and nighttime temperatures around 55 degrees. High temperatures will shorten the plant's life. Move the plant to a cooler room at night, if possible. Check the soil daily. Be sure to punch holes in foil so water can drain into a saucer. Water when soil is dry. Allow water to drain into the saucer and discard excess water. Wilted plants will tend to drop bracts sooner. Fertilize the poinsettia if you keep it past the holiday season. Apply a household fertilizer once a month. Do not fertilize when it is in bloom.
Another great thing for gardeners to do in the wintertime on chilly days is to educate themselves on gardening. There are so many things to learn when it comes to plants, pest control in the garden, etc. The Garland County Master Gardeners provide many educational opportunities to the community as well as to the members themselves. Considering becoming a Master Gardener in 2021? Now is the time! Applications are available at the Cooperative Extension office at 236 Woodbine, by calling 623-6841, or emailing Alex Dykes at [email protected].
4-H information
For information about Garland County 4-H Club membership or program benefits, contact Carol Ann McAfee at the Garland County Cooperative Extension office at 236 Woodbine in Hot Springs, call 501-623-6841, or email [email protected]. More information is available at http://www.uaex.edu/garland.
Master Gardener
information
Master Gardener meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month online. The meetings are open to the public and guests are welcome. For more information, call the Extension office at 623-6841 or email Alex Dykes at [email protected].
EHC information
Are you interested in joining an existing Extension Homemakers Club? EHC is the largest volunteer organization in the state. For information on EHC, call 623-6841 or email Alison Crane at [email protected]. Follow Crane on Facebook @garlandEGF and @Garland FCS, and EHC on Facebook @GarlandCountyEHC.