The day of the Victorian Conservatory is long past; however, you can create an indoor oasis. Think about using an array of indoor plants to create your own retreat from the winter blues. Houseplants, also called indoor plants, brighten up your home or office. The benefits of indoor gardening are numerous. My son reminds me of the clean air provided by indoor plants that take in carbon dioxide (which you exhale) and in turn release oxygen for you. Indoor plants also brighten the room, providing a cheerful sight for those grey and often dreary winter days.

The variety of houseplants is varied and broad. There are flowering types or non-flowering types. You can grow cactus, small shrubs and flower bulbs. You can even grow a variety of herbs. Most of these however, require more sunlight, which is often at a premium indoors and in winter months.

We commonly think of only a quite limited number of houseplants. In actuality there are hundreds if not thousands of varieties. The most common houseplants include African Violets, Amaryllis, Begonia, Bonsai, Cactus, Coleus, Forced Bulbs, Geraniums, Impatiens (a great shade lover with glossy leaves and showy flowers.), Ivy, Paper Whites, Paradise Palms or Parlor Palms (there are many other types), Philodendrons, Rubber Plants, Spider Plants.

Then select colorful pots to brighten up your decor. Select containers that are large enough for the root system of your plant now and through the winter months. You should also select pots with drainage holes in the bottom of the pot or container. (Some pots do not have drainage holes; avoid them.) Many plants are drowned by too much watering and no place for excess water to go. A good pot will have drainage holes and a small dish underneath to capture any excess water that seeps out. Your plant will thank you for it!

Community Activities Building
Red Morton Park
1400 Roosevelt Avenue
Redwood City

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Please see their website for additional information:
http://penorchidsoc.org/

There are still some gardeners frustrated when they need an evergreen plant, about a foot and a half tall, that can grow in a semi-shaded area and has flowers. It would be nice if it bloomed late in the year. Until a few years ago, the knowledgeable nursery person would recommend the “Christmas Rose” (Helleborus orientalis). At that time, the colors of the flowers ranged from white to green or purple and that was about it. Christmas Rose came into bloom about Thanksgiving and two or three months later “Lenten Rose” followed and came into bloom shortly after Christmas and lasted until Easter.

Today, “Lenten Rose” has been hybridized repeatedly and is known as Helleborus hybridus with flower colors of red, white, pink, purple, yellow and even multiple colors.

Helleborus are native to Europe and western Asia. They need a slightly acid soil amended liberally with a good organic product such as Gold Rush or Forest Blend. Sprinkle about one-quarter cup of Master Nursery Camellia, Azalea, Gardenia and Rhododendron Food in each area where the plants(s) are to be located. This is exactly the same environment as many other plants require and makes a particularly effective ground cover under high branches of trees or large shrubs and with ferns, Daphne, Pieris, Azaleas, Camellias or Rhododendrons. Ajuga or Heuchera also make a nice border for the Helleborus.

In addition to being a most desirable plant for shady areas, Helleborus, a member of the poisonous Ranunculus family, is deer proof and resistant to voles ad gophers.

Wegman’s has just received its first shipment of H. niger, H. hybridus and H. orientalis. We are expecting a massive shipment of the hybrids the first part of next month and will be featuring a colorful display of this soon to be better known, flowering, shade tolerant plant.

Our bedding area has bare root stock ready for your garden; bare root asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries, onion bunches, and artichokes.

Come in early for the best selection for your home garden.

A Mr. Ed Favorite!
Rapitest Moisture Meter, complete instructions for testing moisture and a watering guide and special needs table for over 150 plants. No batteries required.

The Rapitest Moisture Meter is designed for simplicity of use with accurate results. It is an economical way to test for moisture levels in the soil on a scale of 0 to 10.

Price: $17.99

Schultz Plant Food Plus
• 10-15-10.
• Just 7 drops per quart feeds everything you grow!
• Easy-to-measure dropper.
• Feeds all indoor & outdoor plants every time you water.
• Mother Nature feeds plants every time it rains, dissolving nutrients and distributing them evenly to all plants.
• You can do the same every time you water your houseplants, feeding with Schultz Plant Food Plus.

Price: $4.99 for 4 oz.