Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter February 11, 2014
These weekly garden notes are written by Kim Willis, unless
another author is noted, and the opinions expressed in these notes are her
opinions and do not represent any other individual, group or organizations
opinions.
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| Anthurium andreanum- Wikipedia |
Hello Gardeners
If we are worrying about how this wicked weather is
affecting our plants think about the poor gardeners in the south. Their gardens have plants that are far more
sensitive to cold than ours do and they are getting walloped with cold, ice and
snow this year. They are also having wide
swings in temperature which is very hard on plants.
Greenhouse growers must be struggling to pay heating bills
this year and I think we may see some shortages, high prices and smaller plants
this spring. If you can grow some of
your own plants from seed or cuttings this spring you may be doing yourself a
favor.
I have lost some of the plants I over winter on my porch
because it simply got too cold for too long out there. I am really nervous about what damage is
being done to my plants under the snow by mice and voles and by rabbits at the
snow line since it’s a tough winter for critters. Time will tell. I hope it flies by until warm weather gets
here. I am interpreting the weather
forecast as indicating a change in weather patterns may be coming soon and we
will get back to at least normal winter weather. Normal winter weather would have us with
highs slightly above freezing on the average.
Only 39 days until calendar spring!
Since its Valentine’s Day Friday I have included some
articles with Valentine themes. I have
also included an article I wrote last year about plants that promote “love” in
the more information section. To the
several new subscribers to this newsletter thanks and welcome.
Anthuriums
While some people give red roses as a Valentines flower some
are a bit more mischievous and give anthuriums instead. Anthuriums are also known as Boy Flowers because
the “flower” of the plant has a resemblance to male anatomy. Other common names for the anthurium include
Flamingo flower and Tail flower.
Anthuriums may be found as potted plants around Valentine’s Day (and at
other times) or the flowers may be found in distinctive floral arrangements. In the language of flowers the anthurium
flower is said to mean hospitality.
There are more than 130 species of anthuriums but few are
found in cultivation. Two species of
anthuriums; Flamingo Flower (Anthurium Scherzianum) and Painter's Palette
(Anthurium Andreanum) and some hybrids of these are sold as flowering
houseplants. Some species of anthuriums are also used as
foliage plants in the homes and greenhouses of collectors who can afford the
pricy and finicky plants. Florida and
the Netherlands produce most of the flowering potted anthuriums.
Hawaii produces great quantities of cut anthuriums for the
florist trade, varieties with large flowers and strong stems. In Hawaii some gardeners also grow various
species of anthuriums outside. Hawaii
greenhouses and nurseries also produce many of the foliage species of anthuriums
that collectors covet.
Boy Flower anatomy
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| Anthurium scherzianum - wikipedia |
The anthurium “flower” is actually a modified leaf, or
bract. In most species it is an
elongated heart or hood shape and is colored red or orange in color. This bract
is called a spathe. Species of
cultivated anthuriums have now been developed that have pink, yellow, purple,
white and variegated spathes but red is still the most popular. The spathe is thick with a waxy, shiny look
that looks almost artificial.
At the base of the spathe a long spike called a spadix pokes
upward. The spadix is closely packed
with the tiny true flowers of the anthurium.
These flowers have both male and female parts. Spadix flowers are usually yellow or white. Each flower will eventually turn into a fleshy
berry with two seeds inside.
Anthurium foliage is also attractive. The leaves are heart shaped, deep green and
shiny in the species kept as flowering houseplants. But some rarer anthuriums have velvety
leaves, or broader leaves marked with beautiful vein patterns. Most of the foliage anthuriums are difficult
to grow in normal household conditions and require a greenhouse and dedicated
gardener.
Growing conditions
Most anthuriums come from tropical areas of Central and South
America. They are often epiphytes or “air”
plants in nature although some species grow in the ground. Most species are sprawling or vine-like. The anthuriums cultivated as houseplants are
grown in a coarse, well drained media in pots.
If kept in good light, warm, lightly fertilized and watered
correctly anthuriums will actually bloom for long periods or if in perfect
conditions almost continuously. They can
be a bit tricky as a houseplant and are not for those indoor gardeners who
practice benign neglect.
The suggested medium for anthuriums in cultivation is equal
parts of peat, perlite and shredded bark.
A potting mix for orchids will work.
(In Hawaii anthuriums are
sometimes grown in macadamia nut hulls. ) Plants should be kept slightly root bound,
which means the pot should not be much bigger than the root system. When you buy a potted anthurium it will
probably not need re-potting for a year or two.
Anthuriums need bright but indirect light. They will flourish in an east window or a few
inches from south or west windows.
Strong direct sun will burn the leaves.
They must be kept above 65 degrees F. for good flowering but below 90
degrees F. Keep them out of drafts. Plants need to be kept above 45 degrees F.
to survive.
Humidity is essential to flowering and good looking foliage
in anthuriums. If you don’t use a humidifier
in the home the anthurium pot should probably be set over a tray of water and
misted frequently. But while they like
humidity they absolutely cannot stand over watering. They should be watered well and then allowed
to dry out just slightly but not to the point of wilting, before watering
again. Brown ends on the foliage and
flower spathe mean the humidity is too low or that you are over or under
watering.
Anthuriums require light but continuous fertilization to
bloom. Slow release fertilizer is
usually incorporated into commercial potting mixes that plants are potted in
for sale and so you probably won’t need to fertilize for a month after purchase. After that you can use a fertilizer with a
low nitrogen ratio such as 7-9-5 either in a slow release granular form or as a
liquid at every other watering. Many
growers suggest a flowering houseplant fertilizer mixed at half strength.
The Flamingo Flower or Painter’s Palette anthriums get about
2 foot high and wide at maturity. These
species or similar hybrids are relatively easy to find in places that sell
potted house plants. Make sure they are
well protected from the cold as you transport them home. Other species of anthuriums can be found in
specialty stores and catalogs but can be very expensive.
Anthurium plant parts are poisonous and handling the plants
may also give some people a rash.
For the gardener in
your life a Valentine’s Day gift of a Boy Flower may make the day special. And if you opt instead for a floral arrangement
featuring anthurium flowers you are giving a special gift that can last for
weeks.
Marijuana variety
developed for cooking oil
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| Hemp |
The University of York (UK) has developed a hemp variety which
produces an oil high in oleic acid when the seeds are crushed. This hemp oil is similar in nutritive value
and taste to olive oil and has a higher “thermal threshold” which means it is
better for cooking than olive oil. This
special variety of hemp yields oil with 5 times more mono-unsaturated/low poly-unsaturated
fatty acid than regular hemp oil. The oil may also have industrial uses.
Hemp is easy to grow and suffers from fewer diseases and
insects than rape seed (canola oil). The
straw left after the seeds are harvested can be used for animal bedding,
textiles, and biomass fuel. UK farmers
are excited that they will soon be able to grow another profitable crop. Field trials begin this year. No
word if the cooking oil has any mind altering effects.
How the climate tamed
corn
Botanists have long wondered why man ever domesticated teosinte,
the wild grass that domesticated corn was developed from. In the wild teosinte has a many branching top
with seeds or kernels that ripened slowly over many months. The wild teosinte doesn’t have many traits
that would seem to make it a good crop.
But the theory was that over time, man selected teosinte plants with
certain characteristics that eventually developed into what we now know as
corn. We thought we knew what ancient teosinte
plants looked like because teosinte stills grows wild today.
_-_(1)commons.wikimedia.jpg) |
| Teosinte |
However new research now reveals that when man began
selecting teosinte to grow it may have looked much more like corn than wild
teosinte plants look like today. When
researchers took seed from wild teosinte and grew it in climate controlled
greenhouses that mimicked the atmospheric conditions 10,000 years ago, cooler
and with half the carbon dioxide of today’s atmosphere, they got a surprise. The teosinte produced seeds much more like
our current corn, with a more condensed ripening time and stockier, more
productive plants. This teosinte which
grew in the climate our ancestors inhabited, would have been much more interesting
to humans as a crop plant.
With all we are currently learning about how outside
influences modify genes in an organism
we may have to re-think why some plants and animals became
domesticated. Man did use selective
breeding to improve crops and animals without a doubt. But it may be that climate change was more of
a factor in what species became domesticated than we realize.
This information came from a report by the Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute.
Facts about Chocolate
Chocolate and Valentine’s Day go hand in hand, (even though
more chocolate is sold at Halloween than at any other time). February is also heart health month and
chocolate is great for heart health. Chocolate is high in antioxidants and
decreases inflammation in the blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and
promotes good cardiac health. Research
shows that if you eat a small amount of dark chocolate every day you will
decrease your risk of heart problems by one third.
People who are depressed often crave chocolate and for good
reason. Chocolate contains chemicals
that lighten your mood and “sweeten” the pleasure centers of your brain. Other medical research has found that
chocolate boosts memory, attention span and problem solving skills. Some research suggests chocolate improves
insulin sensitivity and that chocolate may improve eyesight in low light
situations. German research says that flavonoids
in chocolate help the skin by absorbing UV light and increasing blood flow to
the skin, protecting skin cells and making the skin long younger.
Chocolate is the only solid edible that melts at 93 degrees,
just below your body temperature, which means it melts in your mouth. If you are choosing a wine to go with a
chocolate dessert or that box of candy, choose a red wine. Surprisingly Americans are only 11th
in the average amount of chocolate consumed by citizens each year. Switzerland is first, with Australia and
Ireland next in line.
It takes 400 cacao beans to produce a pound of pure
chocolate and between 40-50 million people across the world have jobs based on
the chocolate industry. The most expensive chocolate in the world is
said to be “Madeleine” which is made by Fritz Knipschildt of Knipschildt
Chocolatier in Connecticut.
Chocolate is a plant based product with immense health benefits
and should be considered a vegetable!
Happy Valentine’s Day, I hope you get chocolate for your
heart.
Kim Willis
“He who has a garden and a
library wants for nothing” ― Cicero
More Information
Plants that Promise
Passion
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| Hibiscus |
By Kim Willis-
Published 2/2013 at Examiner.com
Valentine’s Day is this week and you may be wondering what
kind of gift you could bring someone to make him or her love you more in many
senses of the word. Jewelry and flowers may evoke warm feelings but some people
are looking for something more, let’s say, efficient.
Some of the earliest written herbals contain references to
plants that have aphrodisiac properties and potions that are said to bring true
love. Many think that chocolate is a popular Valentines treat because it
enhances sexual desire but modern science has proven that chocolate doesn’t
have an effect on actual sexual performance. It does however affect the
pleasure areas of the brain and causes people to feel happier. And since desire
is largely produced in the brain bringing someone a box of chocolate isn’t a
waste of time, not only does it show you care but it makes the recipient happy.
Interestingly in Japan women send chocolate to men on Valentine’s Day. Just
don’t mention to your love that Aztec prostitutes were paid in cacao beans.
However there are some common plants, (herbs) that you may
have in the house or yard that do enhance desire and sexual performance. The
scientific community has been exploring plant pharmaceuticals intensively
lately and there is great interest in finding a substitute for the “little blue
pill” which has so many deadly side effects. So if you want your Valentine to
love you more in every way you may want to try some of these plants that recent
science has confirmed could enhance your love life.
Nutmeg,( Myristica fragrans) has long been used in magic
love potions and since a chemical found in nutmeg, myristicin, is used to
produce the illegal street drug ecstasy it was no wonder that animal tests
found that it enhanced male sexual performance. Studies on females have not
been done but folklore and common practice suggest that is also effective on
females. Mace is another spice from the same plant and is said to have similar
effects. In the amounts you would use in foods or teas nutmeg would not be
harmful or have bad side effects; however you can overdose on the street drug
and it isn’t recommended.
Both garlic and garlic chives were found in animal studies
to have aphrodisiac effects. If you can find a way to slip them into a
Valentine meal you could improve your love life and your health since garlic
has many other health benefits.
Saffron, a spice made from the sexual organs of a type of
crocus (Crocus sativus) has also been found to enhance sexual performance in
animal studies. These studies typically use male animals and an aqueous extract
of saffron but herbal lore suggests use of the spice in cooking is also
helpful.
Two common garden weeds have recently been evaluated for
their love enhancing abilities. Lambsquarters, (Chenopodium album) and Beggers
ticks, Stick tights or Tickweed (Bidens frondosa) have both been shown to have
significant aphrodisiac abilities in recent scientific studies. In animal
studies extracts of the herbs were used. The seeds of lambsquarters are used in
herbal remedies and were dried and ground into flour by Native Americans. The
young greens are also eaten as a spinach substitute. The bark of the stems of
Sticktight ( Bidens) was the part used in studies. It could possibly be made
into a tea.
Goji berry or Wolfberry is being touted as the next wonder
food and among its good properties is apparently the ability to increase sexual
hormones. Several garden catalogs are offering Goji berry plants for sale and
they are said to grow as far north as Zone 5. If you are in a hurry to obtain
the benefits of Goji there are many juices and other products on the market,
probably in your local store.
Common tea (Camellia sinensis) had a marked aphrodisiac
effect on rats. Perhaps that’s why the English preferred tea as a drink. Tea
has been used as a drink for many centuries and it seems that if people were
getting a love boost from it that effect would be well known. Maybe a little
tea spiced with nutmeg would be an improvement.
Damiana is an herb you can grow although it may be hard to
find locally. It has proven aphrodisiac qualities. Dried leaves of damiana are
smoked or made into a tea. Read my article about it here.
Other common plants that have some scientific validity as
aphrodisiacs include Maypops or Passionfruit, (Passiflora incarnate), panax
ginsing, yohimbe, velvet beans (Mucuna pruriens), and African basil (Ocimum
gratissimum).
If a stimulating massage oil is desired Ylang-ylang and
rosewood ( not rose) essential oil mixed with coconut oil is said to be very
exciting to women. Just smelling Ylang ylang is said to increase sexual desire
in women. Maybe you guys out there might want to dab it behind your ears. (This
hasn’t been proven scientifically, it’s just folklore.)
If you decide to experiment with a love potion this
Valentine’s Day use a little caution as people can have an allergic reaction to
anything. It’s a good idea to tell a person what they are being fed. Many of
these herbs would probably take days of treatment to work and most studies used
concentrated extracts that are hard to duplicate at home. Still a little
imagination may work wonders as after all, love and desire are strongly seated
in the brain.
Events, classes and
other offerings
Please let me know if there is any event or class that you
would like to share with other gardeners.
These events are primarily in Michigan but if you are a reader from
outside of Michigan and want to post an event I’ll be glad to do it.
Master Gardeners if
you belong to an association that approves your hours please check with that
association before assuming a class or work day will count as credit.
Do you have plants or seeds you would like to swap or
share? Post them here by emailing me at kimwillis151@gmail.com
"Practical
Knowledge for the Avid Gardener" St.
Clair County Master Gardeners Annual Spring Symposium Saturday, March 22, 2014,
Cornerstone Church, 4025 North Road, Clyde, MI 48049.
Speakers include Dan Heims, Pearl Fryar, David Culp &
Fergus Garrett. Early Bird Registration is $80.00 and includes all speakers,
breakfast, lunch snacks and shopping. After February 21 the cost will be $90.
Contact sanderan51@yahoo.com. for a brochure.
2014 Know and Grow
Seminar- Saturday, February 22nd, 2014 - 8:15AM, Bullock Creek High School
Auditorium, 1420 Badour Rd. Midland, MI 48640. Early registration fee:
$60.00, After February 7th, 2014 $75.00
This seminar is hosted by the Midland Master Gardener
Association. It includes speakers Rick Darke “Balancing Natives and Exotics in
the Garden”, Dan Heims “Garden Gems”, and Janet Macunovich “Pluses and Minuses
of Gardening in Zone 5” . There is a garden marketplace and lunch is
included in the cost.
Get a registration flyer and more info at http://media.wix.com/ugd/a6644a_813a73b611d74331a99e3e7512baa553.pdf
To REGISTER BY PHONE call Dow Gardens at 631-2677 or 1-800-362-4874. Please have your credit card
information ready.
Getting Started with
Selling at Farmers Markets Webinar- February 19, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Cost $10.00
This two-hour Adobe Connect webinar is part of the ongoing
“2014 Beginning Farmer Webinar Series.” MSU Extension educator Julia Darnton
will present information for those interested in selling their product
successfully at a farmers market. Topics covered will include: choosing farmers
markets at which to sell, negotiating the rules and regulations of a market,
market governance, creating a connection with customers, setting up a stall as
well as resources for practical tips on tents, tables, displays, and cash
handling. Questions and discussion will take place through the webinar ‘chat’ function.
Supporting written materials will be available for download during and after
the webinar. A recording of the webinar
will be made available to registered participants.
Visit the Getting Started with Selling at Farmers Markets
registration page http://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?folder=GettingStartedFarmersMarket
for more information.
Or you can contact Julia Darnton: darntonj@anr.msu.edu or 989-758-2507
Establishing A Rain
Garden – Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N. Dixboro Rd. Ann Arbor, MI
48105 Feb.12, 2014, 6:45 pm to 8:30 pm
Susan Bryan, Rain Garden Coordinator for the Washtenaw
County Water Resources Commissioner's Office, discusses the benefits of rain
gardens for the home garden and how they help our rivers and streams. Program
also includes how to build and plant one at home using readily available tools.
Presented by Wild Ones Ann Arbor. Free. Call 734-647-7600 for more information.
Third Annual Integrated
Pest Management (IPM) Academy -
Feb. 18-19, 2014, at the Okemos Conference Center in Okemos, Mich., located
just outside of East Lansing, Michigan
The 2014 IPM Academy is
a two-day workshop packed full of information to help you improve your IPM
practices and take advantage of all the great resources MSU has to
offer. The presenters at this program include a number of MSU’s best and
brightest research and Extension faculty, offering a rare opportunity to hear
from experts working in a variety of disciplines and cropping systems at a
single event.
The first day of the program will cover fundamental topics,
including IPM strategies for disease and insect control; promoting and protecting
pollinators; alternative weed control strategies; pesticide basics; the impacts
of weather on pesticides; invasive pests; and IPM resources from MSU. On the
second day of the workshop, participants opt into two, half-day sessions
focused on the topic of their choice.
The cost of this event is $225. Please note that snacks,
lunch and parking are included. Participants also receive a notebook with
program material and a complimentary IPM-related MSU bulletin. Michigan
pesticide recertification credits and Master Gardener credits will be
available.
Newsletter information
If you would like to
pass along a notice about an educational event or a volunteer opportunity
please send me an email before Tuesday of each week and I will print it. Also
if you have a comment or opinion you’d like to share, send it to me. Please
state that you want to have the item published in my weekly notes. You must
give your full name and what you say must be polite and not attack any
individual. I am very open to ideas and opinions that don’t match mine but I do
reserve the right to publish what I want.
Once again the
opinions in this newsletter are mine and I do not represent any organization or
business. I do not make any income from this newsletter. I write this because I
love to share with other gardeners some of the things I come across in my research
each week. It keeps me engaged with local people and horticulture. It’s a
hobby, basically. I hope you enjoy it. If at any time you don’t wish to receive
these emails just let me know. If you know anyone who would like to receive
these emails have them send their email address to me. KimWillis151@gmail.com
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